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Sporting News, The, March 4, 2005 by Ken Rosenthal

Barry Larkin's career statistics are better than Alan Trammell's, but not dramatically better. Both belong in the Hall of Fame--baseball historian Bill James rates Larkin sixth all-time among major league shortstops and Trammell ninth. It will be a shame if the recent emergence of several top sluggers at the position reduces the chances of either reaching Cooperstown.

Trammell has received only tepid support in his first four years of eligibility, getting votes on 16.9 percent of the ballots cast in 2005, far short of the 75 percent needed for election. Larkin, who recently announced his retirement, won't become eligible until 2010. By then, Cal Ripken will be in the Hall. The memory of Alex Rodriguez at short might be fading, but the continued offensive prowess of players such as Derek Jeter and Nomar Garciaparra could diminish appreciation for Larkin and Trammell.

It shouldn't. For the majority of his 19 seasons, Larkin was the best all-around shortstop in the National League. He spent his entire career with the Reds, just as Trammell spent his with the Tigers. Larkin's .295 lifetime batting average is 19 points higher than Ripken's. His .371 on-base percentage is 31 points higher, and his .444 slugging percentage is only three points lower. Ripken finished with 431 career homers to Larkin's 198 but did it in 3,614 more at-bats. Larkin also won three Gold Gloves, made 12 All-Star teams and was the 1995 National League Most Valuable Player.

"He was one of the 10 most complete players in baseball history," James wrote in the New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, which was published in 2003. "He's a .300 hitter, has power and speed, (plays) excellent defense and is a good percentage player. He ranks with (Joe) DiMaggio, (Willie) Mays and a few others as the most well-rounded stars in baseball history"

Such praise might be excessive, but it's nothing compared with the hype surrounding today's top shortstops. Larkin, like Trammell, played in a mid-sized media market. He wasn't as flashy as Ozzie Smith, though he certainly was capable of making dazzling plays. His was a quiet excellence--an excellence worthy of the Hall of Fame.