Colorado Rockies: Larry Walker belongs in the Hall of Fame
By Clint Manry
Walker’s 1990 rookie season
133 games, .241 AVG, 19 HR, 21 SB, 3.0 fWAR
With his first season out of the way, Larry Walker settled in and became a solid all-around player; one with speed, great defense and the ability to hit home runs. From 1990-95, Walker hit .288 and averaged 22 home runs per season, as well as 30 doubles. During that stretch, he made the All-Star team, won two Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger award and finished within the top-10 of the NL MVP vote twice.
His best WAR season during that run came in 1992, when he tallied 5.3 fWAR, thanks to a .301 AVG and 23 home runs, not to mention 93 RBI (a career-high for him at that point).
The final season of that 6-year run, 1995, was Walker’s first year with the Colorado Rockies when he finished 5th in the MVP vote. Prior to that season, the Expos cut payroll and didn’t even offer Walker a contract. So Walker signed a four-year, $22.5 million deal with the Colorado Rockies, and went on to hit 36 home runs (a career-high at that point) and put up 4.6 fWAR.
His second season in the high altitude (1996) wound up a dud, as Larry Walker broke his collarbone and missed over 2 months. He only played 83 games, but still managed 18 home runs.