Larkin Family Discipline Led to Hall

Robert and Shirley Larkin had five children in four years.  "No twins," Shirley added.

"When you have that many children that close together you have to have discipline or the children end up running the house," she said.

Her husband and the father of recent Hall of Famer, Barry Larkin, wisely agreed with his wife.

Asked if she knew when she realized Barry was special as he received the highest honor that baseball has.

"I've been put on the spot here," Mrs. Larkin said.  "The boys competed a lot.  It was hard to say who was better (athletically) but I never thought of Barry as being special.  He was just one of the five."

For being on the spot, she explained volumes about Larkin's humility.  It explained volumes about why he put his team first.  Larkin genuinely considered himself just one of the 25 guys on a major league roster.

Robert  had a story to tell too.  His story illustrated why Barry is an all-for-one guy.  It also indicated that his father saw the indicator that his son had special talent.

"I thought his head was getting a little too big when he was 12," Robert said.  "All of the knothole coaches were fighting over him to play on their team."

The elder Larkin was determined to keep his son grounded.

"I decided to take him out to the field with a bucket of baseball's.  I told him that I was going to strike him out.," Robert said.  "I couldn't do it.  I could not strike this 12 year old kid and I threw pretty hard in those days."

Barry's wife Lisa grew up just behind the Larkins.

"I can tell you about that discipline," Lisa said.

Shirley Larkin was a disciplinarian but she also balanced it with love.

"You have to have discipline but you also have to let them know that you love them."

Barry got the lesson as well as his brothers Byron and Stephen, who joined Barry at the press conference.

"He is such a good person," Byron said.  "I am so proud of him.  I am proud of the way he's handled all of this."

Stephen played professional baseball too but only appeared in one game.  It was in a dog and pony show that former Reds general manager, Jim Bowden IIII put together much to the distaste of then Cincinnati manager, Jack McKeon.

Bowden placed Stephen Larkin on the Reds roster, then insisted that McKeon put Aaron Boone at thirdbase, and Stephen at first.  The starting infield that season included Barry Larkin at shortstop and Brett Boone at secondbase.  That gave Cincinnati an infield with two Boones and two Larkins.

McKeon thought they were patronizing Stephen and didn't like it.

Stephen had one hit in three at bats in the only game he ever played in the major leagues.

When he was reminded that he retired with a higher career average, .333 to Barry's .295, he had a hearty laugh.  "Make sure you tell him that," Stephen said with a laugh.

Another incident that portrayed just what a talented family this is.

Former NFL defensive back, Deion Sanders, who had a couple shots in MLB was on the Reds roster.

He was talking loud and proud about his football ability in the Reds clubhouse one day.

Ken Griffey Sr, was a coach at the time and his own two sons played football at Moeller High around the time the Larkins were there.

"You're not even the best defensive back in this clubhouse. Lark is," Griffey told Sanders.  "And Barry isn't even the best DB in his own house.  Byron is."