Early Life and Career
Walker grew up playing ice hockey and dreamed of a career in the NHL as a goaltender, only playing baseball for fun during the summer. At the age of 16, he was offered tryouts with Junior A teams in Regina, SK and Kelowna, BC, but after getting cut from both teams, Walker decided to focus his athletic aspirations on baseball.
Walker was selected to join the Canadian team at the 1984 World Youth Championships in Saskatchewan. At that tournament, he caught the eye of Montreal Expos scouting director Jim Fanning, who signed Walker for $1500, despite Walker's relative lack of experience playing organized baseball.
Although he could hit fastballs well, Walker was unprepared for the more sophisticated pitches he encountered during his first season as a professional with the Utica Blue Sox and struggled at the plate, finishing with a .223 average and only 2 home runs. Walker feared he would be released, but Expos hitting coach Ralph Rowe successfully argued that Walker should be sent to the Florida Instructional League. With further tutelage, Walker soon developed into one of the Expos' best young prospects, overcoming a serious knee injury along the way.
Walker made his debut with Montreal on August 16, 1989. He walked twice and recorded a single in his first official at bat.
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, becoming a role model for thousands of young Canadian baseball players. In 1994, Walker was well on his way to his first 100-RBI year, with 86 RBI. However, that season was interrupted due to the 1994 players' strike.
Before the 1995 season, Walker signed with the Colorado Rockies. In 1995, Walker was a major factor in helping Colorado reach the playoffs for the first time, hitting .306 with 36 home runs and 101 RBI. He remains in the top ten in many offensive categories for the Rockies.
Read more about this topic: Larry Walker
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