Larry Walker
From SoSH
| Born: | December 1, 1966 |
| Birthplace: | Maple Ridge, British Columbia |
| Height: | 6'3" |
| Weight: | 215 lbs |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Right |
| Drafted: | 1984 Amateur Free Agent by the Montreal Expos |
| College: | None |
| High School: | Maple Ridge Secondary School (BC) |
| Teams: | Montreal Expos 1989-1994 Colorado Rockies 1995-2004 St. Louis Cardinals 2004-2005 |
Contents |
Overall Career
Larry Kenneth Robert Walker is a former All-Star rightfielder and National League MVP. Walker played 17 seasons with three different clubs, though he became a household name while a member of the Colorado Rockies. Signed as a free agent out of Canada at age 18 by the Montreal Expos, Walker made his Major League debut on August 16, 1989 going 1-1 with 3 BB. While with Montreal, Walker achieved varying success, reaching highs of 23 HR and 93 RBI in 1992. That year, he made his first National League All-Star team, and finished 5th in MVP voting. In 1994, Walker was on pace for a career season, hitting .322 with 19 HR and 86 RBI before games were called to a halt due to the work stoppage.
The following spring, Walker signed with the Colorado Rockies. He achieved a much higher level of success in Colorado, winning the 1997 National League MVP Award and becoming the first Canadian to win an MVP trophy. His statistics from that year are superb: .366 BA, 49 HR, and 130 RBI, to go with 33 SB and 12 outfield assists.
In August of 2004, after expressing a desire to play for a contender, Walker was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Luis Martinez, Chris Narveson, and Jason Burch. Walker played in the World Series that season against the Boston Red Sox, going 5-14 (.357) with 2 HR in his only World Series appearance.
Walker retired following the Cardinals' loss to the Houston Astros in the 2005 National League Championship Series. The following year, he took on a role as an outfielders' coach for the Cardinals during the 2006 championship season.
Moment in the Sun
Walker's 1997 was a season for the ages, as he combined power, batting average, baserunning skill, and fielding prowess to win the NL MVP award. He finished the season with 208 hits (99 of which went for extra bases), and a 1.172 OPS.
Trivia
- All-time leader in career HR by a Canadian.
- For his services as a coach in 2006, became only the third Canadian ever to win a World Series ring.
External Links
- Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
- TheBaseballCube.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
