Eddie Mathews waited too long for Hall of Fame election.

Mickey Mantle played 1951-1958

Eddie Mathews played 1952-1968

Home Run leaders 1951-1968:

Rk	Player	HR	OPS+	From	To	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SH	SF	GDP	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos	Tm
1	Willie Mays	587	160	1951	1968	20-37	2446	10387	9130	1763	2812	446	129	1654	1137	187	1147	33	7	76	212	299	93	.308	.384	.578	.962	*8/H96375	NYG-SFG
2	Mickey Mantle	536	172	1951	1968	19-36	2401	9910	8102	1676	2415	344	72	1509	1733	148	1710	13	14	47	113	153	38	.298	.421	.557	.977	*8397H/645	NYY
3	Eddie Mathews	512	143	1952	1968	20-36	2391	10101	8537	1509	2315	354	72	1453	1444	142	1487	26	36	58	123	68	39	.271	.376	.509	.885	*53/H7	BSN-MLN-ATL-HOU-DET
4	Hank Aaron	510	157	1954	1968	20-34	2279	9888	8889	1603	2792	484	88	1627	866	200	991	23	19	91	239	215	59	.314	.373	.560	.933	*987/4H35	MLN-ATL
5	Ernie Banks	474	125	1953	1968	22-37	2262	9428	8551	1216	2368	380	86	1480	695	191	1088	62	33	86	208	50	53	.277	.333	.508	.840	63/5H7	CHC
6	Frank Robinson	418	156	1956	1968	20-32	1916	8161	7003	1317	2117	402	60	1277	929	158	1047	147	13	68	185	182	67	.302	.392	.556	.948	9738/H5	CIN-BAL
7	Harmon Killebrew	397	147	1954	1968	18-32	1533	6262	5239	885	1367	189	17	1008	938	79	1154	38	0	45	135	7	8	.261	.374	.531	.905	357/H49	WSH-MIN
8	Rocky Colavito	374	132	1955	1968	21-34	1841	7559	6503	971	1730	283	21	1159	951	58	880	29	16	60	182	19	27	.266	.359	.489	.848	*97/H31	DET-KCA-CLE-CHW-NYY-LAD

Mantle was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, 1974, with teammate pitcher Whitey Ford who made it in his second year.

Eddie Mathews was inducted in 1978.

Among the eight contemporary sluggers listed above only Rocky Colavito was never inducted.

Top votes 1974:

Rk	Name	YoB	Votes	%vote	HOFm	HOFs	Yrs	WAR	WAR7	JAWS	Jpos	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	BB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	W	L	ERA	ERA+	WHIP	G	GS	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	Pos Summary
1	y Mickey Mantle	1st	322	88.2%	301	65	18	110.2	64.7	87.4	58.0	2401	8102	1676	2415	536	1509	153	1733	.298	.421	.557	.977	172														*8397H/645
2	y Whitey Ford	2nd	284	77.8%	209	56	16	57.1	34.6	45.8	61.6	500	1023	91	177	3	69	3	113	.173	.256	.200	.457	28	236	106	2.75	133	1.215	498	438	11	3170.1	2766	228	1086	1956	*1/H
3	y Robin Roberts HOF	2nd	224	61.4%	128	47	19	86.1	55.0	70.5	61.6	688	1525	107	255	5	103	3	135	.167	.238	.226	.464	27	286	245	3.41	113	1.170	676	609	25	4688.2	4582	505	902	2357	*1/H
4	y Ralph Kiner HOF	12th	215	58.9%	137	35	10	47.9	42.7	45.3	53.6	1472	5205	971	1451	369	1015	22	1011	.279	.398	.548	.946	149														*783H
5	y Gil Hodges	6th	198	54.2%	83	32	18	43.9	33.7	38.8	54.8	2071	7030	1105	1921	370	1274	63	943	.273	.359	.487	.846	120														*3H275/948
6	y Bob Lemon HOF	10th	190	52.1%	118	34	15	48.2	38.8	43.5	61.6	615	1183	148	274	37	147	2	93	.232	.288	.386	.674	82	207	128	3.23	119	1.337	460	350	22	2850.0	2559	180	1251	1277	*1H/859
7	y Enos Slaughter HOF	9th	145	39.7%	90	41	19	57.0	36.9	47.0	57.2	2380	7946	1247	2383	169	1304	71	1018	.300	.382	.453	.834	124														*9*7*H/8
8	y Pee Wee Reese HOF	10th	141	38.6%	100	39	16	68.2	41.8	55.0	55.3	2166	8058	1338	2170	126	885	232	1210	.269	.366	.377	.743	99														*65H
9	y Eddie Mathews HOF	1st	118	32.3%	162	54	17	96.2	53.9	75.1	55.7	2391	8537	1509	2315	512	1453	68	1444	.271	.376	.509	.885	143														*53H7
10	y Duke Snider HOF	5th	111	30.4%	152	47	18	66.0	49.5	57.7	58.0	2143	7161	1259	2116	407	1333	99	971	.295	.380	.540	.919	140														*89H7
11	y Phil Rizzuto HOF	12th	111	30.4%	87	23	13	42.0	34.6	38.3	55.3	1661	5816	877	1588	38	563	149	651	.273	.351	.355	.706	93														*6/H4

