Larry Walker Childhood

Larry Kenneth Robert Walker was born on December 1, 1966 in Maple Ridge, Canada. He is the son of Mary and Larry Walker Sr.   Growing up north of the border, hockey was the sport of choice for Walker. Baseball wasn’t that big in Canada and it definitely wasn’t something he set out to be one of the greats at. However, life always throws a curve ball and for Walker, his path to baseball superstardom in the 1990s meant he had to give up on his childhood dream. 

Larry Walker High School Stats and Awards

Larry Walker attended Maple Ridge Senior Secondary School. One of the most unconventional paths to a baseball Hall of Fame career was taken by Walker as he didn’t play baseball for his high school. That was because his school didn’t have a baseball program. Instead Walker played volleyball and hockey. Walker was good at hockey and went on a tryout for a local hockey team. However he was turned down. Before a tryout with another team, he suddenly had a change of heart. He decided hockey was not for him. Walker then decided on a different sports path: Baseball.

Walker hadn’t played organized baseball up to this point. Some of his family members played semi pro baseball and he decided to give it a try. He may have been late to the party but he picked up the sport quick. Walker was impressive enough in that short period of time that he made Canada’s National Team and in 1984, played in the World Youth Championships. Not bad for a kid who wasn’t playing baseball at an early age. It wasn’t long before the Montreal Expos saw his raw talent and they signed him to a minor league deal. 

Larry Walker MLB Career Stats and Notes

On August 16, 1989, Walker made his MLB debut. Walker spent his first six seasons with the Expos. In 1995, Walker signed with the Colorado Rockies where he would establish a hall of fame career. After ten productive seasons in Colorado, Walker was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle of the 2004 season. He played two seasons there, which would be his last in the majors. Walker retired after the 2005 season. In 2020, Walker was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Larry Walker 1997 NL MVP Season

By 1997, Walker already established himself as one of the premier outfielders in the game. One who could hit with power while maintaining a .300 batting average. The six-time All-Star at the time entered the 1997 season in the prime of his career and put together his greatest season. Walker hit .366, 49 HRs and 130 RBIs. His phenomenal season earned him the 1997 NL MVP. 

List of Baseball Hall of Fame Members