Larry Walker – tenth year on ballot (54.6% in 2019)
If Larry Walker is going to be inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame by the BBWAA, it will have to happen this year.
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Walker is starting to trend in the right direction as voters recognize his solid all around game. He was a true five tool player, an excellent power and speed threat with a brilliant glove and a howitzer of an arm. Yet, as recently as 2014, he barely received over 10% of the vote.
It is difficult to understand why when looking at his accomplishments. Walker was a five time All Star, and won the 1997 NL MVP award. He also won seven Gold Glove awards, and was a three time Silver Slugger. The three time batting champion posted a lifetime .313/.400/.565 batting line, hitting 383 homers and 471 doubles while steaking 230 bases.
There is a caveat when it comes to Walker’s production. Casual fans, and even some voters, look at his career numbers and imagine that they were inflated due to playing for the Rockies for ten years. Likewise, the early part of his career came in the relative anonymity of Montreal, making it easy to overlook his accomplishments. However, given his all around game, Walker deserves far more consideration for the MLB Hall of Fame.
It is now or never when it comes to the writers inducting Larry Walker into the MLB Hall of Fame. While he has received a lot more consideration over the past few years, one has to wonder if it will be enough.