Mathews was 9th.

1975:

Rk	Name	YoB	Votes	%vote	HOFm	HOFs	Yrs	WAR	WAR7	JAWS	Jpos	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	BB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	W	L	ERA	ERA+	WHIP	G	GS	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	Pos Summary
1	y Ralph Kiner	13th	273	75.4%	137	35	10	47.9	42.7	45.3	53.6	1472	5205	971	1451	369	1015	22	1011	.279	.398	.548	.946	149														*783H
2	y Robin Roberts HOF	3rd	263	72.7%	128	47	19	86.1	55.0	70.5	61.6	688	1525	107	255	5	103	3	135	.167	.238	.226	.464	27	286	245	3.41	113	1.170	676	609	25	4688.2	4582	505	902	2357	*1/H
3	y Bob Lemon HOF	11th	233	64.4%	118	34	15	48.2	38.8	43.5	61.6	615	1183	148	274	37	147	2	93	.232	.288	.386	.674	82	207	128	3.23	119	1.337	460	350	22	2850.0	2559	180	1251	1277	*1H/859
4	y Gil Hodges	7th	188	51.9%	83	32	18	43.9	33.7	38.8	54.8	2071	7030	1105	1921	370	1274	63	943	.273	.359	.487	.846	120														*3H275/948
5	y Enos Slaughter HOF	10th	177	48.9%	90	41	19	57.0	36.9	47.0	57.2	2380	7946	1247	2383	169	1304	71	1018	.300	.382	.453	.834	124														*9*7*H/8
6	y Hal Newhouser HOF	12th	155	42.8%	140	34	17	62.7	52.6	57.6	61.6	492	999	70	201	2	81	3	89	.201	.267	.233	.500	36	207	150	3.06	130	1.311	488	374	26	2993.0	2674	136	1249	1796	*1/H
7	y Pee Wee Reese HOF	11th	154	42.5%	100	39	16	68.2	41.8	55.0	55.3	2166	8058	1338	2170	126	885	232	1210	.269	.366	.377	.743	99														*65H
8	y Eddie Mathews HOF	2nd	148	40.9%	162	54	17	96.2	53.9	75.1	55.7	2391	8537	1509	2315	512	1453	68	1444	.271	.376	.509	.885	143														*53H7
9	y Phil Cavarretta	12th	129	35.6%	42	22	22	36.8	26.1	31.4	54.8	2030	6754	990	1977	95	920	65	820	.293	.372	.416	.788	118														*3H897
10	y Duke Snider HOF	6th	129	35.6%	152	47	18	66.0	49.5	57.7	58.0	2143	7161	1259	2116	407	1333	99	971	.295	.380	.540	.919	140														*89H7

The old Brooklyn Dodgers are still hanging around. Mathews moved up from 9th to 8th, despite being head and shoulders above any third basemen up to his final season. Remember, this is before Brett, Schmidt, Boggs.

1976:

