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January 12, 2012

Hall welcomes Cincinnati kid in third year of eligibility

BY ROB CENTORANI

THE DAILY STAR

Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin was the lone selection by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. And Larkin’s admission into the National Baseball Hall of Fame came in a landslide.  The Cincinnati native who grew up cheering for the man he’d replace at shortstop Dave Concepcion garnered 86 percent of the vote. Seventyfive percent is needed for election.

In a conference call with reporters shortly after Hall President Jeff Idelson announced his election at 3 p.m. Monday, Larkin summed up his 19-year career thusly: “No assumptions, no quick fixes, the willingness to put in the work, I think all the intangible things and the things that supported the Xs and Os,” Larkin said of what made his career successful.

“It’s the approach to the game I’m most proud of. I considered myself a complementary player. My approach to the game was how do I help this team win as opposed to how do I get my numbers. That, in my opinion, is what I’m most proud of.”

Larkin, 47, and the late Ron Santo will be inducted into the Hall on July 22 at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, bringing the number of Hall of Famers to 297. Former Cubs third baseman Santo, who died in December of 2010 at the age of 70, earned election via the Golden Era Committee ballot last month. An ESPN studio analyst, Larkin said he was with his wife and daughter when he received the news from BBWAA President Jack O’Connell. “I’m kind of at a loss for words at this time,” said Orlando resident Larkin, who has three children. “I’m just incredibly, incredibly moved by this whole experience.”

In his third year on the ballot, Larkin said he became more optimistic about his chances after receiving 62 percent of the votes last year, when Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven earned election. He added that some Hall of Famers gave him even more reason to believe.

“Guys were telling me this is a great year because there aren’t that many guys (up for consideration),” said Larkin, a career .295 hitter who won a World Series ring in 1990 on a roster that included O-Tigers coach Luis Quinones. Upon his retirement in 2004, Larkin had 2,340 hits, 198 home runs, 1,329 runs, 960 RBIs and 379 stolen bases. He won Gold Glove awards from 1994-96 and was the National League’s MVP in 1995. Larkin also earned All-Star recognition 12 times.

Still, Larkin seemed surprised that he jumped 24 percent in the BBWAA ballot this year.

“I don’t know how things change, but you know what, I’m just so, so pleased,” said Larkin, who in 1996 became the first big-league shortstop to hit 30 or more home runs and steal at least 30 bases. “The 86 percent is a very high number and I’m so thankful to everyone that supported me.”

Larkin thanked his parents, family members and the coaches along the way who helped hone his skills. But it was a coach Larkin never played for who may have had the biggest impact on his career.

A three-sport standout at Cincinnati’s Moeller High a school famous for producing standout athletes Larkin opted to go to the University of Michigan in 1982 to play football and baseball. Then-Wolverines football  coach Bo Schembechler told Larkinhe would redshirt him for football his freshman year.

“It was really the first time in my life I played just one sport,” Larkin said. “I was always a three-sport guy in high school and then I gave up basketball my senior year. I tried to go just football and baseball, but I was a better football player at the time. (Being redshirted) was influential because I just worked on my baseball talent. That was an eye-opener because I got so much better.” Larkin never played football at Michigan.

After standout sophomore and junior baseball seasons at Michigan, Larkin was drafted fourth overall by his hometown Reds in 1985.

“They were persistent in wanting me to be part of that organization being from Cincinnati,” said Larkin, who landed on the disabled list 14 times during his career. “Eric Davis welcomed me into his home as a younger player and showed me how a teammate is supposed to treat and welcome other people. ... Pete Rose taught me the importance of hustling and playing through pain and injury.”

Larkin made his major-league debut in 1986 and eventually replaced Concepcion, who played for the Reds from 1970-88.

“I never thought about replacing him because he was the shortstop for the Big Red Machine,” Larkin said. “There were two shortstops in Cincinnati for about 40 years, Dave Concepcion and myself.”

Asked to pick a play or a specific skill that might define him as a player, Larkin said: “I don’t think there is one. If there was a camera in the clubhouse, my mentoring or taking guys under my wing, me helping the guys in the hotel after the game when they have stuff going on off the field, if there were cameras, that’s what you’d say this guy’s contributions were, along with what he did on the field.”

The next closest to earning election Monday was standout starting pitcher Jack Morris, who appeared on 67 percent of the ballots. First baseman Jeff Bagwell and closer Lee Smith made it on 56 and 51 percent, respectively, and outfielder Tim Raines garnered 49 percent of the vote.

Other notables were Mark McGwire (19.5), Don Mattingly (17.8) and BBWAA first-timer Bernie Williams (9.6).

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