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Larry Walker grew up with sticks, skates, and pads as a hockey hopeful. His sports destiny, however, landed him on the baseball diamond – and with a permanent place in the game’s storied history.
Born Dec.1, 1966, in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Walker followed the path of thousands of other Canadian athletes into the junior hockey ranks. His brother, Carey, was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, and Larry had visions of a National Hockey League career like the one of Cam Neely, a future Boston Bruin who was Walker’s teammate in junior hockey. Walker found his calling in baseball and played on regional teams and was eventually signed by the Montreal Expos in 1984, as an undrafted free agent.
From there, Walker was on the fast track to success. After finishing seventh in the 1990 National League Rookie of the Year voting, Walker harnessed his five-tool talent with a work ethic born on the frozen ponds of his home country. He made his first All-Star team in 1992 and also won his first Gold Glove Award that same year, then led the Expos to a 74-40 record in 1994 before the strike ended the season. Between 1995 and 2003, Walker won one home run title (49 in 1997), three batting titles (1998, 1999, 2001), five Gold Glove Awards in right field, and the 1997 NL MVP Award. That year, in addition to his league-best 49 home runs, he posted 130 RBI, a .366 average, and 33 stolen bases. His 409 total bases that year is the 18th-best total in big league history.
His final numbers: a .313 career batting average, 383 home runs, 1,311 RBI, 230 stolen bases, and seven Gold Glove Awards. Walker was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2020.
Career highlights and awards:
· 5x All-Star (1992, 1997-99, 2001)
· NL MVP (1997)
· 7x Gold Glove Award (1992, 1993, 1997-99, 2001, 2002)
· 3x Sliver Slugger Award (1992, 1997, 1999)
· 3x MLB Batting Champion (1998, 1999, 2001)
· NL Home Run Leader (1997)
· 2020 MLB Hall of Fame Inductee
