Barry Larkin: Hall of Fame Player

Droves of Reds fans continue their trek to Cooperstown to see #11 be enshrined into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. If you’re one that cannot make the trip, MLB Network will be showing the ceremonies this coming Sunday. Here’s the schedule for that day.

11:30 a.m. – Hall of Fame Awards Presentation – 2012 National Baseball Hall of Fame Awards Presentation of the Ford C. Frick Lifetime Achievement Award to Tim McCarver; and J.G. Taylor Spink Award to Bob Elliot at Doubleday Field at National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
12:30 p.m. – MLB Tonight Live: Hall of Fame Edition Live – MLB Network brings you all the action live prior to the 2012 National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and all the latest developments from National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
1:30 p.m. – 2011 National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony LiveThe 2012 Hall of Fame class, Barry Larkin, is inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

If I’m not mistaken, MLB Network also provides a live stream on their website. There’s the link in case…

Now, here’s some notes, figures and oddities on the Reds captain.

Notes

Larkin was slected 4th overall in the 1985 draft. The three players selected ahead of him were B.J. Surhoff (drafted as a SS by the Brewers), Will Clark (Giants) and Bobby Witt (Rangers). Of all the first round slections that draft, only one player has a career WAR higher than Larkin’s 67.1. That would be Barry Bonds with a career WAR of 158.1. Bonds was the #6 pick to the Pirates. The closest in career WAR among the other first rounds picks is Rafael Palmeiro, 66.1.

His 67.1 WAR ranks 47th among all Hall of Fame members that were position players. Ironically, the player at #48 is Ron Santo who was elected for enshrinement this year by the Veterans Committee.

Larkin ranks 118th in All-Time batting according to Baseball Reference.com in their Hall of Fame Monitor. The only other HOF shortstops (and I mean those that played the position more than any other position during their career) ahead of him are Honus Wagner, Cal Ripken, Jr., Luis Aparicio, Luke Appling, Ozzie Smith, and Robin Yount. And before you start wondering about Ernie Banks, he played more games as a first baseman…barely.

Larkin was elected on his third time being on the ballot garnering a vote on 495 of the 573 submitted ballots.

MLB History

Even though Larkin won the NL MVP in 1995, some believe it was 1996 that was Larkin’s best season. It would also be a season where he would his mark on the game. With 33 home runs and 36 steals, Larkin would become the first shortstop in baseball history to join the 30/30 club.

There have been only three other shortstops to achieve this: Alex Rodriguez in 1998 (42-46), Jimmy Rollins in 2007 (30-41), and Hanley Ramirez in 2008 (33-35).

Larkin is one of only three Reds to ever be a member of the 30/30 club. The others are Eric Davis in 1987 (37-50) and Brandon Phillips in 2007 (30-32).

Awards

– 12-time All-Star (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004)
– 3 Gold Gloves (1994, 1995, 1996)
– 9 Silver Sluggers (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999)
– 1993 Roberto Clemente Award – voted on by fans and media ; award given to the player combining good play and strong work in the community.
– 1994 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award – presented by Phi Delta Theta Fraternity; best exemplifies the spirit and character of Brother Lou Gehrig, both on and off the field.
– 1995 NL MVP

Most in a season…

Home runs – 33 (1996)
RBI – 89 (1996)
Hits – 185 (1990)
Doubles – 37 (2002)
Triples – 10 (1995)

Highest in a season…

Batting average – .319 (1995, .342 in 1989 in 97 games)
On-base percentage – .410 (1996, .440 in 1997 in 73 games)
Slugging percentage – .576 (1996)
OPS – .997 (1996)

Reds Offensive Overall Ranks

Did you know…

– Larkin was drafted in the second round by the Reds in 1982? He elected to attend the University of Michigan.
– Larkin played three games as a second baseman during his rookie year if 1986? He started there twice. Who played shortstop in those two games? Kurt Stillwell.
– Speaking of Stillwell. When Larkin was called up, he wore #15 since Stillwell donned #11. Larkin would make the switch to #11 in 1998 as Stillwell was traded to Kansas City during the previous off-season.
– During the 1990 World Series against the Oakland A’s, Larkin did not strikeout. In fact, as a team, the Reds only whiffed nine times…for all four games. In his two outings, Jose Rijo struck out 14 A’s batters.
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