Larry Barnett spent 37 years as a Major League Baseball umpire working with legends of the sport, from Harmon Killebrew to Carlton Fisk to Ken Griffey Jr., for decades. People would say to him it must have been wonderful to be around all those heroes for so long.
"And I said, 'You know what? I was. Every day I walked into a VA hospital, I was with heroes."
Just as important, if not more important than his 37 years in the majors has been the 41 years he has spent visiting every Veterans Affairs hospital in the country as part of his relationship with Disabled American Veterans. Both are found on his plaque on the Nitro Wall of Fame, which will be dedicated at 12:45 p.m. Saturday, as part of festivities that include the dedication of the Living Memorial Park at 2 p.m. and the Nitro Centennial All-Horse Parade at noon.
There are three names on the Nitro Wall of Fame - country singer Kathy Mattea, former MLB pitcher Lew Burdette and Barnett. Barnett's time in Nitro wasn't long. He was born at his aunt and uncle's house in the city and moved to Ohio as a young child. By age 24, he was an MLB umpire. By the end of his career, he was the majors' director of officiating.
"I had the best seat in the house," Barnett said of his umpiring career. "I just was standing up."
His relationship with DAV began in 1976. One of Barnett's friends was the group's past national commander and asked him if he would like to visit some VA hospitals during his baseball travels. Barnett wondered how fun that would be. Forty-one years later, he has made more than 3,000 visits to VA hospitals and is one of only two people to visit every one in the United States.
"I had the greatest job in the world," he said. "Other than my family ... the best thing I've done in my life is my work with the Disabled American Veterans."
During his hospital visits, he'll usually bring a video of baseball bloopers and blunders, and answer any questions patients might have. The patients get a kick out of picking the brain of a man who stood behind home plate in the majors for nearly four decades.
And there are so many stories to tell. There was the 1975 World Series, when Ed Armbrister of the Cincinnati Reds laid down a sacrifice bunt and ran into Fisk, the Boston Red Sox catcher, who couldn't field the ball, allowing the winning run to score in the 10th inning of Game 3. Barnett was behind the plate and did not call interference on Armbrister. Barnett still figures he's celebrated in Cincy and cursed in Boston.
There also was the night he was behind the plate when Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played. Hundreds of media members were there that night and Barnett said he guaranteed them one thing - Ripken would not get thrown out of the game that night.
When the game was official and Ripken was the record-holder, Barnett said it was a sight to behold.
"It was history," he said. "That's the only time ... when he came around after the fifth inning was complete, I shook hands with him. I never did that on the field, but I shook hands with him and I said, 'Thanks for what you've done for baseball.'"
Barnett is honored to be a part of this weekend's events. He feels honored to see his name beside Burdette and Mattea. He feels honored to share the weekend with the veterans he respects so much.
It has been a blessed life for his 72 years, Barnett said.
"You're looking at the luckiest man on the face of the earth," he said. "I've got the greatest family in the world, was in the greatest profession ... and I've had the opportunity to work with disabled vets for 41 years. Doing something that I love to do. My bucket list is filled."
Contact Derek Redd at 304-348-1712 or derek.redd@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @derekredd.