Barry Larkin Elected To Baseball Hall Of Fame

Former Cincinnati Reds SS Barry Larkin was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY yesterday after receiving 86% of the vote (75% is required for election). Larkin was the only player on the ballot that was elected this year ahead of Jack Morris, Jeff Bagwell and Lee Smith. He will be inducted in July.

Larkin spent his entire 19-year career in Cincinnati where he compiled a career average of .295 with 198 HRs, 960 RBIs, 2,340 hits and 379 stolen bases. Larkin became the first ever SS to hit 30 HRs and steal 30 bases in a season in 1996, a year after he won his only MVP award in 1995. Larking was a 12 time National League All-Star at SS and won 3 Gold Gloves at the position. He was a member of Cincinnati's 1990 World Series winning team managed by Lou Pinella.

Larkin was elected to the Hall in his 3rd year on the ballot after receiving only 52% of the vote in his first attempt. Larkin was likely the last remaining qualified candidate on the ballot that did not have his career tainted by the influence of PEDs. 500 Home Run club members Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro have each failed miserably in Hall of Fame voting over the past few years reflecting the stance taken by the Baseball Writers Association of America who are responsible for ballot voting. Next season will be the most interesting test of Hall of Fame voting in the steroids era as Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa will all be eligible for election (Mike Piazza, Curt Schilling and Craig Biggio will also be eligible but they will likely face less scrutiny than the aforementioned trio).