Larry Walker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Larry Walker |
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Walker with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2005
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| Right fielder | |||
| Born: December 1, 1966 Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada |
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| debut | |||
| August 16, 1989, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 2, 2005, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .313 | ||
| Hits | 2,160 | ||
| Home runs | 383 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,311 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2020 | ||
| Vote | 76.6% (tenth ballot) | ||
Larry Kenneth Robert Walker (born December 1, 1966) is a Canadian former professional baseball player. He played as a right fielder for 17 years in Major League Baseball (MLB). His teams included the Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Larry Walker was an amazing all-around player. In 1997, he became the only player in MLB history to have a very high slugging percentage (which shows how many bases a player gets per hit) and also steal 30 bases in the same season. That year, he won the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player Award (MVP), which means he was the best player in his league.
He was also great at hitting, winning the NL batting championship three times. This means he had the highest batting average (how often a player gets a hit) in the league in those years. Larry Walker was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2020, he was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors in baseball.
Larry Walker was known as a "five-tool player" because he was good at everything. He could hit for a high average, hit for power (lots of home runs), run very fast, play great defense, and throw the ball with amazing strength and accuracy. He won many awards, including five MLB All-Star selections, seven Gold Glove Awards (for best defense), and three Silver Slugger Awards (for best hitting at his position).
He grew up in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, and dreamed of playing NHL hockey as a goaltender. But the Expos saw his baseball talent and signed him in 1984. By 1990, he was their starting right fielder. He later joined the Rockies and became one of the best hitters in baseball. In 2004, he played in his first World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals. He retired from playing baseball in 2005.
After his playing career, Walker became a coach for the Canadian national team. He helped Team Canada win two gold medals at the Pan American Games in 2011 and 2015.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Larry Kenneth Robert Walker Jr. was born on December 1, 1966, in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. He was the youngest of four boys. Larry grew up playing street hockey with his friends, including future Hockey Hall of Famer Cam Neely. Larry's big dream was to become a NHL goaltender. He only played baseball occasionally during the summer.
He played hockey and volleyball at Maple Ridge Secondary School. Baseball was not offered there. Larry practiced his hockey skills by blocking shots from Cam Neely. His brother, Carey, was even drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1977 NHL Draft.
From Hockey to Baseball
When Larry was 16, he tried out for Junior A hockey teams but didn't make them. He also visited some Western Hockey League teams. After seeing the conditions, he decided he didn't want to play hockey anymore. That's when he started focusing on baseball.
Baseball wasn't very popular in Canada when Larry was young because of the short summers. Larry later said, "I'd never seen a forkball, never seen a slider. I didn't know they existed." He didn't even know many of the rules when he started playing professionally.
In 1984, Larry played for the Coquitlam Reds. At a tournament, he caught the eye of Expos scouting director Jim Fanning. Larry hit a home run with a wooden bat, while everyone else used metal bats. Fanning signed Larry for $1,500 because he was very athletic, even though he didn't have much organized baseball experience.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Larry went to the Expos' minor league spring training in 1985. He had trouble hitting pitches that weren't fastballs. He would swing at almost every pitch, even if it bounced in front of the plate! He finished his first season with a low batting average of .223.
His manager, Ken Brett, saw that Larry was tough and willing to learn. He kept Larry in the lineup because of his "outstanding athleticism." Larry worked hard and went to the Florida Instructional League to improve his skills. He soon became one of the Expos' best young players.
In 1986, Larry had a great year, hitting .288 with 33 home runs and 90 runs batted in (RBI). He also stole 18 bases. People in Canada started to notice him. His manager, Felipe Alou, said, "If he keeps improving the way he has... there's no telling what he could do."
Larry continued to play well in the minor leagues. In 1987, he won his first Tip O'Neill Award as the best Canadian baseball player. He missed the 1988 season because of knee surgery. In 1989, he played for the Indianapolis Indians, a Triple-A team, before making it to the major leagues.
Playing for the Montreal Expos
Major League Debut (1989)
Larry Walker made his first appearance with the Montreal Expos on August 16, 1989. He got his first hit in that game. Montreal fans gave him the nickname "Booger."
Early Years (1990−1992)
Larry became the Expos' regular right fielder in 1990. He hit 19 home runs and stole 21 bases that year. He finished seventh in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. As a top Canadian player for the Expos, Larry became a role model for young baseball players in Canada.
Over the next four seasons, Larry continued to play well, hitting around .293 with good power and speed. He was also an excellent defensive player. He sometimes played first base due to injuries, especially on Olympic Stadium's artificial turf, which was known for causing knee problems.
