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I have shed the original thread so that it doesn't get too long and hard to find the latest update. For now on (if any of you are reading this..
) I will post the Greatest Canadian articles each Wednesday, on their own.
Week 1 - Pat Bowlen (owner of the Broncos)
Week 2 - Joe Sakic (captain of the Colorado Avalanche)
Week 3 (in keeping with the Colorado theme for one more week)
Larry Walker - Former Star Outfielder for the Colorado Rockies
Larry Kenneth Robert Walker (born December 1, 1966 in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada) is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1989 through 2005, Walker played for the Montreal Expos (1989-1994), Colorado Rockies (1995-2004) and St. Louis Cardinals (2004-2005).
As a child, Walker aspired to be an ice hockey player. In time, he thought handling a bat was easier than using a stick.
Signed by the Montreal Expos as an amateur free agent in 1984, Walker made his debut with Montreal in 1989. During his first several seasons, he was an above average hitter in all respects, hitting for some power, stealing 20-30 bases, and regularly batting near the .300 mark. In 1994, the Expos team — and Walker himself — appeared to be rising to its potential, however was stopped due to the 1994 players' strike.
In 1995 Walker signed with the Colorado Rockies, where hitter-friendly Coors Field contributed to an instant boom in his statistics. Walker was a major factor in Colorado's winning 1995 season, hitting .301 with 36 home runs and 101 RBI. He remains in the top ten in many offensive categories for the Rockies. Walker's career season came in 1997, when he hit .366 with 49 home runs, 130 RBI, 33 stolen bases, and 409 total bases, en route to becoming the first Canadian player to win the MVP Award.
In 1998, Walker won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canadian athlete of the year after finishing runner-up the previous year to Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve.
Walker was plagued by injuries for the last several years of his career, but nevertheless continued to produce. He hit .363 in 1998 in limited action, and .379 (a Rockies record) with 37 homers and 115 RBI in just 438 at-bats the year after. After spending most of the 2000 season on the disabled list (albeit hitting .309 in limited action), Walker returned to form, hitting .350 and .338 the next two seasons with more than 100 RBI both years.
In August 2004, the injured (but batting .324) Walker was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for three minor league players. Walker contributed briefly to the pennant-winning 2004 squad and the 2005 division winners.
He ended his career with 383 home runs, at the time 50th (currently 52nd) on the all-time list. As of 2008, Walker is currently an instructor on the St. Louis Cardinals' spring training staff under manager Tony La Russa and does fill-in training with the Cardinals staff, while spending more time with his children.
Accomplishments
· Lou Marsh Trophy (1998)
· 5-time All-Star (1992, 1997-99, 2001)
· 7-time National League Gold Glove Award winner (1992-93, 1997-99, 2001-02)
· National League MVP award (1997)
· 4-time Top 10 MVP (1992, 5th; 1995, 7th; 1995, 10th; 1997, Won)
· 3-time Silver Slugger Award (1992, 1997, 1999)
CanDB's comments:
Larry Walker was a great ball player! He was strong, sturdy, and had surprisingly great skills in terms of base-running, defense and overall athleticism. And I'll never forget when I was at Coors field to see him launch a line drive upper deck type home run. It was a rope!!!
I wish Walker had a "less injured" career, because his stats would have been incredible. He was the first Canadian MVP in baseball and he set the standard for guys like Justin Morneau to follow.....:salute!:
) I will post the Greatest Canadian articles each Wednesday, on their own.Week 1 - Pat Bowlen (owner of the Broncos)
Week 2 - Joe Sakic (captain of the Colorado Avalanche)
Week 3 (in keeping with the Colorado theme for one more week)
Larry Walker - Former Star Outfielder for the Colorado Rockies
Larry Kenneth Robert Walker (born December 1, 1966 in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada) is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1989 through 2005, Walker played for the Montreal Expos (1989-1994), Colorado Rockies (1995-2004) and St. Louis Cardinals (2004-2005).
As a child, Walker aspired to be an ice hockey player. In time, he thought handling a bat was easier than using a stick.
Signed by the Montreal Expos as an amateur free agent in 1984, Walker made his debut with Montreal in 1989. During his first several seasons, he was an above average hitter in all respects, hitting for some power, stealing 20-30 bases, and regularly batting near the .300 mark. In 1994, the Expos team — and Walker himself — appeared to be rising to its potential, however was stopped due to the 1994 players' strike.
In 1995 Walker signed with the Colorado Rockies, where hitter-friendly Coors Field contributed to an instant boom in his statistics. Walker was a major factor in Colorado's winning 1995 season, hitting .301 with 36 home runs and 101 RBI. He remains in the top ten in many offensive categories for the Rockies. Walker's career season came in 1997, when he hit .366 with 49 home runs, 130 RBI, 33 stolen bases, and 409 total bases, en route to becoming the first Canadian player to win the MVP Award.
In 1998, Walker won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canadian athlete of the year after finishing runner-up the previous year to Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve.
Walker was plagued by injuries for the last several years of his career, but nevertheless continued to produce. He hit .363 in 1998 in limited action, and .379 (a Rockies record) with 37 homers and 115 RBI in just 438 at-bats the year after. After spending most of the 2000 season on the disabled list (albeit hitting .309 in limited action), Walker returned to form, hitting .350 and .338 the next two seasons with more than 100 RBI both years.
In August 2004, the injured (but batting .324) Walker was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for three minor league players. Walker contributed briefly to the pennant-winning 2004 squad and the 2005 division winners.
He ended his career with 383 home runs, at the time 50th (currently 52nd) on the all-time list. As of 2008, Walker is currently an instructor on the St. Louis Cardinals' spring training staff under manager Tony La Russa and does fill-in training with the Cardinals staff, while spending more time with his children.
Accomplishments
· Lou Marsh Trophy (1998)
· 5-time All-Star (1992, 1997-99, 2001)
· 7-time National League Gold Glove Award winner (1992-93, 1997-99, 2001-02)
· National League MVP award (1997)
· 4-time Top 10 MVP (1992, 5th; 1995, 7th; 1995, 10th; 1997, Won)
· 3-time Silver Slugger Award (1992, 1997, 1999)
CanDB's comments:
Larry Walker was a great ball player! He was strong, sturdy, and had surprisingly great skills in terms of base-running, defense and overall athleticism. And I'll never forget when I was at Coors field to see him launch a line drive upper deck type home run. It was a rope!!!
I wish Walker had a "less injured" career, because his stats would have been incredible. He was the first Canadian MVP in baseball and he set the standard for guys like Justin Morneau to follow.....:salute!:
Where are the 
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