Time for A Blues HOF

Jimmy Roberts, Glenn Hall, Jacques Plante, Red Berenson, Bob and Barclay Plager. Just a few of the outstanding names from the early days of the St. Louis Blues. Not all were spectacular players, but all were terrifically noteworthy and instrumental, either as a player or in some other way, in establishing the Blues on the sports landscape in St. Louis.

If there were a St. Louis Blues Hall of Fame, undoubtedly all of these men would be in it. If there were a Blues HoF, there would be many more deserving players, coaches, executives, broadcasters and other contributors in it from subsequent eras. I mention those above simply to indicate that there would be plenty of candidates to consider, and many worthy of being enshrined, in such a hall. It appears to me the time is right to establish one.

• The Blues have captured their first Stanley Cup. 
• We have over a half-century of Blues history to draw from. 
• Interest in the team is at an all-time high.
• Blues fans are perhaps the most loyal and passionate in hockey and would surely engage.  

Considering this, I propose that the owners and management of the Blues take a cue from the baseball organization down the street and create a shrine to their already rich history. This would not only create another revenue stream, but also serve to honor those worthy of recognition and continue to build the brand of the Blue Note.

Not many of the expansion teams of the 60's can boast the type of early success and player recognition that the Blues enjoyed. The team was ultra-aggressive in luring high-end, name players to the team. Some had seen their better playing days, but the early success of the Blues speaks to the type of athlete that wore The Note back then.

Even during later decades when the team struggled, there were usually highly-talented players wearing the Blues uniform. It doesn't serve my proposal to name them all here; but if you love the Blues, you certainly know the people to whom I'm referring.

Think of what a Blues hall of fame and museum might look like. A display of some of the early days player equipment would baffle young people with it's simplicity and lack of protection. A display of the team trophies won over the years could be another. Player jerseys old and new. Awards won by individual players would be included in featured player displays. Certainly we could fill a lot of square feet with these and other historical presentations.

We can debate for months about what players would be deserving of hall of fame consideration or election. But that's part of the fun of these things. And it also keeps the fans of the team involved in it's history and current make-up.

As someone who's not getting any younger...are you?... I would really enjoy a visit to such a place. And I would pay a pretty, shiny penny to go there.