Barry Larkin the HOF'er

[Krawhitham]

86%

[takealeake]

I'm watching on MLB online. Couldn't happen to a better guy and player, I'll take him just as much as any shortstop in history.

[JKam]

Congrats to Larkin. Still my all time favorite baseball player ever.

[Who Dey Time]

Awesome! Congrats to #11!

[jimbo]

So happy for Barry. Such a great representative of the Reds.

[HalMorrisRules]

I was surprised I got as emotional as I did when it was finally announced.

[Jim]

Congrats to Barry! Being my fav player for the Reds throughout my childhood, I can't explain how happy I am for him!

[Krawhitham]

Stolen from TORG

https://p.twimg.com/AivhNwXCEAAPiW1.png:large

[Spider Tre]

congrats to Larkin! now to time for the Reds to officially retire #11

[takealeake]

Listening to him and Eric Davis talk to each other, great stuff. It's what baseball's all about.

[tedies]

congrats to Larkin! now to time for the Reds to officially retire #11

:thumbup: I wonder what the Reds will plan this summer to celebrate

[powersackers]

So proud. Got a bit choked up after listenting to he and Davis and going to Baseball-reference.com and seeing the HOF banner on #11's page. Such a great player and person. Met him often and he was always top notch with teh fans.

[Krawhitham]

:thumbup: I wonder what the Reds will plan this summer to celebrate

They are having a press conference with Larkin Wednesday at 3:00pm

[bounty37h]

Awesome, congrats Barry!!! One of the good guys in the game!

[zacharync]

Congrats Barry! So glad I got to see him play in person.

[HalMorrisRules]

I was wondering who he would get to give his induction speech and thought, why not Pete? Wouldnt that be a fun controversy? But I am sure Barry would stay away from that. But it does make you wonder who he will pick.

[Tadasimha]

Damn fine representative of the Reds in particular and baseball in general. Well deserved and earned after his career.

Congrats Barry!

[CrosleyField]

Congrats to Barry. Does this make his rookie card worth more?

[Touchdown Jesus]

So happy for one of my top 3 favorite Reds of all time.

Getting Skyline for dinner tonight in honor!

[shredda2000]

Way to go Barry!!!

[Red Raindog]

Happy day!

Loved watching #11 play.

[Captain13]

I was wondering who he would get to give his induction speech and thought, why not Pete? Wouldnt that be a fun controversy? But I am sure Barry would stay away from that. But it does make you wonder who he will pick.

I would love to see him pick Davey C or Sweet Lou, but ultimately it is a personal choice for Barry to make.

[buckeyeboy]

Congrats to Barry! No sommersaults. Just excellent defense and strong hitting.

[drowg14]

woot!

[Stray]

I'm so happy that he got in, at my age he really is the defining face of the Reds in my lifetime.

[izzy's dad]

Looks like Izzy's Dad and Code are gonna be getting crunked in Cooperstown this summer. Anybody else going? I am going to party like it is 1990!

[texasdave]

Larkin belongs in The Hall. A well-deserved congratulations.

[code]

Looks like Izzy's Dad and Code are gonna be getting crunked in Cooperstown this summer. Anybody else going? I am going to party like it is 1990!

It's going to be a blast!! Such an awesome thing to celebrate!

[bounty37h]

Looks like Izzy's Dad and Code are gonna be getting crunked in Cooperstown this summer. Anybody else going? I am going to party like it is 1990!

Would love to, I went to Benchs and camped on the steet that night, played whiffleball on the streets till early morning, and slept in a lawnchair locked to the fence- was at the very front of "regular" people (not family/media). My wife is pregnant though so that might hinder me being able to make that journey, but I certainly want to try and make it.

[Pete4prez]

Congratulations Barry, well deserved.

[NCCardfan]

Congrats to Mr. Larkin and all of the Reds orginization for sharing his awesome play with us for all those years. Very well deserved for sure.

Not trying to rain on this parade but for Larkin and Santo to be the only 2 to go in this year is great for Santo's family. It still burns me up that he didn't get the call while he was with us. As a Cardinal fan I'm supposed to dislike the cubs (and I do, don't get me wrong) but Ron Santo should have gone in before he passed. He deserved better than that.

[Reds]

Barry is as close as I've ever had to a hero in sports. I'm not a fan of players, but instead of teams, but Barry is the one name I'm proud to put on the back of my jersey. 30-30 slick fielding WS winning shortstop, what's not to love?

[Ohayou]

Obviously I'm very happy for Barry, but the BBWAA is an absolute joke. Last year he had 62%. This year: 86%. What did he do in the last 12 months to convince a quarter of the voters that he is now a HOFer? I hate it when these writers go power hungry and set their own little waiting periods. The waiting period is 5 years, you're either a HOFer or you're not. And this wasn't even a first ballot thing, because last year was his second year on the ballot.

[bagz]

Congrats to you Barry! It's a well deserved honor for you. It was a joy to watch you play and you are true class act.

[Tuff Nut]

Way to go Barry.

:rockband::dancingcool::party:

[bounty37h]

I got to see his son last night, he plays for Miami basketball and saw him against UNC last night.

[NCCardfan]

Obviously I'm very happy for Barry, but the BBWAA is an absolute joke. Last year he had 62%. This year: 86%. What did he do in the last 12 months to convince a quarter of the voters that he is now a HOFer? I hate it when these writers go power hungry and set their own little waiting periods. The waiting period is 5 years, you're either a HOFer or you're not. And this wasn't even a first ballot thing, because last year was his second year on the ballot.

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So true about the BBWAA, some years there's 5-6 players that deserve the honor & some years there's none. Larkin was an absolute HoF worthy player, maybe not 1st ballot but last year he should have gone in without a doubt.

[bounty37h]

I agree too, although it worked out for Larkin in this case. I dont think a player shoud be on multiple years-havent done anything to improve chances. I think continue eligible 5 years after retirement, if not in that year than name back on review list 3-4 years later, if not that time, a 10 year vets review maybe. I dont understand how a former player not being "good enough" for 3-4 years than all of a sudden can get in on the 5'th, usually based on who else is on the list that given year. Cheapens the HOF IMO.

[RedsfaninMT]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

So true about the BBWAA, some years there's 5-6 players that deserve the honor & some years there's none. Larkin was an absolute HoF worthy player, maybe not 1st ballot but last year he should have gone in without a doubt.

I don't understand this type of reasoning. Either you are HOF material or not. It doesn't change from one year to the next. Not a first ballot HOF, but it's okay the 2nd or 3rd year? Huh? HOF is for the elite players, which Larkin clearly was. Is 1st ballot for the truly elite? Should they create a super-elite HOF? It all seems completely whacky.

And then you have 4 yahoos who voted for Bill Muller. Bill Mueller? Seriously? Those writers should be stripped of their write to ever vote again.