Barry Larkin – HOF

Congrats to Barry Larkin for making the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.  He may not have seemed like a Hall of Famer while he was playing, but you can’t escape some of the numbers.  To me, one of the most important numbers is — number of times named to the All Star Game.  That means you are either the best or second best at your position in the entire league.  Larkin made it 12 times!  He was once the MVP of the league.  He played on a world championship team.  He also won a few Gold Gloves.  Who cares about Gold Gloves?  He was a player who had a strong impact on the game of baseball.  In telling the history of the game, he and his career achievements are part of the story.

It is harder to get into the baseball HOF than any of the other sports. Look at the 8 or so that make the NFL HOF each year.  And the many who make the hockey and NBA HOF’s each year.  Baseball often only rewards one, and sometimes no one.  So many players who have had great careers do not pass the difficult test and make it.

Anyone who can pass that scrutiny and gets that 75% vote has had one helluva career and my hat is off to you, Mr. Larkin for your achievement.