1. I didn't know this but it's effectively impossible to get into the Hall without at least 2000 hits now. Silly but true apparently.
2. If you don't want to read the whole post, here's the gist for Mauer's chances specifically:
As for Mauer, his offensive decline since his concussion-necessitated move from catcher to first base after the 2013 season somewhat obscures the merits of his case, but what he did before moving makes for a strong resum: six All-Star appearances, three Gold Gloves, three batting titles (the only catcher who can make that claim), 11 other top-five finishes in a slash stat, and an MVP award. The year he won that award, 2009, his .365/.444/.587 line made him the first (and to date only) catcher to win the Slash Stat Triple Crown: his batting average and on-base percentage from that season are the highest of any catcher since World War II.
Even with just 920 games behind the plate, Mauers 39.0 peak WAR is 4.5 wins above the standard for catchers (the average for all Hall of Famers at the position; players are classified by where they accrued the most value) and ranks fifth among backstops behind Gary Carter, Johnny Bench, Mike Piazza, and Ivan Rodriguez, all enshrined. (Yes, Mauers seven best seasons are all from his catching days.) His 54.5 career WAR ranks eighth among catchers and is a full win above the standard. His 46.7 JAWS ranks seventh, the highest of any catcher outside the Hall.