Batting average .266 Role Baseball player Name Gene Larkin | Runs batted in 266 Home runs 32 | |
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An unlikely hero gene larkin recalls world series game winner
Eugene Thomas Larkin (born October 24, 1962 in Flushing, New York) is a former switch-hitting first baseman, designated hitter, and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire seven-season career with the Minnesota Twins. During his playing career he wore #9 for Minnesota, and was a member of both the 1987 and 1991 World Series championship teams. He is best known for hitting the series-winning single, a deep fly ball that was not caught by the Braves' drawn-in outfield and scored Dan Gladden from third base during the tenth inning in Game 7 of the 1991 Series.
Larkin was one of seven Twins to be part of both the 1987 and 1991 World Series teams. The other six were Randy Bush, Greg Gagne, Kirby Puckett, Al Newman, Kent Hrbek and Gladden.
Larkin attended Columbia University, where he played for the Lions and was later drafted in the 20th round of the 1984 amateur draft. He was the first alumnus of Columbia University to make the major leagues since Lou Gehrig. He also graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York. He currently lives in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, where he coaches youth travel baseball and is the Vice President of Players Only Incorporated (http://www.playersonlyinc.com/), where he does private and group instruction.
