By Jason Prach
In this years 2020 Hall of Fame class, we have some very interesting players on the ballot. 8 players in total along with 3 pitchers. Every year as I get older, I have seen some of my favorite players get voted into the Hall and I feel privileged to have been able to watch these players live or on my television set. When I was a young man playing baseball outside as a kid, I grew up watching guys like Mike Mussina, Edgar Martinez, Lee Smith, Andre Dawson. Those were players sort of my generation that are now Hall of Fame players. Mussina, Smith and Martinez made it last year in the 2019 induction. As well as the late Roy Halladay, who had a phenomenal career with the Blue Jays and Phillies as well.
In this years 2020 class, we had Derek Jeter receive 99.7 of the vote on his first year of eligibility. 1 vote away from a unanimous decision for the ex-Yankee. Many are outraged by him not getting the 100% vote. After all he does have 3,465 hits, a career .310 BAA, winning the 1996 Rookie of the year award and didn’t hurt by adding 5 world series rings to his resume as well. Raised in Kalamazoo Michigan and drafted right out of High School in 1992, he obviously was an easy shoe in for the Hall.
Lets look at the career of Larry Walker, so much has come from his resume, being up and down on the ballot since his first year of eligibility in 2011. That year he had a rate of 20.3 fluctuated to 10.2 in 2014, (2017) 21.9% 2018 (34.1) 2019 (54.6) and finally the National Sports Writers give him what he deserves, a vote of 76.6 to be inducted to Baseballs Hall of Fame. Larry Walker you finally made it, and you should be proud.
He was signed by the Montreal Expos to a $1,500 contract and played from 1989-1994 for the Expos. After 2 seasons of 20 plus homers in the 1992 and 1993 campaigns, Walker was starting to come into his own, and in 1994 in just 103 games, he led the league with 44 doubles and had 19 homers with 59 games left to play. Then the 1994 baseball strike happened and his career with the Expos was cut short and in 1995 he signed with the Rockies.
Many writers and others have speculated of why he hasn’t been put in the hall alot earlier, which I’m not sure why myself. His Coors field totals .381 .BAA .462 OBP/ .710 Slugging percentage. His road totals are just as impressive .278/.370/.495. In his 1997 MVP season Walker hit 29 of his 49 homers on the road. His career .965 OPS is equal or higher then Brett, Griffey Jr., Reggie Jackson, Stargell, and those players were all first ballot Hall of fame players. Walker played in just 1,988 games and putting up 383 homers to add to his resume also should have been looked at with more respect, not all were hit at Coors Field.
Another interesting stat that can really stand out, Derek Jeter in 759 more games his (WAR) Wins Above Replacement was 72.4. Walker in his 1,988 games WAR was 72.7. In the past 4 outfielders that were inducted, Andre Dawson, Griffey, Vladimir Guerrero, and Tim Raines, only Griffey has a higher WAR than Walker (83.8 for Griffey).
Curt Schilling missed the 2020 vote with a very close 70% could possibly fit the bill for the 2021 class, also Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds 61% and 60% still on the outside looking in. Those players have 2 years remaining to reach the 75% vote. Will they get in, I’m really not sure and I can’t see it when it comes to the writers. Congratulations on Derek Jeter and Larry Walker getting the vote for this years class. They earned it in their storied careers.
