Barry Larkin

[BoSox Rule]

Originally posted by Cougar
Barry Larkin is:

*11 time All-Star SS; unchallenged as the best NL SS of the 1990's.
*Three time Gold Glove SS who will have played 2000 games at the position (29 to go)
* MVP (1995)
* Best player on a championship team (1990)
* .338 average in the postseason, including .353 in the World Series and .387 in the 1995 postseason.
* Meets 44% of typical HOF standards
* Over 2200 hits, career BA of .295, OBP of .372
* Just under 200 HR (189 at this writing) from the SS position (historically very good, even if that's all changing with the new wave). Also 418 doubles and counting, and 73 triples and counting. .447 career slugging percentage.
* 376 SB at an 83% success rate.

Without listing out all the shortstops in the HOF as of now, I'd say with a high degree of confidence that Larkin is probably clearly better than at least half of them. Only a lack of durability is keeping Larkin out of the no-brainer category; were he healthier, he'd have 300-400 more hits and probably a slightly higher BA. As is, Larkin was the best SS in his league for something like a 12-13 year span, from shortly after he entered the league to about 2000.

He clearly deserves the Hall call. The only thing that may hurt him is that he was really a generalist; he did everything very well, but nothing incandescently well. People who don't look closely enough may miss how great Larkin really is.

Larkin should go to the HOF. There's no question about it.

Wow, my comment was VERY ignorant. I should have done my homework. Now, I say he's in.

[Cougar]

Barry Larkin is:

*11 time All-Star SS; unchallenged as the best NL SS of the 1990's.
*Three time Gold Glove SS who will have played 2000 games at the position (29 to go)
* MVP (1995)
* Best player on a championship team (1990)
* .338 average in the postseason, including .353 in the World Series and .387 in the 1995 postseason.
* Meets 44% of typical HOF standards
* Over 2200 hits, career BA of .295, OBP of .372
* Just under 200 HR (189 at this writing) from the SS position (historically very good, even if that's all changing with the new wave). Also 418 doubles and counting, and 73 triples and counting. .447 career slugging percentage.
* 376 SB at an 83% success rate.

Without listing out all the shortstops in the HOF as of now, I'd say with a high degree of confidence that Larkin is probably clearly better than at least half of them. Only a lack of durability is keeping Larkin out of the no-brainer category; were he healthier, he'd have 300-400 more hits and probably a slightly higher BA. As is, Larkin was the best SS in his league for something like a 12-13 year span, from shortly after he entered the league to about 2000.

He clearly deserves the Hall call. The only thing that may hurt him is that he was really a generalist; he did everything very well, but nothing incandescently well. People who don't look closely enough may miss how great Larkin really is.

Larkin should go to the HOF. There's no question about it.

[Eddie Collins]

Originally posted by BoSox Rule
He's played in an era with Cal Ripken, Ozzie Smith, Nomar, A-Rod, and Jeter. Sorry, but no.

Nomar, Arod, and Jeter began playing once Larkin was past his prime.

[BoSox Rule]

He's played in an era with Cal Ripken, Ozzie Smith, Nomar, A-Rod, and Jeter. Sorry, but no.

[Eddie Collins]

Is Barry a HOFer? He had some spectacular seasons, played great defense, and was one the most complete players of his time during his prime.

What do you guys think?