Is Barry Larkin a first-ballot Hall of Famer?
Barry Larkin HOF SS Rankings.pdf
This winter, former Reds SS Barry Larkin will be on the ballot for inclusion into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. This will be his first time on the ballot. I’m sure we’ll visit this again as the time approaches, but take a look at these facts for now from some research I did…
There are currently 23 shortstops enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. If elected, Barry Larkin (19 seasons, 1986-2004) would rank among the top 50% in most categories: batting average (9th), games (11th), at bats (12th), runs (8th), hits (10th), doubles (6th), triples (17th), home runs (4th), runs batted in (10th), walks (8th), strikeouts (13th), stolen bases (6th), errors (2nd). See attached files.
AWARDS
National League Most Valuable Player – 1995
12-time All-Star (1988-91, 1993-97, 1999-00, 2004)
9-time Silver Slugger Award winner (1988-92, 1995-96, 1998-99)
3-time Gold Glove Award winner (1994-96)
World Series Champion – 1990
Roberto Clemente Award – 1993
Lou Gehrig Memorial Award – 1994
OTHER NOTES
Of those selected National League All-Stars at least 12 times, he would be the only one eligible not in the HOF (Rose 17, Bonds 14, Piazza 12). Both Bonds and Piazza are not eligible for induction until 2013. See below.
Times on NL All-Star roster
Stan Musial* 24
Willie Mays* 24
Hank Aaron* 24
Warren Spahn* 17
Pete Rose 17
Roberto Clemente* 15
Ozzie Smith* 15
Tony Gwynn* 15
Ernie Banks* 14
Barry Bonds 14
Johnny Bench* 14
Eddie Mathews* 12
Tom Seaver* 12
Mike Schmidt* 12
Mike Piazza 12
Mel Ott* 12
Barry Larkin 12
*indicates HOF
-JM
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Reds Internal Affairs 
I think Barry Larkin WILL be elected in 2010, along with Andre Dawson (who may/may not deserve it), Bert Blyleven, and Roberto Alomar. There are six others I feel deserve the Baseball HoF: Alan Trammell, Tim Raines, Mark McGwire, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, and Dale Murphy. If I had more space (There’s a ten-vote maximum) I’d consider Lee Smith, Harold Baines, Robin Ventura, Andres Galarraga, Dave Parker, Don Mattingly & Jack Morris. But I don’t have that space, and all of those guys I probably would end up not voting for, anyway. But to answer the question, yes, I think Barry Larkin is a worthy first ballot Hall-of-Famer..