Are you actually endorsing an argument from precedent here or just citing it? Cause it would be out of character for you.
I would personally rather have players in the Hall who managed greatness during a very short window rather than have the Hall full of guys who strung together 20 good years. But Rice's four great years were not
thatgreat. And especially not great enough to mask his dozen mediocre to pretty good years. It's not as if he only had a short window of greatness because of injuries; he's no Koufax.
If Pujols retired today, for example, I think he'd deserve to be in Cooperstown. The difference? Stupid numbers for eight consecutive seasons with absolutely no drops. Eight HoF season out of eight. Rice, in contrast, is batting .250.