Larkin came from Hall of Fame family

CINCINNATI - Barry Larkin said one of the great advantages of playing 19 years in his hometown was his father's ability to see him play. Robert Larkin was in the stands most every night.

Barry told reporters Tuesday that he didn't want to leave Cincinnati because that would take an opportunity away from his father.

Robert and Shirley Larkin raised five children on Elwynne Drive in Silverton, so they watched a lot of baseball, football and basketball over the years.  No Cincinnati family can match the Larkins for their versatility or their success.

Mike was a hard-hitting linebacker on a couple of state championship football teams coached by Gerry Faust at Moeller High School.  He went on to captain the football team at Notre Dame.

Barry was also a football star at Moeller. In fact, he intended to play football at Michigan for Bo Schembechler. But when he was redshirted as a freshman, he was able to concentrate on baseball and he realized his potential.

Younger brother Byron was just as talented as his two bigger brothers. He was an outstanding football player, but his heart was always on the basketball court. He became the greatest scorer in Xavier basketball history.

Mike, Barry and Byron were very close in age, so some of the toughest competition came on the family's backyard basketball court and in the basement of their home. Byron says "the competition was fierce" with each brother trying to stay a step ahead of the others.  There were bruises and there were broken bones.

The brothers all followed their passions.  Byron remembers that Mike planned to play college football from a very young age.  Barry was always more inclined to play baseball, and Byron was always a basketball junkie.

He says their dad never pushed them into any particular sport.  He says Robert Larkin had only three rules; "You're going to show up on time, you're not going to quit and you're going to behave."  The rest was up to the boys.

The less-celebrated Larkin children were just as successful.

Stephen Larkin was eight years younger than Byron, but he too became a star in his own right.  He played baseball at the University of Texas and spent a brief time in the Reds organization.

The only girl in the family is Robin, the oldest of the children. She's a psychiatrist in Mississippi.

You can watch my story about the Larkin family by clicking on video player in the top lefthand corner.