re: Why are Phil Rizzuto & Pee Wee Reese in the HoF and Alvin Dark not?

Rizzuto is in because of a concerted media campaign to get him in. It was one of the most well-organizaed campaigns in HOF history. Using Rizzo as a standard for future indicutions is a mistake, as he was a very weak candidate. I'm actually shocked Mattingly isn't in the Hall because no one crams in their marginal players to the Hall better than the Yankees.

Reese is in because of the Jackie Robinson halo effect. I'm not as familiar with his election, mainly because Rizzo's is that famous. Reese never got 50% of the ballot and was a Vet Selection.

Due to the reorg of the HOF, the Vet Committee won't be elected anyone for awhile. The voting is too hard. That door is currently shut.

Alvin Dark is not getting in for the exact reason mentioned -- he is viewed by the baseball establishment as a Southern racist, who hated Jackie Robinson. Hating Jackie is an unrecoverable sin (though, he hated Jackie because he was a Giant -- Dark loved Willie Mays). Dark was also manager of some great A's teams, which he doesn't get enough credit for. He was winning World Series in the 1970s.