Larry Walker
Encyclopedia
Larry Kenneth Robert Walker (born December 1, 1966) is a former right fielder
in Major League Baseball
. From 1989 through 2005, Walker played for the Montreal Expos
(1989–1994), Colorado Rockies
(1995–2004), and St. Louis Cardinals
(2004–2005). He announced his retirement after Game 6 of the 2005 National League Championship Series
.
Walker was selected to join the Canadian team at the 1984 World Youth Championships in Saskatchewan
. At that tournament, he caught the eye of Montreal Expos
scouting director Jim Fanning, who signed Walker for $1500,
despite Walker's relative lack of experience playing organized baseball.
Although he could hit fastballs well, Walker was unprepared for the more sophisticated pitches he encountered during his first season as a professional with the Utica Blue Sox
and struggled at the plate, finishing with a .223 average and only 2 home runs. Walker feared he would be released, but Expos hitting coach Ralph Rowe
successfully argued that Walker should be sent to the Florida Instructional League. With further tutelage, Walker soon developed into one of the Expos' best young prospects, overcoming a serious knee injury along the way.
Walker made his debut with Montreal on August 16, 1989. He walked twice and recorded a single in his first official at bat.
During his first several seasons, he was an above average hitter in all respects, hitting for some power, stealing
20-30 bases, and regularly batting
near the .300 mark, becoming a role model for thousands of young Canadian baseball players. In 1994, Walker was well on his way to his first 100-RBI year, with 86 RBI
. However, that season, was interrupted due to the 1994 players' strike.
Before the 1995 season, Walker signed with the Colorado Rockies
. In 1995, Walker was a major factor in helping Colorado reach the playoffs for the first time, hitting .306 with 36 home run
s and 101 RBI. He remains in the top ten in many offensive categories for the Rockies.
s, 130 RBI, 33 stolen bases, and 409 total bases
, en route to becoming the first Canadian player to win the MVP Award
. He became and remains the only player to have at least 25 stolen bases and a slugging percentage of more than .700 in a season.
Walker's 409 total bases in 1997 were the most in an NL season since Stan Musial
's 1948 season, although the mark was bettered by Barry Bonds
in 2001 (411).
In 1998, Walker won the Lou Marsh Trophy
as Canadian athlete of the year after finishing runner-up the previous year to Formula One
champion Jacques Villeneuve
.
Combined with 12 outfield
assist
s, the season remains one of the finest all-around performances in recent baseball history. Even more impressively, Walker's breakout season came just one year after various injuries limited him to 83 games and 272 at-bats, although the NL Comeback Player of the Year award went to Darren Daulton
.
After spending most of the 2000 season on the disabled list (albeit hitting .309 in limited action), Walker returned to form, hitting .350 and .338 the next two seasons, with more than 100 RBI both years.
In July 2004, the Texas Rangers
agreed to send the Rockies then-minor-leaguer Ian Kinsler
and prospect right-hander Erik Thompson in exchange for Walker, but Walker vetoed the trade.
In August 2004, Walker, who was batting .324 despite being injured, desired a trade to a contender. He went to the St. Louis Cardinals for three minor league
players. Now playing for the Cardinal powerhouse, Walker contributed briefly to the pennant-winning 2004 squad and the 2005 division winners. The Houston Astros defeated the Cardinals in the 2005 NLCS
in the last game ever played at Busch Stadium. Walker retired shortly afterwards.
He ended his career 50th on the all-time home run list with 383. As of 2008, Walker is an instructor on the St. Louis Cardinals' spring training staff under manager Tony La Russa
and does fill-in training with the Cardinals staff. He was offered a full-time position but chose to remain in his part time position.
In 2009, Walker served as Team Canada's hitting instructor at the 2009 World Baseball Classic
and was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
. In 2011, he also served as Hitting Coach/First Base Coach for Canada's Gold Medal winning team at the Pan Am Games
in Guadalajara, Mexico.
He became eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011. During his first year of eligibility, he received 118 votes, or 20.3 percent of all ballots cast; the threshold for entry is 75 percent.
Walker enjoys playing and watching soccer.
His theme song is "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne
.
Walker is superstitious about the number three. He wore number 33 and was married on Nov. 3 at 3:33. He would take three, or any multiple of three, swings in the batter's box before he would hit.
