Up on the blog today, I spotlight my “missing” 1985 Barry Larkin USA card that could have been part of the 1985 Topps set (which also featured the ever popular Mark McGwire pre-rookie, Oddibe McDowell, Shane Mack and Corey Snyder cards, among others):
I remember first seeing this special sub-set when first opening packs back then, and thought they were really cool, and already recognized a few names here and there thanks to my trusty Street & Smith yearbook which also featured a College Baseball section in the back.
Years later of course, we realized that Topps missed a chance at a pre-rookie card for Will Clark, and the subject of today, Cincinnati Reds future Hall of Famer Barry Larkin.
However it is absolutely understandable how this occurred, as Topps really picked the main players on the 1984 USA Olympic team, so the younger players fell by the wayside.
Larkin was a two-time All-American at the University of Michigan, even though he originally went signed on to play football under legendary coach Bo Schembechler, and helped lead the Wolverines to the College World Series in 1983 and 1984.
In 1984 and 1985 he was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, and eventually had his number “16” retired by the school in 2010.
In the 1985 draft Larkin was the fourth overall pick in the first round by the Cincinnati Reds, and they did very well with that pick, as he would go on to put in his entire 19-year Major League career with the organization, taking home the 1995 N.L. MVP Award while also helping the team win it all in 1990 with a stunning upset of the favored Oakland A’s.
By the time Larkin retired after the 2004 season, he finished with 12 All-Star nods, three Gold Gloves, six Silver Slugger Awards, 2340 hits, 198 homers and 379 stolen bases to go with his .295 career average.
In 2012, the cherry was placed on top of it all with his selection to the Hall of Fame.
Not a bad Big League resume to say the least!