Barry Larkin--1987
On July 1, 1986 I made my major league
debut for the Cincinnati Reds--- as their
Traveling Secretary. Six weeks later, on
August 13, 1986, Barry Larkin made his
major league debut for the Cincinnati
Reds --- as a pinch-hitter. Larkin would
go on to a wonderful 19-year career as
the Reds shortstop. I worked six seasons
for the Reds enjoying a front row seat for
Larkin’s emergence from his cocoon as
he transformed into a butterfly that would
float its’ way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Watching “Lark” the other day in
interviews, I could tell he was humbled by
his election--- but then again, that’s
just Barry. He grew up around Hall of
Famers, from watching the Big Red
Machine in the 1970’s to sharing a locker
room with Tony Perez (and the
statistically worthy Pete Rose).
The Cincinnati Enquirer ran a series of
articles covering Larkin’s election on the
day after, of which the following quote
from former Red Tom Browning in John
Erardi’s piece sums up what a lot of us
who know Barry feel:
"Funny thing is," said Browning, "I
didn’t think of him as a Hall of Famer
until after (we had retired). "I thought
of Pete (Rose) and Tony (Perez) that
way, but when you’re playing ball with
a guy every day and he’s making great
plays in the field and doing great
things at bat all the time, you just
come to expect it”. (Cincinnati
Enquirer, 1/9/12)
Larkin did a lot of the little things to pave
his way to Cooperstown. He was a
consummate player with the five tools---
and more as he was a consummate
teammate, helping keep a clubhouse in
order while he played the game the
proper way. A writer friend of mine wrote
that Larkin always ran the ball out and
thinking back, I don’t remember the
shortstop ever dogging it on the field.
While watching Larkin interviewed on
MLB.TV after receiving his call,
everything just started to hit me that the
kid from Cincinnati who started his big
league career at the same time I did is
going to the Hall of Fame--- and I am
soooo happy for him.
Editor’s Note: Check back during mid-
July as I will recount some Barry Larkin
stories during his induction week. Also,
congrats to my friend Gene Bennett, the
former Reds scout who signed Larkin---
behind every big league player is a scout
who saw the talent.
(1/11/12)
debut for the Cincinnati Reds--- as their
Traveling Secretary. Six weeks later, on
August 13, 1986, Barry Larkin made his
major league debut for the Cincinnati
Reds --- as a pinch-hitter. Larkin would
go on to a wonderful 19-year career as
the Reds shortstop. I worked six seasons
for the Reds enjoying a front row seat for
Larkin’s emergence from his cocoon as
he transformed into a butterfly that would
float its’ way to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Watching “Lark” the other day in
interviews, I could tell he was humbled by
his election--- but then again, that’s
just Barry. He grew up around Hall of
Famers, from watching the Big Red
Machine in the 1970’s to sharing a locker
room with Tony Perez (and the
statistically worthy Pete Rose).
The Cincinnati Enquirer ran a series of
articles covering Larkin’s election on the
day after, of which the following quote
from former Red Tom Browning in John
Erardi’s piece sums up what a lot of us
who know Barry feel:
"Funny thing is," said Browning, "I
didn’t think of him as a Hall of Famer
until after (we had retired). "I thought
of Pete (Rose) and Tony (Perez) that
way, but when you’re playing ball with
a guy every day and he’s making great
plays in the field and doing great
things at bat all the time, you just
come to expect it”. (Cincinnati
Enquirer, 1/9/12)
Larkin did a lot of the little things to pave
his way to Cooperstown. He was a
consummate player with the five tools---
and more as he was a consummate
teammate, helping keep a clubhouse in
order while he played the game the
proper way. A writer friend of mine wrote
that Larkin always ran the ball out and
thinking back, I don’t remember the
shortstop ever dogging it on the field.
While watching Larkin interviewed on
MLB.TV after receiving his call,
everything just started to hit me that the
kid from Cincinnati who started his big
league career at the same time I did is
going to the Hall of Fame--- and I am
soooo happy for him.
Editor’s Note: Check back during mid-
July as I will recount some Barry Larkin
stories during his induction week. Also,
congrats to my friend Gene Bennett, the
former Reds scout who signed Larkin---
behind every big league player is a scout
who saw the talent.
(1/11/12)