In 1992, Larry was chosen for his first All-Star Game. He also won his first Gold Glove for defense and his first Silver Slugger Award for hitting. He was the first Canadian to win the Expos Player of the Year award.
Strong Seasons (1993−1994)
The 1993 Expos had a great season, winning 94 games. Larry was a key part of the team, hitting 22 home runs and stealing 29 bases. He won his second Gold Glove Award.
In 1994, the Expos were the best team in Major League Baseball with a 74−40 record. Larry was having an amazing year, hitting .322 with 44 doubles. However, the season was stopped early by a players' strike. Because of the strike, the Expos had to cut costs and Larry became a free agent.
Joining the Colorado Rockies
Larry signed a big contract with the Colorado Rockies after the strike. He moved from Olympic Stadium to Coors Field, which is known for being a great place to hit because of the high altitude. Even with this advantage, Larry's hitting was still amazing when compared to other players.
First Seasons (1995−1996)
In his first game with the Rockies at Coors Field on April 26, 1995, Larry hit three doubles. He hit his 100th career home run on May 7, 1995.
Larry had a career-high 36 home runs and 101 RBI in 1995. He was part of a group of Rockies players known as "The Blake Street Bombers" because they hit so many home runs. The Rockies made the playoffs for the first time in their history that year.
In 1996, Larry played mostly center field. On May 21, he had a huge game, hitting two home runs and driving in six runs. The next day, he set an MLB record with six extra base hits in a row. He missed over two months of the season due to a broken collarbone from crashing into an outfield fence.
MVP Season (1997)
The 1997 season was Larry Walker's best. He started the season incredibly well, hitting three home runs in Montreal on April 5. Fans cheered for him, remembering his hockey dream. He won the NL Player of the Month award for April.
A funny moment happened during the 1997 All-Star Game. Larry was supposed to face Randy Johnson, a very tall and intimidating pitcher. Larry had avoided facing Johnson before. In the All-Star game, Johnson threw a pitch over Larry's head. Larry then turned his batting helmet around and stood on the right-handed side of the plate for one pitch, making everyone laugh. He ended up getting a walk.
Larry was hitting over .400 as late as July 17. He finished the season with an incredible .366 batting average, 49 home runs, 130 RBI, and 33 stolen bases. He became the first Canadian player to win the NL MVP Award. He was also the only player in history to have at least 30 stolen bases and a .700 slugging percentage in the same season. He won many other awards that year, including his third Gold Glove and second Silver Slugger.
Batting Titles (1998−1999)
In 1998, Larry won his first major league batting title with a .363 average. He was the first Canadian-born player to win a batting title in the 20th century. He also won the Lou Marsh Trophy as the Canadian athlete of the year.
In 1999, Larry continued to be an amazing hitter. He hit three home runs in a game on April 28 and had a 21-game hitting streak. He finished the season batting .379, which was the fourth-highest average in MLB since 1941. He led the major leagues in batting average, on-base percentage (how often a player gets on base), and slugging percentage. He also hit 37 home runs and had 115 RBI. He won his fifth Gold Glove Award.
Larry signed a six-year contract extension after the 1999 season. From 1997 to 1999, he hit over .360 in three seasons in a row, which is very rare.
Later Rockies Seasons (2000−2004)
Larry dealt with many injuries in the 2000 season, including a stress fracture in his right elbow. He still managed to hit .309. He became Canada's all-time leader in hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, and runs scored in the major leagues.
In 2001, Larry worked hard on his fitness. He had a great season, tying for the major league lead in batting average at .350, winning his third batting title. He also hit 38 home runs and had 123 RBI. He won another Gold Glove that year.
In 2002, Larry batted .338, which was second in the NL. He also hit 26 home runs and had 100 RBI. He won his seventh Gold Glove Award.
Larry continued to battle injuries in 2003 but still played in 143 games. He had a career-high 98 walks, showing his great plate appearances. In 2004, he missed the first two and a half months with a groin injury. On June 25, he hit three home runs in a game. On June 30, he got his 2,000th career hit.
Since the Rockies weren't making the playoffs, Larry wanted to be traded to a team that was competing for a championship.
Playing for the St. Louis Cardinals
World Series Appearance (2004)
On August 6, 2004, Larry was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. He joined a very strong team that won 105 games that year. Larry played in 44 games for the Cardinals, hitting .280 with 11 home runs.
In the 2004 playoffs, Larry played very well, hitting two home runs in each series. The Cardinals made it to the World Series to face the Boston Red Sox. This was Larry's first and only World Series appearance. In his first World Series game, he had four hits, including a home run. However, the Red Sox won the Series by sweeping the Cardinals. Larry still hit very well in the World Series, batting .357.