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. From 1989 through 2005, Walker played for the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
(1989–1994), Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
(1995–2004), and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(2004–2005). He announced his retirement after Game 6 of the 2005 National League Championship Series
2005 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriIn the series opener, the Cardinals won 5–3 behind a strong pitching performance by Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter and a two-run home run by Reggie Sanders in the first inning...
.
Early life and career
Walker grew up playing ice hockey and dreamed of a career in the NHL as a goaltender, only playing baseball for fun during the summer. At the age of 16, he was offered tryouts with Junior A teams in Regina, SK and Kelowna, BC, but after getting cut from both teams, Walker decided to focus his athletic aspirations on baseball.Walker was selected to join the Canadian team at the 1984 World Youth Championships in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. At that tournament, he caught the eye of Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
scouting director Jim Fanning, who signed Walker for $1500,
despite Walker's relative lack of experience playing organized baseball.
Although he could hit fastballs well, Walker was unprepared for the more sophisticated pitches he encountered during his first season as a professional with the Utica Blue Sox
Utica Blue Sox
The Utica Blue Sox were a minor league baseball team based in Utica, New York. In their most recent incarnation, the Blue Sox played in the Short-Season A classification New York - Penn League from 1977-2001, with their home games at Donovan Stadium at Murnane Field...
and struggled at the plate, finishing with a .223 average and only 2 home runs. Walker feared he would be released, but Expos hitting coach Ralph Rowe
Ralph Rowe
Ralph Emanuel Rowe was an American outfielder and manager in minor league baseball, and a coach at the Major League level. A native and lifelong resident of Newberry, South Carolina, Rowe threw right-handed, batted left-handed, stood 5'6" tall and weighed 175 pounds...
successfully argued that Walker should be sent to the Florida Instructional League. With further tutelage, Walker soon developed into one of the Expos' best young prospects, overcoming a serious knee injury along the way.
Walker made his debut with Montreal on August 16, 1989. He walked twice and recorded a single in his first official at bat.
During his first several seasons, he was an above average hitter in all respects, hitting for some power, stealing
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
20-30 bases, and regularly batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
near the .300 mark, becoming a role model for thousands of young Canadian baseball players. In 1994, Walker was well on his way to his first 100-RBI year, with 86 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. However, that season, was interrupted due to the 1994 players' strike.
Before the 1995 season, Walker signed with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. In 1995, Walker was a major factor in helping Colorado reach the playoffs for the first time, hitting .306 with 36 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 101 RBI. He remains in the top ten in many offensive categories for the Rockies.
MVP season (1997)
Walker's career season came in 1997, when he hit .366 with 49 home runHome run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 130 RBI, 33 stolen bases, and 409 total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
, en route to becoming the first Canadian player to win the MVP Award
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
. He became and remains the only player to have at least 25 stolen bases and a slugging percentage of more than .700 in a season.
Walker's 409 total bases in 1997 were the most in an NL season since Stan Musial
Stan Musial
Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...
's 1948 season, although the mark was bettered by Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
in 2001 (411).
In 1998, Walker won the Lou Marsh Trophy
Lou Marsh Trophy
The Lou Marsh Trophy, also known as the Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy and Lou Marsh Award, is a trophy that is awarded annually to Canada's top athlete, professional or amateur. It is awarded by a panel of journalists, with the vote taking place in December. It was first awarded in 1936...
as Canadian athlete of the year after finishing runner-up the previous year to Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
champion Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve, , is a Canadian musician and automobile racing driver. He is the son of the late Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve, and is the namesake of his uncle...
.
Combined with 12 outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
assist
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
s, the season remains one of the finest all-around performances in recent baseball history. Even more impressively, Walker's breakout season came just one year after various injuries limited him to 83 games and 272 at-bats, although the NL Comeback Player of the Year award went to Darren Daulton
Darren Daulton
Darren Arthur Daulton , nicknamed Dutch, is a former catcher in Major League Baseball best remembered for his years with the Philadelphia Phillies...
.
Later career
Walker was plagued by injuries for the last several years of his career, nevertheless continuing to produce. Although he would never have 500 at-bats in a season after 1997, he hit .363 in 1998 in limited action, and .379 (a Rockies record) with 37 homers and 115 RBI in just 438 at-bats the following year.After spending most of the 2000 season on the disabled list (albeit hitting .309 in limited action), Walker returned to form, hitting .350 and .338 the next two seasons, with more than 100 RBI both years.
