The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Inside Michigan ATHLETICS Barry Larkin Elected To MLB Hall Of Fame O n July 22, Barry Larkin will be- come the first former Michigan athlete since 2005 (Benny Friedman, NFL) inducted into one of the four major professional sports Hall of Fa- mes when he is enshrined in Cooper- stown at the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Larkin was elected Jan. 9 with 86.4 percent of the vote from the Baseball Writers Association of Amer- ica, in his third time on the ballot. "I could not believe I was hearing it," Larkin told MLB.com, on receiving the call with the good news. "The out- of-body experience for me was sitting there, looking at the phone saying, 'Oh my goodness.' "It's starting to sink in, but this has been absolutely incredible." The fourth overall pick in the 1985 MLB Draft, Larkin spent his entire 19-year career with the Cincinnati HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES NFL MAJOR SPORTS MICHIGAN'S Athlete George Allen# Len Ford Tom Mack Dan Dierdorf Ralph Wilson^ Athlete George Sisler Benny Friedman 1924-26 2005 Bill Hewitt Elroy Hirsch 1943 1947 1968 2002 1945-47 1976 1963-65 1999 1968-70 1996 2009 # Inducted as a coach; ^ Michigan Law School grad inducted as an owner MLB Charlie Gehringer 1923 Years Inducted 1913-15 1939 1949 Branch Rickey% 1910-13 1967 Barry Larkin 1983-85 2012 % Coached at U-M, inducted as a pioneer of the game * Michigan has no NBA or NHL inductees 12 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2012 Years Inducted 1929-31 1971 Reds from 1986-2004. He helped usher in a new era at the shortstop position — the all-around hitter and fielder — building on the already successful ca- reers of Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer Cal Ripken (1981-2001) and St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith (1978-96). Larkin sported a life- time.295 batting aver- age (12th all time among shortstops) with a .371 on- base percentage (eighth) while fielding at a 97.5 percent clip at one of base- ball's most demanding positions. He hit .300 or better in nine major league seasons, including a career-best .342 average in 1989. Larkin hit 198 home runs (10th among shortstops), had 715 total extra-base hits (eighth), drove in 960 runs (18th) and stole 379 bases (13th). "When I think of Barry, I think of a Larkin spent three seasons at U-M from 1983-85 and was an All-American in his sophomore and junior cam- paigns before going on to a 19-year career with the Cincinnati Reds from 1986- 2004. U-M SPORTS INFORMATION PHOTO COURTESY MVP in 1995 after hitting .319 with 15 home runs and 66 RBI. A year later, he became the first shortstop in Major League Baseball history to hit 30 home runs (33) and swipe 30 bases (36) in one season, estab- lishing the 30-30 club at the position. Larkin spent three sea- sons at U-M from 1983- 85 and was a two-time All-American in his sophomore and junior campaigns. He led the Wolverines to the College World Series in each of his first two years in Ann Ar- bor, and ranks among the top five at Michigan in tri- ples (third, 13), runs (fifth, 172), stolen bases (eighth, 44) and batting average (10th, .361). His No. 16 jersey was retired in May 2010. "Barry was a great player for the steady, smart and terrific all-around player both at shortstop and at the plate," Ripken told MLB.com. "I wish we had played in the same league, but we were in 11 All-Star Games together and I always enjoyed being around him and talking baseball." Larkin was a 12-time All-Star and was the top overall hitter at his posi- tion in the National League in nine seasons, garnering the Silver Slugger award each time. He also earned three Gold Gloves as the top fielding short- stop in 1994, 1995 and 1996. In 1990, the Cincinnati native led the Reds to the World Series title, hitting .300 in the postseason and .353 in four Series contests. Larkin was the National League University of Michigan," current head coach Rich Maloney said. "I actually played against him. He's a very gifted athlete and for him to have such a long and successful career, you have to be special. "The grind of Major League Base- ball is incredible, and he really made it look easy. He not only was a great fielder, was smooth and athletic, he also was an outstanding hitter. I think even more than that, he was a leader. He led the Reds throughout his career, and I think that's what shortstops do. "Barry exemplifies the best in what we do at Michigan, the Leaders and Best, and Barry is at the top of the list for a Michigan man. We certainly are proud of his accomplishments here at Michigan and in Major League Base- ball. I know it's a special for him and his family, and we're elated for them."