Barry Larkin

Infobox MLB retired
name=Barry Larkin


position=Shortstop
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1964|4|28
Cincinnati, Ohio
debutdate=August 13
debutyear=by|1986
debutteam=Cincinnati Reds
finaldate=October 3
finalyear=by|2004
finalteam=Cincinnati Reds
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.295
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=2,340
stat3label=Stolen bases
stat3value=379
teams=
* Cincinnati Reds (by|1986-by|2004)
highlights=
* 12x All-Star selection (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004)
* World Series champion (1990)
* 3x Gold Glove Award winner (1994, 1995, 1996)
* 9x Silver Slugger Award winner (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999)
* 1995 NL MVP
* 1993 Roberto Clemente Award
* 1994 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award

Barry Louis Larkin (born April 28, 1964 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a former Major League Baseball player. Larkin played shortstop for the Reds from by|1986 to by|2004 and was one of the pivotal players on the by|1990 Reds' World Series championship team.

Early life

Larkin's father was a chemist who worked for the Federal Government. Larkin graduated from Moeller High School in suburban Cincinnati in 1982.cite book|title=Biographical Dictionary of American Sports|pages=851-2|isbn=0313311757|author=David L. Porter|year=2000|publisher=Greenwood PublishingGroup]

He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds of the National League in the second round of the amateur baseball draft, and was offered a football scholarship at the University of Notre Dame and football and baseball scholarships at University of Michigan. He chose to play baseball only at Michigan, and was again drafted by the Reds in by|1985, this time in the first round (4th overall). [cite news|title=Jays pick catcher in opening round|publisher=Globe and Mail|author=Davidson, Jim|date=1985-06-04]

He was a member of the 1984 Baseball Olympic team.

Professional career

Minor leagues

Larkin played with the Vermont Reds on their team that won the 1985 Eastern League Championship and in 1986 was the Rookie of the Year and AA Player of the Year with the Denver Zephyrs.

Cincinnati Reds

1986-1989: Early years

After arriving in the majors, Larkin battled fellow prospect Kurt Stillwell for the starting shortstop spot, but soon established himself as the logical heir to Dave Concepción's legacy.

In 1988 Larkin lead all Major Leaguers by striking out only 24 times in 588 at bats.

1990: World Series winner

Larkin batted .351 in the 1990 World Series to lead the Reds to a four game sweep of the Oakland Athletics.

1991-1994: Mid-career

On June 27-28 1991 Larkin became the first shortstop to ever hit five total home runs over the course of two consecutive major league games. In 1993 he won the Roberto Clemente Award.

1995: Most Valuable Player

In by|1995, Larkin was sixth in batting (.319) and second in stolen bases (51) to win the National League's MVP award. He led the Reds to a central division title and the 1995 National League Championship Series, where he batted .389 but they lost to the Atlanta Braves.

1996-2004: Reds captain and later career

In 1996, Larkin hit a career-high 33 home runs. Larkin was named the Reds' captain before the by|1997 season (the first player to hold the honor since Concepción's retirement).

Accomplishments

Larkin learned Spanish in order to build a rapport with his Hispanic teammates. Despite being injury-prone, missing significant playing time in 6 of his 19 Major League seasons [cite book|title=The Baseball Same Game: Finding Comparable Players from the National Pastime|author=Lombardi, Stephen M.|year=2005|pages=181|isbn=0595354572] ,he won the Gold Glove Award from by|1994-by|1996, and was a 12-time All-Star: in the by|1988-by|1991, by|1993-by|1997, by|1999, by|2000, and 2004 seasons. He became the first major league shortstop to join the 30-30 club when he had 33 home runs and 36 stolen bases in 1996.

In his 18-year career with Cincinnati, Larkin batted for a .295 batting average, with 2340 hits, 198 home runs, 960 RBI, 1329 runs scored and 379 stolen bases. Baseball historian and expert Bill James has called Larkin one of the greatest shortstops of all time, ranking him #6 all time in his "New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract".

Retirement and honors

Larkin called off a planned retirement ceremony scheduled for October 2, 2004, because he was not sure if he would retire. He did indeed retire, and is now working in the Washington Nationals organization.

The Reds have not issued his #11 jersey in the past three seasons, and it is virtually taken for granted that it will be formally retired.

On July 20, by|2008, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum inducted Larkin, César Gerónimo, August "Garry" Herrmann, and Joey Jay. The induction was held at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Cincinnati and hosted by Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman. [cite news|title=Reds hail HOF inductees|url=http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080720/SPT04/807200417|publisher=Cincinnati Enquirer|date=2008-07-20|author=Russel, Shannon]

Personal

Larkin's brother, Stephen Larkin, also played in the majors (and with the Reds).

He and his wife, Lisa, have two daughters, Brielle and Cymber, and a son, DeShane.

Philanthropy

In 2008, Larkin released a charity wine called "Barry Larkin's Merlot" with 100% of his proceeds supporting Champions Sports Foundation. Larkin built the Champions Sports Complex to harness the power of sport and use it to successfully develop the youth in America by targeting their social, emotional, and educational needs. The Foundation was established as the premier safe haven for the total development of young people through the authority of sport.

ee also

* Top 500 home run hitters of all time
* List of major league players with 2,000 hits
* List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
* List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
* 30-30 club
* Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game

References

External links

*baseballstats |mlb= |espn=1768 |br=l/larkiba01|fangraphs=335 |cube=L/barry-larkin
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/L/Larkin_Barry.stm Baseball Library - article and bio]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=3901 ESPN profile and stats]