When did Canton, IYO, become a ‘big Hall’?

[74_75_78_79_]

To those in here who feel that the bar has been lowered when it comes to getting elected into Canton - which, pretty much, makes just about ALL of us - at what point in time, perhaps a specific Draft class, signified to you that the Hall will no longer be a small one; the standard now lowered?

[PaulPFHOF]

I for one don't think that Hall has lowered its bar in terms of size of annual classes, 7 which was pretty common in last two decades always seemed right, two larger classes (2023 & 2024) were needed in part because during 1970s into early 2000s, many deserving players were ignored and voters created a backlog by years of only 4 or 5 elected, many of those deserving players fell into the deep senior pools. And my view is supported by many respected long term voters who advocated for those players and need to address the senior pool. I understand (and often agree) that over the years there have been some "questionable" elections of players but I view that more as considering who is most deserving each election and less that the process and larger classes were somehow lowering the standard.

[Gary Najman]

I for one don't think that Hall has lowered its bar in terms of size of annual classes, 7 which was pretty common in last two decades always seemed right, two larger classes (2023 & 2024) were needed in part because during 1970s into early 2000s, many deserving players were ignored and voters created a backlog by years of only 4 or 5 elected, many of those deserving players fell into the deep senior pools. And my view is supported by many respected long term voters who advocated for those players and need to address the senior pool. I understand (and often agree) that over the years there have been some "questionable" elections of players but I view that more as considering who is most deserving each election and less that the process and larger classes were somehow lowering the standard.

i agree: in 2005 only four former players were inducted: first time elegibles Dan Marino and Steve Young, and seniors Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman, letting outside many deserving players of the then Modern era.

[PaulPFHOF]

Yep and previous election (2004) also only had four with seven was possible. And those are just two elections from 1970s into early 2000s when voters left many "slots" unfilled, rejecting finalists that only needed YES/NO votes to fill a open slot available to that finalist-not competing directly with others at that final stage of voting-that could set class of 7, but many years was less-essentially wasting slots and driving more candidates into seniors pool or making them wait years longer as modern-which cost opportunities for election of others.

[readjack]

I'm with Paul: I don't think PFHOF ever went "Big Hall." I think the media attention increased, some inductees were more obscure than others, and perhaps it went more "Random Hall" with the senior process than some would have liked. But even that relatively small senior expansion is still just that: small. And the expansion is still inducting great players.