Barry Larkin For The Hall Of Fame

Every year the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) votes on admission to the Hall of Fame. If a player is named on 75% of the ballots, he’s in. On my imaginary Hall of Fame Ballot, Barry Larkin, long time shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds, comes up a winner. We’ll find out for real in a couple of days when the BBWAA announces the results of this year’s election.

Over his distinguished nineteen-year career, Larkin showed excellence in every aspect of the game, a potent bat, skill as a base runner and on-field leadership. He certainly won enough awards to qualify for admission. He was a twelve time All Star, a nine time Silver Slugger, and a three time Gold Glove recipient. He was a line-drive hitter who connected at a healthy clip that resulted in 2,340 hits and a lifetime batting average of .295.

When he is voted in by the BBWAA, Larkin will be the eighteenth second baseman in the Hall of Fame. I know a comparison of players from different eras isn’t completely accurate as a measurement of their abilities, because the way the game has been played has changed over the generations. It works as a general basis of comparison, however, so let’s see where our man fits in. Larkin is tenth in hits, ninth in batting average and on base percentage, eighth in slugging percentage and seventh in stolen bases. Even with the differences in styles of play, Barry Larkin compares favorably with the others.

What’s more, when he was hot he sizzled. In 1989, a season shortened by injury, he had two hitting streaks; one for twenty-one games and the other for fifteen games. His batting average that year: .342.

On defense, Barry Larkin was very skilled with the glove, showed considerable range and a strong-arm. He was a mature ballplayer from very early in his career who was universally respected. He was a natural leader who pulled people rather than push them. All of these traits combined to make him his team’s captain.

He was the starting shortstop on the Reds 1990 World Series Championship team. He was the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1995. Larkin stepped up when it mattered most, too. Over the course of the four playoff series in which he appeared, he turned in a .338 batting average, a .397 on-base percentage, a .465 slugging average (total bases divided by number of bats) and an OPS (On-Base + Slugging Percentages) of .862.

Barry Larkin respected the game and played it exceedingly well for a long time. He has earned his spot in the Hall of Fame and will be voted in. His induction ceremony will take place this summer. Welcome to the team, Barry.