Terry Larkin

Frank S. Larkin

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• Debut May 20, 1876
• Final Game October 13, 1884
• Born 1856 in Brooklyn, NY USA
• Died September 16, 1894 in Brooklyn, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Terry Larkin was both a good player and a criminal. As a player, he was both a pitcher and a position player, with a pitching record of 89-80. He won at least 29 games three years in a row, from 1877 to 1879. As a position player, he appeared in 51 games, mostly at second base, and primarily in 1884 after he got out of prison. As a hitter, his best year was 1878, when he hit .288 with a league-leading 17 walks and also had 4 triples.

As a criminal, he was arrested in March of 1883 for threatening to shoot his father. Undeterred, Baltimore Orioles manager Bill Barnie went to New York, NY to sign him to play second base for his team, but instead of accompanying Barnie to Baltimore, Larkin convinced Barnie to lend him $200 to settle some legal fees and let him join the team a few days later. He could not keep out of trouble that long, however, as in April police responded to a domestic disturbance at his apartment and heard a shot, and then four more when they tried to break down the door, although no one was hurt fortunately. Larkin pulled a razor from his pocket when they entered and slit his wrist, while his wife was lying down, covered in blood from a wound a pretending to be dead, in fear for her life. That little incident kept Larkin from reporting to the Orioles in 1883, but he was with the Richmond Virginians in both the minor league Eastern League and the American Association in 1884. He is also listed as playing for the Norfolk team in the Eastern League in 1885.

While his exact birthdate is not known, he is known to have died in 1894, at approximately 38 as a result of apparently slitting his throat in a mental asylum.

Notable Achievements

• NL Bases on Balls Leader (1878)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 3 (1877-1879)
• 30 Wins Seasons: 1 (1879)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1877-1879)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1877-1879)
• 400 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1877-1879)
• 500 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1877-1879)

Record

In 1877, Larkin faced Tommy Bond of Boston in 13 games. This is still the single-season record: in recent times, it has been unusual for pitchers to oppose each other even six times in a season.

Further Reading

• Marty Payne: "Beer Tanks and Barbed Wire: Bill Barnie and Baltimore", in The Baseball Research Journal, SABR, Volume 42, Number 1 (Spring 2013), pp. 25-29.