Barry Larkin joins the pantheon

Ideally you’d rename Fort Washington Way, since it sits between Second and Third…but that’s maybe a little on-the-nose.

I’m sure there are other high school coaches out there with multiple HOF’ers to their credit, but not many. It has to be a nice feeling for him and will be again in a few years when Griffey gets in.

During the summer of ’04 when Griffey was sitting at 499 homers, my roommate and I drove down to the first game of a series the Reds were playing against the Rangers. Jung Bong started against Kenny Rogers, and the Reds came back from down 4-2 and tied it up in the 9th, courtesy of a blown save from Coco Cordero. The Reds got 2 on in the bottom of the 11th, and Larkin came up to the plate with the whole crowd chanting, “BARRY, BARRY, BARRY!” He obliged the crowd by ripping a ground ball base hit up the middle, scoring LaRue from 3rd, and winning the game. Good times…

one of the best all around short stops in the history of the game. Though he is partially lucky to have played in an era of mediocre shortstops—especially having his best years before Jeter, Garciaparra, Rodriguez, and Tejada had their incredibly awesome years.

I was at the game where he finally hit his first grand slam. Though better SS’s have come since, he is still very worthy.

Interesting article by C Trent on cbs’s site about next year’s candidates. If Larkin had not been inducted this year, he may never have made it!

http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/34288363

Interesting to see out of this list who will make it? I’d say Lofton, Biggio, and Schilling are the only ones who even have a chance.

8. Barry Larkin, ss, 21, 5-11, 175, R-R
When Larkin came out of Cincinnati’s Moeller High School in 1982, the Reds thought enough of him to make him a second-round selection. Larkin, however, turned them down and decided to go to the University of Michigan. The Reds never gave up hope, and when Larkin was eligible in the draft again last summer, they used their No. 1 pick to take him. This time he signed, and he gave the Reds nothing but reason for optimism with his debut.

Larkin looked right at home in AA, hitting .267 for Vermont. He didn’t show power (one home run in 255 at-bats), but that will come. The key for him was just getting his feet on the ground, and he was not overpowered by the high level of competition (21 strikeouts in 255 at-bats). He will have good power for a shortstop.

In fact, he should hit enough that he could be moved to third base, a good possibility considering (Kurt) Stillwell is on the verge of making it to the big leagues.

It would only be because of Stillwell that Larkin would have to change positions. He’s got the range and natural actions of a shortstop, and good enough arm strength to play the position on turf.

Here are Double-A Eastern League scouting reports on Bernie Williams and Jeff Bagwell, when they ranked No. 2 and No. 4, respectively, in 1990, as written by Phil Bowman of the Canton (Ohio) Repository . . .

I want to thank all the Reds fans who in the name of Barry picked up the flag of Trammell’s Hall of Fame candidacy as well. I’m very happy Larkin earned this very deserved recognition (we have a special place in our hearts for Ohioans who Go Blue).

I ask now that you continue to join Tiger fans in addressing the next-most glaring absence in Hall of Fame voting, the guy with basically the exact same career as Larkin, left behind only because what happens in the Midwest for some reason just isn’t that important to the BBWAA.

As you celebrate the induction of one of the six greatest players to ever man the 6, I ask that you don’t forget the other.