If Ichiro gets to 3000 hits then he should be in but if not then I say no. However, I think he is an automatic because he is popular and he has the advantage of being the first Japanesse player to really have a shot.

Why was the 60's and 70's considered pitcher friendly? Is it because pitchers routinely through 300 innings a season instead of pitching 6 innings and turning it over to relief specialist. Did into Blyleven's numbers alittle deeper. There were years when nearly half his wins were shutouts.

 

While I agree that the ballparks are smaller and the ball certainly seems more lively. I wouldn't consider an era where pitchers were expected to pitch complete games in a 4 man rotation to be all that friendly.

 

The mound was higher, strike zones weren't as pinched, parks were much, much bigger. Pitching staffs weren't micromanaged, and pitching depth was much better because of it being before expansion got out of control. No designated hitter, plus it was before the era of slugging shortstops, so pitchers could count on two outs each time through the lineup, for the most part.

 

Oh, and the players didn't all look like linebackers the way they did five years ago or so.