Larry Walker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Larry Walker
Walker with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2005
Right fielder
Born: (1966-12-01) December 1, 1966 (age 58) Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Batted: Left Threw: Right
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
Montreal Expos (1989–1994) Colorado Rockies (1995–2004) St. Louis Cardinals (2004–2005)
Career highlights and awards
5× All-Star (1992, 1997–1999, 2001) NL MVP (1997) 7× Gold Glove Award (1992, 1993, 1997–1999, 2001, 2002) 3× Silver Slugger Award (1992, 1997, 1999) 3× NL batting champion (1998, 1999, 2001) NL home run leader (1997) Colorado Rockies No. 33 retired
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2020
Vote	76.6% (tenth ballot)

Larry Kenneth Robert Walker (born December 1, 1966) is a famous Canadian former professional baseball player. He was a right fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 17 years. During his career, he played for the Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies, and St. Louis Cardinals.

In 1997, Larry Walker had an amazing season. He became the only player in MLB history to hit for a .700 slugging percentage (which measures a hitter's power) and steal 30 bases in the same year. That year, he won the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player Award (MVP), which is a huge honor. He also won three NL batting championships, meaning he had the best batting average in the league three times.

Larry Walker is known as a five-tool player. This means he was great at hitting for average, hitting for power, running fast, playing defense, and throwing strongly and accurately. 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). In 2020, Larry Walker was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, which is the highest honor for a baseball player. He was also inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Larry Walker's 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. Growing up, Larry loved playing street hockey and dreamed of becoming a NHL goaltender. He played hockey and volleyball in high school, but baseball wasn't offered. One of his childhood friends was Hockey Hall of Famer Cam Neely.

From Hockey Dreams to Baseball Fields

When Larry was 16, he tried out for junior hockey teams but didn't make them. He decided that hockey wasn't for him after seeing the conditions at one of the teams. That's when he decided to focus on baseball.

Baseball wasn't as popular in Canada back then as hockey was. Larry didn't have much experience with organized baseball. He later said, "I'd never seen a forkball, never seen a slider. I didn't know they existed." He only played about 10 to 15 baseball games a year as a kid.

In 1984, Larry played for a team called the Coquitlam Reds. At a tournament, he caught the eye of a scout from the Montreal Expos. Larry hit a home run with a wooden bat, while everyone else was using metal bats. The Expos signed him for $1,500. They saw that he was very athletic, but also very new to the game.

Larry Walker's Professional Baseball Journey

Starting in the Minor Leagues

Larry joined the Expos' minor league team in 1985. At first, he struggled because he wasn't used to different types of pitches. He would swing at almost every pitch, even ones that bounced! But Larry was determined to learn. His manager, Ken Brett, kept him in the lineup because he was tough and willing to improve.

Larry worked very hard, even going to special training in Florida during the off-season. In his second year, 1986, he showed huge improvement. He hit .288 with 33 home runs and 90 runs batted in (RBI). People started to notice him, and Canadian reporters even followed him around! His manager, Felipe Alou, said, "If he keeps improving... there's no telling what he could do."

Larry continued to play well in the minor leagues. He won his first Tip O'Neill Award in 1987, which is given to the best Canadian baseball player. He missed the 1988 season because of knee surgery, but he came back strong in 1989.

Joining the Montreal Expos

Larry Walker made his big league debut with the Montreal Expos on August 16, 1989. He got his first hit in that game. Montreal fans gave him the nickname "Booger."

In 1990, Larry became the Expos' regular right fielder. He hit 19 home runs and stole 21 bases. He quickly became a role model for young Canadian baseball players. Over the next few years, he continued to play great, hitting for a high average and playing excellent defense. He often had to deal with injuries, partly because of the artificial turf in Montreal, which was tough on players' knees.

In 1992, Larry was chosen for his first All-Star Game. He also won his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award. He was even considered for the MVP award that year!

The Exciting 1994 Season

The 1994 Expos team was very special. They had many talented young players and were one of the best teams in baseball. Larry had an amazing season, hitting .322 with 44 doubles. He was on track for his first 100-RBI year.

One funny moment happened on April 24, 1994. Larry caught a fly ball and, thinking it was the third out, gave it to a young fan. But it was only the second out! The runner on base started running. Larry quickly got the ball back, but the runner was safe. Larry was embarrassed but later gave the kid a signed ball.

Sadly, the 1994 season ended early because of a players' strike. The Expos had the best record in MLB, but they couldn't play in the playoffs. After the strike, the team had to cut costs and Larry became a free agent.

Playing for the Colorado Rockies

After the strike, Larry Walker signed a big contract with the Colorado Rockies. He moved from Montreal's Olympic Stadium to Coors Field in Denver, which is known for being a great place to hit because of the high altitude. Even with the stadium's help, Larry's hitting was always impressive.

Becoming an MVP in 1997

The 1997 season was Larry Walker's best. He started strong, hitting six home runs in his first week! In April, he batted .456 with 11 home runs. He was named NL Player of the Month.

