Does Barry Larkin belong in the Hall of Fame? The answer is whatever you want it to be.

Phil Rizzuto was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans’ Committee in 1994. Many fans applauded the action. Many fans didn’t.

The following compares Larkin with Rizzuto:

Player    BA    OBP    SLG    HR    SB
Larkin    .295    .371    .444.    198    379
Rizzuto    .273    .351    .355    38    149

It appears that Larkin was a more effective offensive player.

Defensively, Larkin had a .975 fielding percentage, compared to the league’s .968 fielding percentage.

Rizzuto had a .968 fielding percentage, compared to the league’s .959 fielding percentage.

Based on the above, Larkin had a career worthy of being elected into the Hall of Fame.

Wait a minute.

Cal Ripken Jr. is a Hall of Fame shortstop. He was not the greatest shortstop in history, nor was he the worst.

The following compares Larkin, Rizzuto and Ripken:

Player    BA    OBP    SLG    HR    SB
Larkin    .295    .371    .444.    198    379
Rizzuto    .273    .351    .355    38    149
Ripken    .276    .340    .477    431    36

Ripken had a .979 fielding percentage, compared to the league’s .969 fielding percentage.
 
As Rizzuto would say, “Holy Cow.”

Larkin batted 19 points higher than Ripken and his on-base percentage was 31 points better. Why, even Rizzuto had a better on-base percentage than Ripken.

Based on statistics and the fact that Larkin played about six more seasons than Rizzuto, who missed three seasons defending our freedoms, Larkin is a Hall of Famer.

Compared to Ripken, whom some refer to as the “incomparable Cal Ripken,” Larkin is a Hall of Famer.

The following are the Hall of Fame shortstops:  

The link allows one to click on each of the players to review his career.

Some Hall of Fame shortstops were clearly superior to Larkin. Some were not.

Does Larkin belong? The answer is whatever you want it to be.