I agree Martinez was one of the best at his position, but that has not meant you get in the HOF. If that were the case Ron Santo would have been in years ago. Myself I think Frank Thomas was the best DH to date but you can argue that he played too much first base to be considered that DH was his position. In his prime there was no more feared hitter than Frank Thomas.

I did not follow Dawson early in his career but do remember him driving in 137 runs and being the MVP on a last place Cub team. From 1979 to 1992 he never finished lower than 22nd in RBI each year and for most of that time was in the top 10 each year. For the teams with the records they had for which he played for I think that says a lot.

Is Dawson a HOF? Since Rice made it in Dawson should make it also and as you say Martinez career was hampered by injury so was Dawson's. But I think neither Dawson or Rice belong in because of the depth of OF in the hall. The standard should be higher for them for their position.

I do hope the HOF does look more at position for induction. It should be the best at their position that makes it in. It seems that they look for 3000 hits, 500 HR etc to make it in. Then people like Santo and Martinez will be in.