I’m eagerly awaiting the HOF announcement, only 5 hours away.  I just don’t understand these “experts” not expecting Larkin to make it on the first ballot.  I don’t see how you could have seen him play and look at his stats and not vote for him.  The usual knocks on some players that don’t make it are the lack of an MVP and/or no World Series title.  Well Larkin has both.  It would be a travesty if he doesn’t make it in.  Ozzie Smith is seen as one of the greatest shortstops of all time but if you compare their stats (which aren’t the end all be all) I really believe Larkin is the better of the two.  Offensively its no question, defensively Larkin was a wonder with the glove minus the flash and flips of Smith.

Larkin/Smith 19 seasons
162 game avgs Larkin .295 avg, Smith .262, HR 15 to 2, RBI 71 to 50
Total career errors Larkin 235, Smith 281
Larkin won MVP, Smith finished 2nd once
Smith had 15 all star games, Larkin 12