Cooperstown Chronicles - Barry Larkin

Photo courtesy of TSN Archives/Icon SMI

 I’ve decided to profile Barry Larkin.  Here are my findings.

Image courtesy of  Icon SMI

The Numbers
2180Games
7937 At Bats
.295 Batting Average
1329 Runs
2340 Hits
441 Doubles (93rd All-time)
76 Triples
198 Home Runs
960 RBI
939 Walks 
379 Stolen Bases (83rd All-time)

Playoffs: 17 Games, 24 hits in 71 at bats (.338), 11 Runs, 5 Doubles, 2b Triples, 3 RBI, 7 Walks, 8 Steals, 1 World Series Ring

Awards
1995  MVP
3 Gold Gloves
9 Silver Sluggers
12 All-Star Game Appearances
MVP Votes in 6 Seasons

Top Ten Finishes
Batting Average - Four Times
On-Base % - Three Times
Slugging % - Twice
OPS - Twice
Games - Twice
At-Bats - Once
Runs - Four Times
Hits - Three Times
Doubles - Once
Triples - Twice
Walks - Three Times
Hit By Pitch - Twice
Stolen Bases - Five Times

His numbers don’t scream Hall of Fame until you consider his positino.  Barry Larkin was one of the greatest shortstops of his era.  He did it both with his bat (9 Silver Sluggers) and his glove (3 GGs).  Not only was he great at both sides of the ball, but he was a true leader.  He tore the leather off the ball en route to a World Series victory for the 1990 Reds.  Barry was a special player, and I’m glad that I was able to watch him play.  He lived in the shadows of Cal Ripken and Ozzie Smith, but he was one of the best Shortstops of his generation.  The World Series victory and MVP helps his cause.  He certainly is a Hall of Famer by my standards.

References
Baseball-reference.com

Past Chronicles
Bert Byleven
Andre Dawson
Dale Murphy
Mark McGwire
Bobby Matthews
Tommy John
Buck O’Neill & Minnie Minoso
Jim Rice
Ted Simmons
Lee Smith
Jack Morris
Al Oliver
Steve Garvey
Jim Kaat
Pete Ro$e
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Dave Concepcion
Lou Whitaker
Alan Trammell
Ron Santo
Ron Guidry
Gil Hodges
Dave Parker
Tony Mullane
Keith Hernandez
Don Mattingly
Dwight Evans
Ralph Houk (Manager)
Jimmie Dykes (Player/Manager)
Charlie Grimm (Player/Manager)
Billy Martin (Player/Manager)
Harold Baines
Gene Mauch (Manager)
Whitey Herzog (Manager)
Tom Kelly (Manager)
Joe Carter
Rusty Staub
Gary Gaetti
Jimmy Ryan
George Van Haltren
Roger Maris
Lance Parrish
Mo Vaughn
Mark Grace
Dennis Martinez
Chuck Finley
Fred McGriff
Wes Parker
Steve Finley
Orlando Cepeda*
Albert Belle
Willie Randolph
Graig Nettles
Luis Gonzalez
Lefty O’Doul
Rocky Colavito
Boog Powell
Jerry Koosman
Mike Cuellar
Edgar Martinez
Brooks Robinson*
Roberto Alomar
Dave Stieb
John Franco
Maury Wills
Sherry Magee
Phil Rizzuto*
Orel Hershiser
Frank Viola
David Cone
Dwight Gooden
Tim Raines
Bernie Williams

* signifies actual Hall of Famers

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