In July 2004, the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
agreed to send the Rockies then-minor-leaguer Ian Kinsler
Ian Kinsler
Ian Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...
and prospect right-hander Erik Thompson in exchange for Walker, but Walker vetoed the trade.
In August 2004, Walker, who was batting .324 despite being injured, desired a trade to a contender. He went to the St. Louis Cardinals for three minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
players. Now playing for the Cardinal powerhouse, Walker contributed briefly to the pennant-winning 2004 squad and the 2005 division winners. The Houston Astros defeated the Cardinals in the 2005 NLCS
2005 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriIn the series opener, the Cardinals won 5–3 behind a strong pitching performance by Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter and a two-run home run by Reggie Sanders in the first inning...
in the last game ever played at Busch Stadium. Walker retired shortly afterwards.
He ended his career 50th on the all-time home run list with 383. As of 2008, Walker is an instructor on the St. Louis Cardinals' spring training staff under manager Tony La Russa
Tony La Russa
Anthony "Tony" La Russa, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball manager and infielder, best known for his tenures as manager of the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals...
and does fill-in training with the Cardinals staff. He was offered a full-time position but chose to remain in his part time position.
In 2009, Walker served as Team Canada's hitting instructor at the 2009 World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
and was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...
. In 2011, he also served as Hitting Coach/First Base Coach for Canada's Gold Medal winning team at the Pan Am Games
Baseball at the 2011 Pan American Games
-Group B:---------------------Seventh place match:-Fifth place match:-Semifinals:-----Bronze medal match:-Gold medal match:-Final standings:-Batting:-Pitching:-External links:*...
in Guadalajara, Mexico.
He became eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011. During his first year of eligibility, he received 118 votes, or 20.3 percent of all ballots cast; the threshold for entry is 75 percent.
Accomplishments
- Lou Marsh TrophyLou Marsh TrophyThe Lou Marsh Trophy, also known as the Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy and Lou Marsh Award, is a trophy that is awarded annually to Canada's top athlete, professional or amateur. It is awarded by a panel of journalists, with the vote taking place in December. It was first awarded in 1936...
(1998) - 5-time All-StarMajor League Baseball All-Star GameThe Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
(1992, 1997–99, 2001) - 7-time National League Gold Glove AwardGold Glove AwardThe Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
winner (1992–93, 1997–99, 2001–02) - 9-time Tip O'Neill AwardTip O'Neill AwardThe Tip O'Neill Award is an award given out by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the Canadian baseball player "judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to the highest ideals of the game of baseball." It is named for Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer...
winner (1987, 1990, 1992, 1994–95, 1997–98, 2001 – with Corey KoskieCorey KoskieCordel Leonard "Corey" Koskie is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.-Baseball career:...
, 2002 – with Éric GagnéÉric GagnéÉric Serge Gagné is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in 1995, Gagné began his career as a starting pitcher...
) - National League MVP award (1997)
- 4-time Top 10 MVP (1992, 5th; 1995, 7th; 1997, Won; 1999, 10th)
- 3-time Silver Slugger Award (1992, 1997, 1999)
- ESPYEspy-People:* Cecil Espy , American baseball player* Duane Espy, American baseball figure* James Pollard Espy , American meteorologist.* Mike Espy , American politician* William Gray Espy , American actor...
-1998, Best Baseball Player
Personal life
Walker and wife Angela have two daughters – Canaan Rose-Lynn (b. 2001) and Shayna Kaitlin (b. 2003) – and he has another daughter, Brittany Marie (b. July 1993), from a previous relationship.Walker enjoys playing and watching soccer.
His theme song is "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
.
Walker is superstitious about the number three. He wore number 33 and was married on Nov. 3 at 3:33. He would take three, or any multiple of three, swings in the batter's box before he would hit.
See also
- DHL Hometown HeroesDHL Hometown HeroesOn September 27, 2006, Major League Baseball announced a list of players, one from each team, voted by MLB fans. Fans were asked to vote for the most outstanding player in the history of each MLB franchise, based on on-field performance, leadership quality and character value.The candidates for...
- List of Major League Baseball players from Canada
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- 30-30 club30-30 clubThe 30–30 club is a grouping of Major League Baseball players who have reached the 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases plateaus in the same season....
- List of Major League Baseball batting champions
- List of Major League Baseball home run champions
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions