The HOF meaning of Barry Larkin for Barry Bonds
Barry Larkin, shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds, got the call on Monday. It was a beautiful call and the call that he was hoping for after playing a round of golf in the morning.
"I'm just incredibly, incredibly moved by this whole experience and so
humbled by the experience and so excited about being the newest member
of the Hall of Fame," Larkin said.
Barry Larkin will be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame this summer.
Congratulations, Barry Larkin!
The former Reds shortstop was selected on 495 of 573 ballots
(86 percent) in voting announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of
America. Above the 75 percent vote necessary for induction. This was the third year Barry Larkin was on the ballot.
What is the meaning of Barry Larkin's Hall of Fame vote for the MLB all-time home run leader, Barry Bonds?
Well, we could do an apples and oranges comparison between the two Barry's: one is an infielder, one is an outfielder; one is a hitter for average, one is a slugger, etc., etc.
But that would grow tiresome quickly.
All we know is that the Baseball Writers' Association of
America is being very selective these days with its votes. Very selective. Except for the ballot stuffing efforts of Jason Stark, of course.
In fact, for some players, it is not about being selective, it is about being completely ignored.
Mark McGwire, 10th on the home run list, received 19.5% of the vote this year. Rafael Palmeiro, also a 500 home run club member, received 12.6% of the vote. Ignored. Well below 75 percent.
What will this mean for Barry Bonds and his friends Roger Clemens, Mike Piazza and Sammy Sosa? Will they be ignored like Mark and Rafael? Bets are on the Ignore side for round 1 next year.
Bud Selig, enjoy the Hall of Fame induction of Barry Larkin this summer.
A selection of Barry Bonds' comments regarding PED use:
- "Doctors ought to quit worrying about what ballplayers are taking. What players take doesn't matter. It's nobody else's business. The doctors should spend their time looking for cures for cancer. It takes more than muscles to hit homers. If all those guys were using stuff, how come they're not all hitting homers?" -- May 21, 2002, Associated Press
- "No. I don't have to [use steroids]. I mean, I'm a good enough ballplayer as it is. I don't need to be any better. I can't get any better at this age." -- June 2002, On the Record with Bob Costas
- "I never asked. When he said it was flaxseed oil, I just said, 'Whatever.' It was in the ballpark.. in front of everybody. I mean, all the reporters, my teammates, I mean they all saw it. I didn't hide it." -- Dec. 4, 2003, during grand jury testimony, according to the San Francisco Chronicle
- "I don't know Tim Montgomery. I've never met him. When accusations come from someone you don't even know, what can you do?" They'll be talking to my lawyer." -- June 25, 2004 to USA TODAY in response to allegations from a former world-class sprinter that he received steroids from BALCO
- "All you guys lied! All of y'all and the story have lied. Should you have asterisks behind your name? All of you lied. All of you have said something wrong. All of you have dirt. When your closet's clean, then come clean somebody else's." -- Feb. 22, 2005, first public comments after testimony was leaked
- "I don't know if steroids are going to help you in baseball. I just don't believe it. I don't believe steroids can help eye-hand coordination [and] technically hit a baseball." -- Feb. 22, 2005, first public comments after testimony was leaked
- "You wanted me to jump off the bridge; I finally have jumped. You wanted to bring me down, you've finally brought me and my family down. You've finally done it. So now go kick a different person. I'm done. I'll do the best I can and that's about it. [I'm talking about] inner hurt. I'm physically, mentally done. I'm mentally drained. Tired of my kids crying." -- March 23, 2005 on MLB
- "I went through the system. And that's what it is. And that's what I got. I went through the system. I'm in an appeal process right now. I was never convicted of steroids. Do I have any regrets? What happened happened. It's there. It is what it is. I live with it. I'm a convicted felon for obstruction of justice, and that's who I am. I live with it." -- May 29, 2012
- "I gave my life and soul to that game. That's what's heartbreaking. That's the hard part of it." -- May 30, 2012 on MLB
- "Not winning? [the 2002 World Series] It doesn't stick with me anymore. Right now, it's just good to see everyone and have a good time. Win or lost, it's nice just to come home and reminisce with each other." -- July 1, 2012
- "Oh, without a doubt. There's not a doubt in my mind." -- August 6, 2012
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