Hall of Fame Profile: Larry Lamphere
10/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Oct. 28, 2005
Oct. 19 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Cathy Wylie (Softball)
Oct. 20 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Shelby Root (Gymnastics)
Oct. 21 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Brian Pruitt (Football)
Oct. 24 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Gary Lee (Basketball)
Oct. 25 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Terry Carey (Football, Track, CMU Administrator)
Oct. 28 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Larry Lamphere (Baseball)
When former Central Michigan University baseball coach Dean Kriener was looking to sign his first recruit as a head coach, there was one particular player that stood out to him from Durand High School.
"I was watching a doubleheader and I saw Larry Lamphere catching," Kriener explained. "What I was impressed with was the fact that it was the 14th inning of the day and Lamphere caught all 14 innings behind the plate. At the end of the day, he was BEATING baserunners to first base on the back ups. His speed and desire to do the best was amazing."
Kriener was able to sign Lamphere and his first recruit is now joining his coach in the Central Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame. Lamphere is one of six individuals who will be enshrined on Friday night in a ceremony at the Holiday Inn in Mount Pleasant.
Also receiving induction are Terry Carey (football, track, staff), Gary Lee (basketball), Brian Pruitt (football), Shelby Root (gymnastics), and Cathy Wylie (softball).
Lamphere was a four-year starter for the Chippewas, helping CMU to four Mid-American Conference titles as the leadoff hitter. The centerfielder is the only Chippewa to ever be named first team All-MAC three times and All-Mideast Region three times.
On the basepaths is where Lamphere did the most damage. He holds the CMU and MAC records for career stolen bases (143) and single-season stolen bases (50 in 1988). He also holds the school record for runs scored with 188.
"Larry was the ultimate competitor," Kriener said. "He made things happen for us out there. He didn't have the green light all the time, because if he did, he'd take off on the first pitch 95 percent of the time.
"Larry had great instincts and he wanted to be good. He wasn't afraid of failing. He would get a good read on the pitcher, a good start, and had great speed. All those things combined to make him a great baserunner."
The threat of Lamphere of the bases put a lot of pressure on the opposing defenses. His spark was the key to CMU winning a championship each year he donned the Maroon and Gold.
"I remember a series we swept at Bowling Green in 1988," Kriener recalled. "After the last game when we were done showering, I saw Bowling Green's coaching staff still in its dugout. So I went over to the field to chat with them a little. The Bowling Green coach said 'All I know is if Lamphere gets on in the first inning we know we're going to get beat. He'll steal second and you'll bunt for a hit because we can't leave third because he'll be trying to steal third. He puts us in a hole and we can never get out.' That's the ultimate compliment from an opposing coach in my opinion."
Lamphere experienced some success on the diamond following his collegiate career. He played for a USA Baseball team in the Pan-American Games in 1987 and signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros after being drafted in the 14th round in 1988.
Larry Lamphere  | |
"Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser was a scout for Houston and he asked me to try Larry at second base during the fall season because Newhouser wanted to sign him but the organization would not sign outfielders who were shorter than 6-3," Kriener recalled. "He also asked me to have him switch hit. So we played him at second a little his senior season and he hit left-handed. They signed him and his first season he was leading the minor leagues in stolen bases at the All-Star break. But he got injured and was out of the lineup after that. In the minors, he was playing out of position at second base, in my opinion, and he was batting left, which was not his natural side. If they would have played him in the outfield and had him batting right, I think he would have had a much more productive pro career."
Kriener attributes much of the team's success during Larry's career to his character and the character of the guys on the team.
"We had a real group of athletes who were winners," Kriener said. "Larry didn't care about his own stats and he never came back in the dugout asking if it was a hit or an error. He just knew he wanted to get on base and score. And that's what he did."
Lamphere was a respected member of the campus community as well, as he was named Homecoming King and served as the president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Larry currently resides in Lapeer, Mich. He is the athletic director for the Brandon School District.