In his third year on the ballot, Barry Larkin was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The former Cincinnati Reds shortstop received 86.4% of the vote. A vote of 75% is necessary to be inducted into the Hall.
During his career, Larkin was selected to the all-star team 12 times. He also won three gold gloves and nine silver slugger awards. Here’s what I said last week about Larkin’s candidacy for the Hall of Fame:
At first, I wasn’t sold on Barry Larkin. I don’t remember him being as great as he was. Maybe he just had a more quiet career than some other players, but it’s hard to deny that Larkin was a great shortstop. He came along at a time when many shortstops were still weak hitting defensive specialists. But Larkin could hit AND play defense. He hit for average, he had some power, and he got on base. Larkin received 62.1% of the vote last year and is expected to rise about the 75% level this year. I expect him to be elected to the Hall of Fame in 2012.
Others that I thought should make the Hall of Fame were not quite so lucky. For instance, here is how the other people I woulds have voted for fared:
- Jeff Bagwell — 56.0%
- Edgar Martinez — 36.5%
- Tim Raines — 48.7%
The rest of the vote went like this:
- Vinny Castillo — 1.0%
- Juan Gonzalez — 4.0%
- Javy Lopez — 0.2%
- Don Mattingly — 17.8%
- Fred McGriff — 23.9%
- Mark McGwire — 19.5%
- Jack Morris — 66.7%
- Bill Mueller — 0.7%
- Dale Murphy — 14.5%
- Rafael Palmiero — 12.6
- Brad Radke — 0.3%
- Tim Salmon — 0.9%
- Lee Smith — 50.6%
- Alan Trammel — 36.8%
- Larry Walker — 22.9%
- Bernie Williams — 9.6%
- Eric Young — 0.2%
Jeremy Burnitz, Brian Jordan, Terry Mulholland, Phil Nevin, Ruben Sierra, and Tony Womack did not receive any votes for the Hall of Fame from the BBWAA.