A memorable moment from 1997 happened during the 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 way over Larry's head. Larry then hilariously turned his batting helmet backward and stood on the right-handed side of the plate for one pitch! He ended up getting a walk.

Larry continued his incredible season, batting over .400 as late as July. He finished the year hitting .366 with 49 home runs, 130 RBI, and 33 stolen bases. This made him part of the 30–30 club (30+ home runs and 30+ stolen bases). He was the first Canadian player to win the NL MVP Award. His 49 home runs set a new record for the Rockies.

Batting Champion Seasons

Larry continued to be one of the best hitters in baseball. In 1998, even with an elbow injury, he won his first major league batting title with a .363 average. He was the first Canadian-born player in over 100 years to win a batting title. He also won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's top athlete of the year.

In 1999, Larry won his second batting title, hitting an amazing .379. This was the fourth-highest batting average since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941. He also led the league in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He hit 37 home runs and had 115 RBI, even though he missed some games due to injuries. He won his fifth Gold Glove that year.

Larry faced more injuries in 2000 and 2001. Despite this, he still played well. In 2001, he won his third batting title, tying Ichiro Suzuki with a .350 average. He also hit 38 home runs and had 123 RBI. He won another Gold Glove.

Later Years with the Rockies

Larry continued to play well in 2002, batting .338 and reaching 100 RBI again. He won his seventh Gold Glove Award. In 2003, he battled many injuries but still played in 143 games. He showed how tough he was, as his manager said, "Larry is still pitched to very carefully and fearfully throughout the league."

In 2004, Larry missed the first two and a half months of the season with a groin injury. When he returned, he hit three home runs in one game. On June 30, 2004, he got his 2,000th career hit, becoming one of only 234 players in MLB history to do so.

Larry wanted to play for a team that could win the World Series. So, he asked the Rockies to trade him.

Joining the St. Louis Cardinals

World Series Appearance in 2004

On August 6, 2004, Larry Walker was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals were a very strong team that year, winning 105 games. Larry quickly became an important part of their lineup.

In the playoffs, Larry was fantastic. In his first playoff game with the Cardinals, he hit two home runs! He helped the Cardinals reach the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. This was Larry's first and only World Series appearance. Even though the Red Sox won the series, Larry played great, batting .357 with two home runs.

Final Season in 2005

Larry played his final season in 2005 with the Cardinals. He had a herniated disc in his neck, which caused him a lot of pain. He decided that he would retire after the season.

The Cardinals won 100 games and their division that year. They made it to the NLCS but lost to the Houston Astros. Larry got his final major league hit in that series. He retired shortly after the game.

Larry Walker ended his career with 383 home runs, placing him 50th on MLB's all-time home run list at the time.

Larry Walker's Playing Style

Larry Walker started playing baseball seriously much later than most players, but he became amazing at all parts of the game. He was great at hitting, running, and playing defense. People called him "the accidental ballplayer" because he was so naturally talented. He was a true five-tool player.

His former manager, Don Baylor, even called him a "six-tool guy" because of how talented he was. Another manager, Bobby Cox, said, "He is the best."

On defense, Larry was incredibly smart. He knew where to stand for each batter and how the ball would bounce off the wall. His strong and accurate arm made it hard for runners to take extra bases. He was also known for tricking hitters into thinking he couldn't catch a ball, making them settle for singles when they could have gotten more bases.

After Baseball: Coaching and Recognition

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 for Team Canada

Since 2009, Larry has been a coach for the Canadian national team. He has coached them in three World Baseball Classic (WBC) tournaments. He also helped Team Canada win two gold medals at the Pan American Games in 2011 and 2015.

Awards and Hall of Fame

Larry Walker has received many honors since retiring:

• In 2006, fans voted him the most outstanding player in the history of the Colorado Rockies.
• He was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
• In 2009, he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
• In 2011, he was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

National Baseball Hall of Fame Election

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 inflated because he played in Coors Field, but many experts argued that he was still an incredible player.

In 2020, in his final year of eligibility, Larry Walker was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame! He became only the second Canadian player to be elected, after Ferguson Jenkins. Larry chose to wear a Rockies cap on his Hall of Fame plaque. When his election was announced, he famously wore a NASCAR-style SpongeBob SquarePants shirt, which became very popular! The shirt itself was later put on display at the Hall of Fame.

Larry Walker's Career Highlights

Larry Walker had an amazing career. He hit over .300 nine times, hit at least 30 home runs four times, and had 100 RBI five times. He was one of only 19 players in history to have a career batting average of .300, an on-base percentage of .400, and a slugging percentage of .500.

He was also excellent defensively, ranking among the best right fielders in history for his fielding. He is the Rockies' career leader in batting average (.334), on-base percentage (.426), slugging percentage (.618), and OPS (1.044).

Larry Walker is often debated as the "greatest Canadian-born player ever" alongside pitcher Ferguson Jenkins.

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 loves 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 and was married on November 3 at 3:33. He would often take three swings before each at bat. When he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, he was the 333rd person to be inducted!

Larry has also helped open five youth baseball fields in Colorado through the Rockies Youth Field of Dreams program.

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