By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Cooperstown, NY

Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin and third baseman Ron Santo were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, a fitting feat for two of the best players the game has ever had.

Drafted fourth by the Reds in 1985, Larkin played all of his 19 major-league seasons with the Reds, retiring in 2004 with a .295 career average, 2,340 hits, 1,329 runs scored and 379 stolen bases.

During his acceptance speech, Larkin mentioned former teammates Pete Rose, Buddy Bell, Eric Davis, Dave Parker and Dave Concepcion and thanked them for helping him achieve the career he had in the Majors.

"I wouldn't be in the big leagues if it weren't for Pete," Larkin said. "And Dave Concepcion, understanding that I was gunning for his job, understanding that I was from Cincinnati, he spent countless hours with me preparing me for the game,"

"I idolized Davey Concepcion as a kid. Thank you, my idol," added Larkin, who currently works a baseball analyst for ESPN. "My inclusion in the Hall of Fame is the ultimate validation. I want to thank you all for helping me along the way."

Vicki Santo received the award for her late husband, who Dec. 3, 2010, at the age of 70 after a long battle with diabetes and complications from bladder cancer.

"It just feels right, a perfect ending to a remarkable journey," Vicki Santo said. "Ron left an awful hole for many of us today. This is not a sad day. This is a great day. I'm certain that Ronnie is celebrating right now."

Santo played for 15 seasons in the majors, 14 with the Cubs. He compiled a .277 batting average, had 2,254 hits, 1,331 RBIs and 365 doubles in 2,243 games. After his playing career, Santo worked as a Cubs broadcaster from 1990 to 2010.

"I want you to know that he loved you so much, and he would be grateful that you came here to share this with him," Vicki Santo said. "He fought the good fight, and though he's no longer here we need to find a cure for juvenile diabetes. He felt he had been put here for that reason. He believed in his journey. He believed in his cause. We can't let him down."

Former catcher Tim McCarver was honored with the Ford C. Frick Award for his contributions in broadcasting while Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun was given the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for sports writing.

 

Larkin and Santo Inducted to Cooperstown