This article by Jim Caple says it all (or comes darn close). I mean, I could gush more. There are even more impressive stats and stories he didn't include. But it says it like it is.

Alas, I'm not going to Cooperstown for the ceremony-- I gave up on the idea when I heard about how many fans descend on the place and feared it'd all be too crowded and too much. I hope I can watch the ceremony on TV, get a good videotape of it, get my hands on any and all articles and interviews and tributes and whatnot.