Larry Walker joins fellow Canadian Ferguson Jenkins in the Hall of Fame!

[saskjayfan]

Way to go Larry!!!!!!

[The Iceman]

[BigCecil]

I’m soooo happy about this. His lifetime WAR and consistency. Just incredible given some of the injuries. The coors field argument was always a f***ing joke. His park adjusted stats are HOF worthy. Especially with some of the lesser players they have let in. So proud of him. So cool. Long long overdue.

[EMK19]

I just knew the Rockies already knew something when they made the decision to retire his number!

 

Congratulations Larry.

[Brownie19]

So excited. I was never a huge Walker fan or anything, but listening to them play the video of him getting the call and the talk about how important this is for Canadian baseball and the players like Francis and Morneau talking about how Walker meant to them made me a little emotional (how can you not be romance about baseball).

 

The man signed his first contract with the Expos for $1,500 - and ends up in the HOF. That's incredible.

[Beans]

He went from 55% last year to over 76% this year!

 

Congratulations to Larry Walker!

[saskjayfan]

The thing about Walker, as much time he missed, he played hurt so often. He basically won batting titles in 98 and 99 playing at 75% health. In his final season he played with a herniated disk in his neck taking regular cortisone shots and still put up a 135 wRC+ playing for the Cardinals at age 38. The guy would have put up insane numbers and probably put up a career wRC around 155 if he had just been able to stay healthy. Here is a great article written in 2001 by SI.

 

https://www.si.com/vault/2001/06/11/305049/handy-man-the-rockies-larry-walker-has-all-the-major-league-tools-and-he-wields-them-like-a-master-craftsman

[DigitalRock]

Yay. The HOF process in baseball is a total mess. why is MLB so incompetent? Inquiring minds want to know.

[EastCoaster]

Congratulations to Larry Walker 33 the pride of Maple Ridge BC you were an inspiration for all Canadian baseball players and fans. Your place in Cooperstown was rightfully so but long overdue as a young Expos manning RF and one of stars on that famous 94 dream team which was destined for the WS. Walker is only the second Canadian elected to HOF he's the first Canadian position player I doubt very much they will be any other Canadian to surpass his accomplishment in the sport. He was NL league MVP,3 time NL Batting Champion, 1 NL HR Champion, 5 time All-Star, 7 Gold Gloves, 3 Silver Slugger.

[BTS]

Votto is probably Canada's last reasonable shot at the HoF for a few decades. It would be great to see him rebound a bit this year and build his case. It's interesting because it's going to be almost a purely sabermetric case, outside of his MVP award and 6 all-star games. If he finishes with a strong 4 years, he'll get up to the mid-60s in fWAR but he's still not going to compile any clear HoF totals (3000 hits or 500 HR). He does have a chance to become just the 15th player ever with 1500 walks!

 

He probably needs another monster season or to contribute meaningfully to a Reds WS. Neither of which seems very likely.

[Brownie19]

Votto is probably Canada's last reasonable shot at the HoF for a few decades. It would be great to see him rebound a bit this year and build his case. It's interesting because it's going to be almost a purely sabermetric case, outside of his MVP award and 6 all-star games. If he finishes with a strong 4 years, he'll get up to the mid-60s in fWAR but he's still not going to compile any clear HoF totals (3000 hits or 500 HR). He does have a chance to become just the 15th player ever with 1500 walks!

 

He probably needs another monster season or to contribute meaningfully to a Reds WS. Neither of which seems very likely.

 

Agreed - although, isn't Walker also a sabermetric case? That fact he was a 5 tool player, stole some bases and won GG's helps, but he didn't reach milestones. The sabermetrics help confirm just how valuable his base running and defense made him and helped disprove the s*** about how Walker was a product of Coors Field.

 

Votto might end up like Manny without the PED links? Or in the Edgar Martinez category? He could finish with a career wRC+ over 145 and simply be viewed as one of the best hitters of all-time...counting stats be damned. I'm certainly rooting for Votto over the next few years.

[BTS]

Agreed - although, isn't Walker also a sabermetric case? That fact he was a 5 tool player, stole some bases and won GG's helps, but he didn't reach milestones. The sabermetrics help confirm just how valuable his base running and defense made him and helped disprove the s*** about how Walker was a product of Coors Field.

 

Votto might end up like Manny without the PED links? Or in the Edgar Martinez category? He could finish with a career wRC+ over 145 and simply be viewed as one of the best hitters of all-time...counting stats be damned. I'm certainly rooting for Votto over the next few years.

 

Edgar is actually a very good comp. If Votto finishes up strong he should finish with more HR, R, RBI, H, and SB, and a very comparable career wRC+ and fWAR. He's also played about three times as many games in the field as Edgar did in his career.

 

Votto has 6 AS games and Edgar has 7

Votto has an MVP, and Edgar has his two batting titles

 

Neither is likely to win a WS and both are likely to spend their entire career with the same team.

 

They have very similar cases if Votto can finish his career with a few strong seasons.

[EastCoaster]

I would like to see fellow Canadian Joey Votto in the HOF but it's very doubtful his credential and accolades doesn't add up to HOF standards and being from Canada certainly doesn't help. Walker had 4 season of maintaining an batting avg over .350 between 97-02 he was the 5th player with the best OPS in baseball other were Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Manny Ramirez and Jason Giambi all known PED users. Since 1945 HOF RF Walker is 3rd in OPS+ behind Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson he's no 1 in OBP and SLG ahead of such great as Guerrero, Jackson, Kaline, Gwynn, Winnfield and Dawson. Larry Walker career stats were cut short due his injuries especially his herniated disc in his neck.

[Sorrow]

By wRC+ Votto is presently the 27th best offensive player of all time, he also has the 17th best OBP of all time. Likely ends his career with 300+ HRs, and roughly 60 fWAR. I think it will take time but 12-13 years from now I think a lot more sabrmetrically inclined voters will likely put Votto in as the traditional stat voters die off.

[Jimcanuck]

Votto is probably Canada's last reasonable shot at the HoF for a few decades. It would be great to see him rebound a bit this year and build his case. It's interesting because it's going to be almost a purely sabermetric case, outside of his MVP award and 6 all-star games. If he finishes with a strong 4 years, he'll get up to the mid-60s in fWAR but he's still not going to compile any clear HoF totals (3000 hits or 500 HR). He does have a chance to become just the 15th player ever with 1500 walks!

 

He probably needs another monster season or to contribute meaningfully to a Reds WS. Neither of which seems very likely.

 

Vladdy Jr next shot. Born in Montreal.