Rk	Name	YoB	Votes	%vote	HOFm	HOFs	Yrs	WAR	WAR7	JAWS	Jpos	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	BB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	W	L	ERA	ERA+	WHIP	G	GS	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	Pos Summary
1	y Robin Roberts	4th	337	86.9%	128	47	19	86.1	55.0	70.5	61.6	688	1525	107	255	5	103	3	135	.167	.238	.226	.464	27	286	245	3.41	113	1.170	676	609	25	4688.2	4582	505	902	2357	*1/H
2	y Bob Lemon	12th	305	78.6%	118	34	15	48.2	38.8	43.5	61.6	615	1183	148	274	37	147	2	93	.232	.288	.386	.674	82	207	128	3.23	119	1.337	460	350	22	2850.0	2559	180	1251	1277	*1H/859
3	y Gil Hodges	8th	233	60.1%	83	32	18	43.9	33.7	38.8	54.8	2071	7030	1105	1921	370	1274	63	943	.273	.359	.487	.846	120														*3H275/948
4	y Enos Slaughter HOF	11th	197	50.8%	90	41	19	57.0	36.9	47.0	57.2	2380	7946	1247	2383	169	1304	71	1018	.300	.382	.453	.834	124														*9*7*H/8
5	y Eddie Mathews HOF	3rd	189	48.7%	162	54	17	96.2	53.9	75.1	55.7	2391	8537	1509	2315	512	1453	68	1444	.271	.376	.509	.885	143														*53H7
6	y Pee Wee Reese HOF	12th	186	47.9%	100	39	16	68.2	41.8	55.0	55.3	2166	8058	1338	2170	126	885	232	1210	.269	.366	.377	.743	99														*65H
7	y Nellie Fox HOF	6th	174	44.8%	163	32	19	49.5	37.2	43.4	57.0	2367	9232	1279	2663	35	790	76	719	.288	.348	.363	.710	93														*4H/53
8	y Duke Snider HOF	7th	159	41.0%	152	47	18	66.0	49.5	57.7	58.0	2143	7161	1259	2116	407	1333	99	971	.295	.380	.540	.919	140														*89H7
9	y X-Phil Rizzuto HOF	14th	149	38.4%	87	23	13	42.0	34.6	38.3	55.3	1661	5816	877	1588	38	563	149	651	.273	.351	.355	.706	93														*6/H4
10	y Red Schoendienst HOF	8th	129	33.2%	110	30	19	44.2	32.5	38.4	57.0	2216	8479	1223	2449	84	773	89	606	.289	.337	.387	.724	94														*4H765/8
11	y George Kell HOF	12th	129	33.2%	90	29	15	37.6	28.1	32.9	55.7	1795	6702	880	2054	78	870	51	621	.306	.367	.414	.781	112														*53H/749

Mathews is 5th. Only a couple of pitchers were elected. But Mathews is still under 50% and behind Hodges and Slaughter.

1977:

Rk	Name	YoB	Votes	%vote	HOFm	HOFs	Yrs	WAR	WAR7	JAWS	Jpos	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	BB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	W	L	ERA	ERA+	WHIP	G	GS	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	Pos Summary
1	y Ernie Banks	1st	321	83.8%	170	46	19	67.8	52.1	60.0	55.3	2528	9421	1305	2583	512	1636	50	763	.274	.330	.500	.830	122														*3*6H5/7
2	y Eddie Mathews HOF	4th	239	62.4%	162	54	17	96.2	53.9	75.1	55.7	2391	8537	1509	2315	512	1453	68	1444	.271	.376	.509	.885	143														*53H7
3	y Gil Hodges	9th	224	58.5%	83	32	18	43.9	33.7	38.8	54.8	2071	7030	1105	1921	370	1274	63	943	.273	.359	.487	.846	120														*3H275/948
4	y Enos Slaughter HOF	12th	222	58.0%	90	41	19	57.0	36.9	47.0	57.2	2380	7946	1247	2383	169	1304	71	1018	.300	.382	.453	.834	124														*9*7*H/8
5	y Duke Snider HOF	8th	212	55.4%	152	47	18	66.0	49.5	57.7	58.0	2143	7161	1259	2116	407	1333	99	971	.295	.380	.540	.919	140														*89H7
6	y Don Drysdale HOF	3rd	197	51.4%	134	42	14	67.1	44.7	55.9	61.6	547	1169	96	218	29	113	0	60	.186	.228	.295	.523	45	209	166	2.95	121	1.148	518	465	6	3432.0	3084	280	855	2486	*1H
7	y Pee Wee Reese HOF	13th	163	42.6%	100	39	16	68.2	41.8	55.0	55.3	2166	8058	1338	2170	126	885	232	1210	.269	.366	.377	.743	99														*65H
8	y Nellie Fox HOF	7th	152	39.7%	163	32	19	49.5	37.2	43.4	57.0	2367	9232	1279	2663	35	790	76	719	.288	.348	.363	.710	93														*4H/53
9	y Jim Bunning HOF	1st	146	38.1%	98	42	17	59.5	48.9	54.2	61.6	601	1275	82	213	7	75	0	34	.167	.188	.206	.395	9	224	184	3.27	115	1.179	591	519	16	3760.1	3433	372	1000	2855	*1/H
10	y George Kell HOF	13th	141	36.8%	90	29	15	37.6	28.1	32.9	55.7	1795	6702	880	2054	78	870	51	621	.306	.367	.414	.781	112														*53H/749

Ernie Banks is elected in his first year of eligibility. We all love Ernie Banks but is he better than Mathews, and if he is better, is he that much better? Banks played more at first base than shortstop; starts:1B 1,226; SS 1,121. Being a big time home run hitting shortstop is his claim to fame. Banks was the only player elected in 1977 by the writers (BBWAA). They couldn't make room for Eddie Mathews? It's not like there were other big names suddenly on the ballot. Mathews and Banks both finished with 512 home runs. They kind of fit together.