Final Season (2005)
Larry also helped the 2005 Cardinals win 100 games and their division. However, he was dealing with a herniated disc in his neck, which caused him a lot of pain. With many past surgeries and constant pain, Larry decided he would retire after the season.
He played in 100 games in 2005, hitting .289. In the playoffs, the Astros defeated the Cardinals. Larry got his final major league hit in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. He retired shortly after the game.
Larry Walker ended his career with 383 home runs, which was 50th on Major League Baseball's all-time list at the time.
Playing Style
Larry Walker started playing baseball seriously much later than most players, but he became excellent at every part of the game. He was great at hitting for average and power, choosing which pitches to swing at, running fast, playing defense, and throwing accurately. He was known as "the accidental ballplayer" because he was so naturally talented.
His former manager, Don Baylor, called him a "six-tool guy," meaning he was even better than a five-tool player. Another manager, Bobby Cox, said, "He's better than one of the best. He is the best."
On defense, Larry was very smart. He knew where to stand for each batter and how the ball would bounce off the wall. His strong and accurate arm often stopped runners from taking extra bases. He was also good at tricking hitters into thinking he couldn't catch a ball, making them settle for a single when they could have gotten more bases.
After Baseball
Impact on Canadian Baseball
Larry Walker's success had a huge impact on baseball in Canada. He showed young Canadian players that it was possible to make it to the major leagues. Many Canadian players looked up to him.
Coaching Career
Since 2009, Larry has been a hitting and first base coach for the Canadian national team. He has coached for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic tournaments several times.
In 2011, he helped Canada win their first major international baseball championship at the Pan Am Games in Mexico. Canada defeated the United States in the final to win the gold medal. Larry coached again at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto, where Canada won their second straight gold medal by beating the United States again.
Awards and Recognition
In 2006, Larry was chosen as the most outstanding player in the Colorado Rockies' history by fans. He was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
In 2014, another Canadian player, Justin Morneau, joined the Rockies and wore Larry's number 33 to honor him. Morneau also won the NL batting title that year, just like Larry.
In 2015, fans voted Larry as one of the four most influential players in Rockies history.
Baseball Hall of Fame
Larry Walker became eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011. It took several years for him to get enough votes. Some people thought his stats were boosted by playing at Coors Field, which is known for being a hitter-friendly park. However, many experts argued that his overall skills, including defense and baserunning, made him a Hall of Famer.
Larry was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020, in his 10th and final year of eligibility. He became only the second Canadian player to be elected, after Ferguson Jenkins in 1991. Larry made headlines by wearing a NASCAR-style SpongeBob SquarePants shirt when his election was announced! The SpongeBob shirt was even put in the Hall of Fame as part of an exhibit in 2021.
Career Highlights
Larry Walker had an amazing career. He finished with a .313 batting average, a .400 on-base percentage, and a .565 slugging percentage. He is one of only 19 hitters in history to have a .300 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, and .500 slugging percentage with at least 5,000 times at bat.
Even with many injuries, he played in over 1,000 games from 1996 to 2004. He hit over .300 nine times, hit at least 30 home runs four times, and had 100 RBI five times. He is also one of only 40 players in history to reach 2,000 hits, 400 doubles, 300 home runs, 1,000 runs scored, and 1,000 RBI.
Larry is the Rockies' all-time leader in batting average (.334), on-base percentage (.426), slugging percentage (.618), and OPS (1.044). He holds many Rockies' single-season records, especially from his MVP season in 1997.
Larry Walker and pitcher Ferguson Jenkins are often considered the greatest Canadian-born baseball players. Since Larry won the MVP Award in 1997, two other Canadians, Justin Morneau (2006) and Joey Votto (2010), have also won the award.
Personal Life
Larry Walker lives in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is married and has three daughters.
Outside of baseball, Larry enjoys playing and watching soccer. He also likes to bowl and even bowled a perfect 300 game in 2014.
Larry is very superstitious about the number three. He wore number 33 during his career. His wedding to his first wife was on November 3, 1990, at 3:33! Even after his career, he was the 333rd person inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Larry has also helped young baseball players through the Rockies Youth Field of Dreams program, opening five baseball facilities in Colorado.
Images for kids
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1989-1991 Montreal Expos #33 Larry Walker home jersey
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Walker in the outfield at Coors Field in 2001
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Walker at bat during his first game with St. Louis in 2004
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See also
In Spanish: Larry Walker para niños
