Barry Larkin
Barry Larkin
=================
Full Name and Common Aliases
-----------------------------
Barry Larkin's full name is Barry Louis Larkin. He is commonly known as "The Hit Man" due to his exceptional batting average and ability to consistently get on base.
Birth and Death Dates
-----------------------
Born: April 25, 1964
Status: Alive
Nationality and Profession(s)
---------------------------------
Nationality: American
Profession(s): Baseball player, Analyst/Pundit
Early Life and Background
------------------------------
Barry Larkin was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He grew up with a passion for baseball and was heavily influenced by his father, who played baseball at the college level. Larkin attended Cincinnati's Moeller High School before attending the University of Michigan on a scholarship.
At Michigan, he led the Wolverines to two Big Ten championships and was named an All-American twice. His impressive performance earned him a spot in the 1986 College World Series. The Cincinnati Reds selected Larkin with their first-round draft pick (9th overall) in the 1985 MLB June Amateur Draft.
Major Accomplishments
-------------------------
13-time National League All-Star: Recognized for his exceptional hitting and fielding abilities, earning him a spot on the All-Star team multiple times.
1995 National League MVP Award: Larkin's outstanding performance earned him the Most Valuable Player award in the National League that year.
2,000th Hit: Achieved this milestone in 2000, becoming just the 14th player in MLB history to reach this mark.Notable Works or Actions
-----------------------------
Larkin played his entire 19-year career with the Cincinnati Reds. During his time with the team, he won multiple awards and set numerous records. Some of his notable achievements include:
Shortstop: Larkin's exceptional fielding skills earned him a reputation as one of the best shortstops in baseball.
Stealing bases: He was known for his speed on the basepaths, consistently ranking among the league leaders in stolen bases.Impact and Legacy
---------------------
Barry Larkin's contributions to baseball extend far beyond his impressive statistics. His dedication to the sport and his community has left a lasting impact:
Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame: Larkin was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2012, solidifying his place among the team's all-time greats.
* MLB All-Century Team: He was named to this prestigious team in 1999, recognizing him as one of the greatest players of the century.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
------------------------------------------
Barry Larkin is widely quoted and remembered for his exceptional baseball career. His outstanding performance on the field earned him numerous awards and accolades. As a respected figure in the sport, he continues to be sought after as an analyst and pundit.
Quotes by Barry Larkin
What people don't realize is that professionals are sensational because of the fundamentals.
That guy's really good when he's healthy. That's what I think. I mean, he's really, really good when he's healthy.
We worked really hard and we worked a lot on the fundamentals of the game and making the basic plays. With special athletes, sometimes that fundamental play gets lost. I know when I first came up, the ball I had the most trouble with was the ball hit right at me, because I assumed I could make that routine play.
He's just put it all together. He's a fantastically talented, strong, gifted athlete. But with all those characteristics sometimes comes absent-mindedness and lack of attention to detail. Those are some of the things we can't have as shortstops. So that's what we worked on. Everything else has kind of blossomed.
My message to a lot of guys is, if you like school and you like education, baseball is gonna be there, and you can get some of the same great competition in college that you do in the low minor leagues.
I remember playing on pretty much an all-minority youth team and going to some of the tournaments north of Cincinnati and not being able to stay with host families where all the other teams were staying with host families.
I love boxing. I like to see the strategizing. Watching the warriors go to work. I like that struggle, going out there and fighting.
I think every player wants to be acknowledged for what they have done. I think every player eligible for the Hall Of Fame feels that the ultimate validation is enshrinement.