Colorado slugger becomes first Rockies Hall of Famer

By CHARLIE VASCELLARO • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

Almost 30 years after the Colorado Rockies joined the major leagues as an expansion team in 1993, former Rockies outfielder Larry Walker is the first member of the franchise to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Walker spent 10 of his 17 big-league seasons in a Colorado uniform and his plaque will be the first in the Hall of Fame gallery to feature a Rockies cap. His name is all over the franchise’s leader board in career offensive categories and his 1997 NL MVP remains one of the highlights of the team’s history.

Walker bashed a career-high and National League leading 49 home runs in 1997, with a .366 batting average and 130 RBI, and also led the league with a .452 on-base percentage, a .720 slugging percentage, 409 total bases, and a 1.172 OPS (on base + slugging percentage), becoming the first player to record a .700 slugging percentage with more than 30 stolen bases in the same season.

Walker led the NL in hitting with the Rockies three times: at .363 in 1998, .379 in 1999, and .350 in 2001. His streak of three consecutive seasons (1997-1999) with a batting average higher than .360 marked the first time it had been accomplished in more than 30 years (Hall of Famer Al “Bucketfoot” Simmons was the last to turn the trick, 1929-1931).

Making his major league debut with another expansion team, the Montreal Expos in 1989, Walker is only the second native born Canadian enshrined in the Hall of Fame, joining countryman pitcher Ferguson Jenkins (1991).

In the strike shortened season of 1994, Walker led the NL with 44 doubles, hitting 19 home runs with 86 RBI, a .322 batting average and a .981 OPS in 103 games. Walker was granted free agency at the end of the season and signed a four-year $22.5 million contract with the Colorado Rockies, the largest deal reached by anyone after the strike.

A five time All-Star, seven-time Gold Glove Award winner and three-time Silver Slugger, Walker’s .565 career slugging percentage ranks 12th all-time and he is one of 19 hitters to compile a .300 batting average, .400 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage with at least 5,000 plate appearances.
Walker was elected to the Hall in his 10th and final appearance on the BBWAA ballot receiving 76.6% of the 75% required for election.

His entrance to the Hall may have been delayed by the perceived advantage of compiling the lion’s share of his career statistics in Denver and Coors Field’s hitter-friendly atmosphere but his road slash line (.278/.370/.495, batting, slugging and OPS) has been achieved by only 24 other players in MLB history, 18 of whom are enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

In his 17-year career Walker compiled 383 home runs, 1,131 RBI, 2,160 hits, a .313 batting average, a .400 on-base percentage, a .565 slugging percentage and a .965 OPS.

Among Hall of Famers, his career statistics most closely resemble those of Duke Snider and compare favorably with Joe DiMaggio, Johnny Mize and Vladimir Guerrero.

Some may see Walker’s election as a vindication of players/batters who have achieved their greatest success at Coors Field, it’s a question Walker has been asked to field on numerous occasions and one which he also addressed in a conference call after learning of his election:

“It’s just a conversation that really could probably never end … when you’re brining up players in their home and road split,” he said. “And I think it’s definitely a big help especially in the here and now with Todd Helton and the Hall of Fame and down the road maybe with Nolan Arenado, you know guys that have spent the bulk of their time there. … But like I said, I did really, really well there and I’m grateful I did really, really well there because it probably helps getting to where I’m at right now.”