1978:

Rk	Name	YoB	Votes	%vote	HOFm	HOFs	Yrs	WAR	WAR7	JAWS	Jpos	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	BB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	W	L	ERA	ERA+	WHIP	G	GS	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	Pos Summary
1	y Eddie Mathews	5th	301	79.4%	162	54	17	96.2	53.9	75.1	55.7	2391	8537	1509	2315	512	1453	68	1444	.271	.376	.509	.885	143														*53H7
2	y Enos Slaughter HOF	13th	261	68.9%	90	41	19	57.0	36.9	47.0	57.2	2380	7946	1247	2383	169	1304	71	1018	.300	.382	.453	.834	124														*9*7*H/8
3	y Duke Snider HOF	9th	254	67.0%	152	47	18	66.0	49.5	57.7	58.0	2143	7161	1259	2116	407	1333	99	971	.295	.380	.540	.919	140														*89H7
4	y Gil Hodges	10th	226	59.6%	83	32	18	43.9	33.7	38.8	54.8	2071	7030	1105	1921	370	1274	63	943	.273	.359	.487	.846	120														*3H275/948
5	y Don Drysdale HOF	4th	219	57.8%	134	42	14	67.1	44.7	55.9	61.6	547	1169	96	218	29	113	0	60	.186	.228	.295	.523	45	209	166	2.95	121	1.148	518	465	6	3432.0	3084	280	855	2486	*1H
6	y Jim Bunning HOF	2nd	181	47.8%	98	42	17	59.5	48.9	54.2	61.6	601	1275	82	213	7	75	0	34	.167	.188	.206	.395	9	224	184	3.27	115	1.179	591	519	16	3760.1	3433	372	1000	2855	*1/H
7	y X-Pee Wee Reese HOF	14th	169	44.6%	100	39	16	68.2	41.8	55.0	55.3	2166	8058	1338	2170	126	885	232	1210	.269	.366	.377	.743	99														*65H
8	y Hoyt Wilhelm HOF	1st	158	41.7%	97	30	21	46.8	26.7	36.8	32.6	1070	432	24	38	1	21	0	26	.088	.139	.106	.246	-31	143	122	2.52	147	1.125	1070	52	228	2254.1	1757	150	778	1610	*1
9	y Richie Ashburn HOF	11th	158	41.7%	112	41	15	64.4	44.5	54.5	58.0	2189	8365	1322	2574	29	586	234	1198	.308	.396	.382	.778	111														*8H79/4
10	y Nellie Fox HOF	8th	149	39.3%	163	32	19	49.5	37.2	43.4	57.0	2367	9232	1279	2663	35	790	76	719	.288	.348	.363	.710	93														*4H/53

Mathews is finally elected almost by default because the other candidates are so lame. The writers had to elect Mathews. Let's look at a couple of more years for additional perspective.

1979:

