Larry Walker

Larry Kenneth Robert Walker (born December 1, 1966) is a Canadian former professional baseball right fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). During his 17-year career, he played for the Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies, and St. Louis Cardinals. In 1997, he became the only player in major league history to register both a .700 slugging percentage and 30 stolen bases in the same season, on his way to winning the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player Award (MVP). The first player in more than 60 years to hit at least .360 in each of three consecutive seasons from 1997 to 1999, Walker also won three NL batting championships. Honors include induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009, and acclaim from Sports Illustrated in 1999 as the 13th greatest sporting figure from Canada. Widely considered a five-tool talent of prodigious athleticism and instincts, Walker hit for both average and power, combined with well above-average speed, defense and throwing strength and accuracy. He was recognized as the top Canadian athlete in 1998 with the Lou Marsh Trophy. Other awards include five MLB All-Star selections, seven Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, and nine Tip O'Neill Awards. His career slugging percentage (.565) ranks 12th all-time. Walker is one of only 19 hitters in history to accomplish a .300 batting average, 400 on-base percentage (OBP), and .500 slugging percentage (SLG) with at least 5,000 plate appearances, and one of six whose careers began after 1960. Considering advanced metrics, he is one of three players in history to rank within the top 100 of each of batting runs, baserunning runs, and defensive runs saved; the others are Barry Bonds and Willie Mays. From the Greater Vancouver area of British Columbia, Walker spent his youth playing hockey with consuming NHL goaltender aspirations. That dream never materialized; however, the Expos saw his baseball potential and signed him in 1984. By 1990, Walker became