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Montreal Expos: Could We See an All-Expos Outfield in HoF Class 2017?

By s.a. rose

Apr 2, 2016; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Fan holds a sign in support of HOF induction for Tim Raines (not pictured) and Vladimir Guerrero (not pictured) before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays at Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2016; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Fan holds a sign in support of HOF induction for Tim Raines (not pictured) and Vladimir Guerrero (not pictured) before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays at Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 18, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Canada first base coach Larry Walker (33) yells at the baserunner against Puerto Rico during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Ajax Pan Am Ballpark. Canada beat Puerto Rico 7-1 Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports. Montreal Expos.
Jul 18, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Canada first base coach Larry Walker (33) yells at the baserunner against Puerto Rico during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Ajax Pan Am Ballpark. Canada beat Puerto Rico 7-1 Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports. Montreal Expos. /

Larry Walker

Remembered more for his years in Colorado, the 1997 NL MVP was always a threat to put up some ridiculous numbers in the late 1990s in the thin air of Denver. Between 1997 and 1999, Walker’s peak three seasons had on-base percentages of .452, .445 and .458 (and won Gold Gloves in all three seasons as well). While he wasn’t hitting at that caliber with the Montreal Expos, Walker was getting baseball’s attention finishing 5th in NL MVP voting in 1992 and 11th in 1994 – a season where he hit 44 doubles in 103 games during that strike-shortened season when Montreal had the best record in baseball.

The Highlights:

  • 5 all-star appearances, 7 Gold Gloves & 3 Silver Sluggers
  • OPS of 1.044 in his 10 seasons in Colorado
  • 1997 season that is the best in Colorado Rockies history (which is saying something as Todd Helton’s best years and some of Walker’s other seasons are incredible statistical marvels) Walker’s stat line from that MVP Season: 49 HR, 130 RBI, 33 SB, 409 Total Bases and a slash of .366 / .452 / .720
  • The best Canadian hitter ever (with apologies to Joey Votto)

Where Walker’s candidacy suffers:

  • Do Hall of Fame voters discount his numbers because the majority of his career was played at altitude? I don’t think there is any doubt that they do.
  • The amount of games Walker played did not let him accumulate the volume of statistics to hit the traditional Hall of Fame batting milestones. The most games he played in a season was 153 (when he won the MVP in 1997).

Next: Best Fits For Wieters

As often happens this time of year, there are some great cases made for consideration into the Hall of Fame and Walker’s candidacy is no different.  Particularly compelling cases can be found here at fangraphs.com, here at hallofstats.com, here at purplerow.com and SI’s Hall of Fame analyst Jay Jaffe’s take on Walker here. While it’s a shame Walker likely won’t make it this year to have an entire Expo outfield enter the Hall together, hopefully enough voters analyze Walker’s case and his percentages increase before his eligibility runs out.

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