Rk	Name	YoB	Votes	%vote	HOFm	HOFs	Yrs	WAR	WAR7	JAWS	Jpos	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	BB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	W	L	ERA	ERA+	WHIP	G	GS	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	Pos Summary
1	y Willie Mays	1st	409	94.7%	376	77	22	156.2	73.5	114.9	58.0	2992	10881	2062	3283	660	1903	338	1464	.302	.384	.557	.941	156														*8H3/9765
2	y Duke Snider HOF	10th	308	71.3%	152	47	18	66.0	49.5	57.7	58.0	2143	7161	1259	2116	407	1333	99	971	.295	.380	.540	.919	140														*89H7
3	y Enos Slaughter HOF	14th	297	68.8%	90	41	19	57.0	36.9	47.0	57.2	2380	7946	1247	2383	169	1304	71	1018	.300	.382	.453	.834	124														*9*7*H/8
4	y Gil Hodges	11th	242	56.0%	83	32	18	43.9	33.7	38.8	54.8	2071	7030	1105	1921	370	1274	63	943	.273	.359	.487	.846	120														*3H275/948
5	y Don Drysdale HOF	5th	233	53.9%	134	42	14	67.1	44.7	55.9	61.6	547	1169	96	218	29	113	0	60	.186	.228	.295	.523	45	209	166	2.95	121	1.148	518	465	6	3432.0	3084	280	855	2486	*1H
6	y Nellie Fox HOF	9th	174	40.3%	163	32	19	49.5	37.2	43.4	57.0	2367	9232	1279	2663	35	790	76	719	.288	.348	.363	.710	93														*4H/53
7	y Hoyt Wilhelm HOF	2nd	168	38.9%	97	30	21	46.8	26.7	36.8	32.6	1070	432	24	38	1	21	0	26	.088	.139	.106	.246	-31	143	122	2.52	147	1.125	1070	52	228	2254.1	1757	150	778	1610	*1
8	y Maury Wills	2nd	166	38.4%	104	30	14	39.8	29.7	34.7	55.3	1942	7588	1067	2134	20	458	586	552	.281	.330	.331	.661	88														*6*5H/4
9	y Red Schoendienst HOF	11th	159	36.8%	110	30	19	44.2	32.5	38.4	57.0	2216	8479	1223	2449	84	773	89	606	.289	.337	.387	.724	94														*4H765/8
10	y Jim Bunning HOF	3rd	147	34.0%	98	42	17	59.5	48.9	54.2	61.6	601	1275	82	213	7	75	0	34	.167	.188	.206	.395	9	224	184	3.27	115	1.179	591	519	16	3760.1	3433	372	1000	2855	*1/H

Say Hey! Willie Mayes elected in his first YoB! Had Mays been eligible in 1978, would Mathews have been bumped? The next three guys all have YoB greater than a decade.

1980:

Rk	Name	YoB	Votes	%vote	HOFm	HOFs	Yrs	WAR	WAR7	JAWS	Jpos	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	BB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	W	L	ERA	ERA+	WHIP	G	GS	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	Pos Summary
1	y Al Kaline	1st	340	88.3%	160	58	22	92.8	48.8	70.8	57.2	2834	10116	1622	3007	399	1582	137	1277	.297	.376	.480	.855	134														*9*8HD3/75
2	y Duke Snider	11th	333	86.5%	152	47	18	66.0	49.5	57.7	58.0	2143	7161	1259	2116	407	1333	99	971	.295	.380	.540	.919	140														*89H7
3	y Don Drysdale HOF	6th	238	61.8%	134	42	14	67.1	44.7	55.9	61.6	547	1169	96	218	29	113	0	60	.186	.228	.295	.523	45	209	166	2.95	121	1.148	518	465	6	3432.0	3084	280	855	2486	*1H
4	y Gil Hodges	12th	230	59.7%	83	32	18	43.9	33.7	38.8	54.8	2071	7030	1105	1921	370	1274	63	943	.273	.359	.487	.846	120														*3H275/948
5	y Hoyt Wilhelm HOF	3rd	209	54.3%	97	30	21	46.8	26.7	36.8	32.6	1070	432	24	38	1	21	0	26	.088	.139	.106	.246	-31	143	122	2.52	147	1.125	1070	52	228	2254.1	1757	150	778	1610	*1
6	y Jim Bunning HOF	4th	177	46.0%	98	42	17	59.5	48.9	54.2	61.6	601	1275	82	213	7	75	0	34	.167	.188	.206	.395	9	224	184	3.27	115	1.179	591	519	16	3760.1	3433	372	1000	2855	*1/H
7	y Red Schoendienst HOF	12th	164	42.6%	110	30	19	44.2	32.5	38.4	57.0	2216	8479	1223	2449	84	773	89	606	.289	.337	.387	.724	94														*4H765/8
8	y Nellie Fox HOF	10th	161	41.8%	163	32	19	49.5	37.2	43.4	57.0	2367	9232	1279	2663	35	790	76	719	.288	.348	.363	.710	93														*4H/53
9	y Maury Wills	3rd	146	37.9%	104	30	14	39.8	29.7	34.7	55.3	1942	7588	1067	2134	20	458	586	552	.281	.330	.331	.661	88														*6*5H/4
10	y Richie Ashburn HOF	13th	134	34.8%	112	41	15	64.4	44.5	54.5	58.0	2189	8365	1322	2574	29	586	234	1198	.308	.396	.382	.778	111														*8H79/4

Al Kaline in his first YoB. OPS+ and HR:

Kaline: 134/399

Mathews: 143/512

Mathews is second only to Mike Schmidt in home runs by a third baseman:

Schmidt: 509 of 548

Mathews: 486 of 512.

What the heck? I'm guessing that Mathews was not popular and probably downright disliked by the writers. So they did then what they still do now: behaved irresponsibly.