Does Barry Larkin Belong in the Baseball Hall of Fame?

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:  

Ward, John	New York Gothams, Giants	Shortstop	1964
Yount, Robin	Milwaukee Brewers	Shortstop	1999
Wells, Willie	St. Louis Stars	Shortstop	1997
Wagner, Honus	Pittsburgh Pirates	Shortstop	1936
Wallace, Bobby	St. Louis Browns	Shortstop	1953
Vaughan, Arky	Pittsburgh Pirates	Shortstop	1985
Tinker, Joe	Chicago Cubs	Shortstop	1946
Smith, Ozzie	St. Louis Cardinals	Shortstop	2002
Sewell, Joe	Cleveland Indians	Shortstop	1977
Rizzuto, Phil	New York Yankees	Shortstop	1994
Reese, Pee Wee	Brooklyn Dodgers	Shortstop	1984
Ripken, Cal	Baltimore Orioles	Shortstop	2007
Maranville, Rabbit	Boston Braves	Shortstop	1954
Lloyd, Pop	New York Lincoln Giants	Shortstop	1977
Jackson, Travis	New York Giants	Shortstop	1982
Jennings, Hugh	Baltimore Orioles (National League)	Shortstop	1945
Davis, George	New York Giants	Shortstop	1998
Cronin, Joe	Boston Red Sox	Shortstop	1956
Boudreau, Lou	Cleveland Indians	Shortstop	1970
Bancroft, Dave	Philadelphia Phillies	Shortstop	1971
Appling, Luke	Chicago White Sox	Shortstop	1964
Aparicio, Luis	Chicago White Sox	Shortstop	1984

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.