Cooperstown 2016: Larry Walker

LARRY WALKER
Sixth Year on Ballot (11.8% last year)

PLAYING CAREER: Montreal Expos (1989–1994), Colorado Rockies (1995–2004) and St. Louis Cardinals (2004–2005)

ACHIEVEMENTS:  Career batting average of .313 with 2160 hits, 383 home runs, 1355 runs scored and 1311 RBI.  1997 National League MVP.  Led the National League in batting three times (1998, 1999 and 2001).  Hit better than .300 nine times and drove in 110 runs or more five times.  Twice stole more than 30 bases and hit more than 30 home runs in a season.  Walker’s 409 total bases in 1997 were the most by a National Leaguer since Stan Musial’s 1948 season…the mark was bettered by Barry Bonds in 2001 (411).  The same year, Walker became and remains the only player to have at least 25 stolen bases and a slugging percentage of more than .700 in a season.  Seven-time Gold Glove Award winner (1992-1993, 1997-1999 and 2001-2002).  Five-time All-Star selection (1992, 1997-1999 and 2001).

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ON TWITTER:

Larry Walker…another good player, won an MVP award…but ask yourself this is Larry Walker's career better than Dale Murphy

— Moses Massena (@MosesMassena16) January 2, 2016

Larry Walker is so slept on. Dude was unbelievable

— Luce (@Lucegoose32) January 2, 2016

So where is the Larry Walker HoF campaign? Also greatest Canadian position player of all time should work for him,not against him.

— Blue Jays Bat Boy (@bluejaysbatboy) January 2, 2016

HOVG THOUGHTS:  I like uniqueness…and with only one other Canuck in the Hall of Fame (looking your way, Fergie Jenkins), I’ve gotta support a guy who nine times took home the Tip O’Neill Award courtesy of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. In all seriousness, I don’t see Walker making his way to Cooperstown.