Wednesday, September 08, 1999
Larkin No. 3 on Reds' runs list
Only Rose, Bench are ahead of him
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CHICAGO — After Barry Larkin scored in the fifth inning of Monday's victory over the Cubs, the Reds' all-time runs list read like this:
1. Pete Rose, 1,741
2. Johnny Bench, 1,091
3. Barry Larkin, 1,044
4. Frank Robinson, 1,043
“I had no idea I was even close until I saw it in the paper,” Larkin said. “Any time your name is associated with Frank Robinson's, it means a lot.”
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ALL-TIME REDS LEADERS
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Barry Larkin is in the top five in Reds history in games, stolen bases and runs scored. He is on the brink of breaking the top five in at-bats, hits and doubles.
Games
1. Rose 2,722
2. Concepcion 2,488
3. Bench 2,158
4. Perez 1,948
5. Larkin 1,680
Runs
1. Rose 1,741
2. Bench 1,091
3. Larkin 1,044
4. Robinson 1,043
5. Concepcion 993
Stolen bases
1. Morgan 406
2. Larkin 341
3. Concepcion 321
4. Bescher 320
5. Davis 270
At-bats
1. Rose 10,934
2. Concepcion 8,723
3. Bench 7,658
4. Perez 6,846
5. Pinson 6,335
6. Larkin 6,194
Hits
1. Rose 3,358
2. Concepcion 2,326
3. Bench 2,048
4. Perez 1,934
5. Pinson 1,881
6. Larkin 1,860
Doubles
1. Rose 601
2. Concepcion 389
3. Bench 381
4. Pinson 342
5. Perez 339
6. Larkin 331
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Rose, Bench and Robinson are arguably the three greatest Reds players of all-time. Bench's and Robinson's numbers are retired, and the two players are in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The same would be true of Rose if not for his lifetime suspension.
Larkin is keenly aware of baseball history, but with the pennant race on, he doesn't spend a lot of time trying to figure his place in it.
“I'm so caught up in this season that I don't think about it,” he said. “But after the season, I'll probably sit back and say, "Wow!'”
Larkin, 35, is in his 14th season with the Reds. He is also in the top five in games played and stolen bases. He'll break the top five in at-bats, hits, doubles and extra-base hits this year or next year.
But runs probably best indicates what kind of player Larkin is. Home runs, RBI and average are the stats people talk about, but runs are as good a measure of production as anything.
“It's a very important stat,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said. “It shows he's getting on base, whether with a hit or a walk.”
Joe Nuxhall, in his 50th year as a Reds player and now broadcaster, rates Larkin with Bench, Rose and Robinson.
“His versatility makes him similar to Robbie,” Nuxhall said. “He doesn't hit as many home runs. But he runs well, like Robbie. Barry gets himself in scoring position. He steals bases that mean something. He doesn't steal to steal.”
Said McKeon: “He plays the game like it
should be played. He does the little things to help you win.”
Larkin's place in Reds history is secure, but he can enhance it greatly by finishing his career in his hometown. Larkin's contract takes him through next season. Beyond that?
“I haven't thought about it,” he said. “I'm very happy, extremely happy, with the way things are going this year.”
Larkin questioned the Reds' commitment to winning after the Bret Boone trade in November. He went so far as to say he wanted out.
He isn't saying that now.
“It's sweet,” he said, “to be in a pennant race after all we've gone through the last couple of years. That's why I said all that this winter. But this is where I wanted to be, but I wanted to be competitive.”
Larkin has been healthy this season after missing 89 games in 1997 with Achilles tendon problems and the start of last season after neck surgery.
“Physically, I feel great,” he said.
And the pennant race took care of any mental wear this season.
“Winning cures a lot of ills,” he said.
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