Monday April 9th, 2012

Ryan Ritchey (MLB reports Intern): This coming June, Barry Larkin will be inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. This is a special day for all the Cincinnati fans throughout the world. As a young kid, I grew up idolizing Barry Larkin and always wanted to be like him. Now as an 18-year-old, I am going to see my favorite player of all time go into the Hall of Fame.  Many people idolize the home run hitters, but for me it was about his hustle and heart to make the big plays when he needed to.

Larkin, as a young man growing up in Cincinnati was a huge Reds fan. Graduating from Moeller High School and being drafted by the Reds in the second round, he had a huge decision to  make. He was also offered baseball and football scholarships to the University of Michigan. He decided to take his talents to Michigan and only focus on baseball. Playing three seasons with the Wolverines was all he needed to be drafted 4th overall by his hometown team the Cincinnati Reds.

Little did he know at that time that he would be spending his entire 19 year career in his hometown playing in front of thousands of fans every single night. Larkin made his official debut for the Reds on August 13th, 1986. He is not one of those players that you see come into the league and put up tremendous numbers, but he did do what needed to be done to win baseball games.

In 1988 Larkin made his first All-Star game, and it was well deserved. Racking up 174 hits, and 40 stolen bases he also won the Silver Slugger award. This was only the start to a great career for Larkin. The 1988 season was the barrier that he needed to break to go on a tear of awards. Winning the Silver Slugger 5 straight seasons from ’88-’92. Also going to 4 straight All-Stars games on his way to ending his career with 12 All-Star appearances. He also won 9 Silver Slugger awards throughout his 19 year career. Let’s not forget his 3 Gold Glove awards, as he was often overlooked as a fielder in my opinion.

If you go and ask Larkin about all those awards… he would say that they do not matter- because in 1990 he won the only trophy that really matters in the game of baseball. That would be the World Series Trophy. That is what every kid wants to do, win a championship. Barry Larkin did just that. Even with all the awards and accolades, sadly I don’t think that Larkin would have made it to Cooperstown without that World Series Championship. That is how important a World Series title is to a player’s career.

On October 3, 2004 Barry Larkin played his final game as a major league player. Reds and Pirates at Great American Ball Park, a full house as every one knew this was probably the last game for the future Hall of Famer. I was one of the fans in the crowd that day. Sitting 11 rows up behind the 3rd base line I saw my idol Barry Larkin get hit number 2,340 which would be his last. The stadium erupted with cheers as the ball rolled into left field and continued as he took off his helmet to say thank you to the fans in Cincinnati. I have been to many games in Great American Ball Park but that late October night game is definitely the best moment I have ever had as a Reds fan. Thank you for the memories Barry and see you in Cooperstown in July!

Ryan Ritchey is an Intern with MLB reports:  I am a high school senior, play second base and plan on studying sports journalism in college. I am a huge fan of Barry Larkin and Brandon Phillips. Have been a baseball fan my whole life and have been writing about baseball since my freshman year.  Follow me on Twitter (@Ryan13Ritchey)

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