Former Tribe Outfielder Larry Walker Elected into National Baseball Hall of Fame
INDIANAPOLIS - The Baseball Writers Association of America announced today that former Indianapolis Indian Larry Walker will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of its 2020 class. He is the 12th former Tribe player or manager elected and the first since Randy Johnson in 2015.
INDIANAPOLIS - The Baseball Writers Association of America announced today that former Indianapolis Indian Larry Walker will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of its 2020 class. He is the 12th former Tribe player or manager elected and the first since Randy Johnson in 2015.
Walker received 76.6 percent of the vote, a 22 percent jump from last season (54.6 percent). This was his last of 10 years on the BBWAA ballot, making him just the seventh HOF inductee elected in his final year of eligibility. Derek Jeter was also elected by the BBWAA as part of the 2020 class.
During his 17-year tenure as one of the best all-around right fielders in the game, Walker was a five-time All-Star, won seven Gold Gloves, took home three Silver Sluggers and was a three-time NL batting champion. He topped Major League Baseball with a .720 slugging percentage, 1.172 OPS and 99 extra-base hits during his 1997 NL MVP campaign.
His 150 career assists in right field are greater than 19 current Hall of Famers, and his bat made him a standout player. He is one of only two players to finish their career with 300-plus home runs, 200-plus stolen bases and an OPS over .950 - the other being Barry Bonds.
Walker holds a 72.7 career WAR, good for fourth on this year's ballot. His career batting average of .313 (2160-for-6907) ranked second among the ballot's position players.
The outfielder donned a Tribe uniform in the summer of 1989, when he appeared in 114 games and led the team with 36 stolen bases. He hit .270 (104-for-385) with 12 home runs before being promoted to the Montreal Expos in August. He made his major league debut on Aug. 16, 1989, and appeared with Montreal, Colorado and St. Louis during his career.