Editing Larry Walker (section)

==Professional career==
===Minor leagues===
Walker attended Expos [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] [[spring training]] camp in [[1985 in baseball|1985]] and it was clear from the outset that pitching was a complete mystery to him. He swung indiscriminately, expecting every pitch to be a fastball, including at ones that bounced 10 feet in front of, or on, home plate. When the camp ended, there was still about one and a half months remaining until the start of the season, so he returned home, seeking additional preparation. He joined a fast-pitch softball team sponsored by a [[bowling alley]], but this brought little relief.<ref name=montville040593/> The Expos assigned Walker to the [[Utica Blue Sox]] of the [[New York–Penn League]], a Class A Short Season league, for his first season of [[professional baseball]]. He played [[Third baseman|third base]] and [[First baseman|first base]]. Although he could hit [[fastball]]s well, he continued to have difficulties with [[strike zone]] judgment and the more sophisticated pitches, finishing with a .223 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] and two home runs. [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]] [[Ken Brett]], who was less preoccupied with fielding a winning team than giving the athletic players the opportunity to experiment, allowed Walker to stay in the lineup as a regular in part because of his willingness to learn.<ref name=sickels050811/> Walker heard that he would be released, but Brett recalled that "he was just so tough," and marveled at his "outstanding athleticism, freakish hand-eye coordination and mental approach;"<ref name=montville040593/> he also had 12 [[stolen base]]s.<ref name=sickels050811/> Expos hitting coach [[Ralph Rowe]] successfully lobbied for him to be sent to the [[Florida Instructional League]] (FIL). With further tutelage, relentless preparation, and sheer hard work, Walker soon developed into one of the Expos' best young prospects. He continued to make annual off-season returns to FIL in [[West Palm Beach, Florida|West Palm Beach]] to calibrate and refine his approach, and eventually made his home there.<ref name=montville040593/>

In his second professional season in [[1986 in baseball|1986]], Walker achieved his breakthrough while playing for two A-level clubs, the [[Burlington Bees|Burlington Expos]] and [[West Palm Beach Expos]]. His combined totals in 133 games included a .288 average, .397 [[on-base percentage]] (OBP), .602 [[slugging percentage]] (SLG), 87 [[Run (baseball)|runs scored]], 19 [[Double (baseball)|doubles]], 11 [[Triple (baseball)|triples]], 33 home runs, 90 [[runs batted in]] (RBI) and 18 stolen bases.<ref name=walkerreg>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=walker001lar |title=Larry Walker minor league statistics & history |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref> Walker caught the eye of his fellow Canadians, and, as a 19-year-old minor leaguer, had acquired an entourage of Canadian reporters. "I know now I can hit the ball. I have a lot of confidence even though I still strike out a lot. I swing at too many bad pitches," he contemplated. Asserted West Palm Beach manager [[Felipe Alou]], "If he keeps improving the way he has the last 12 months, there's no telling what he could do. You have a kid with his kind of potential, they don't last long in the minor leagues."<ref name=hill081086>{{cite news |last=Hill |first=Bob |title=Le Naturel Larry Walker is no ordinary Class-A prospect. He's aiming to be the first Canadian born player to make it big in Montreal |work=[[Sun-Sentinel]] |page=5C |date=August 10, 1986}}</ref> Meanwhile, the club clinched the [[Florida State League]] South division, winning by two games over the [[Fort Lauderdale Yankees]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=4bbf8bdd |title=1986 Florida State League |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=April 18, 2017}}</ref>

After promotion to [[Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp|Jacksonville Expos]] of the [[Southern League (1964–2020)|Southern League]] in [[1987 in baseball|1987]], Walker totaled a .287 average, .383 OBP, .534 SLG, 91 runs, 26 home runs, 24 stolen bases and three times [[caught stealing]]. He won his first [[Tip O'Neill Award]] that year as the top Canadian baseball player.<ref name=batoaward>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/tip_oneill_award.shtml |title=Tip O'Neill Award |work=[[Baseball Almanac]] |access-date=May 4, 2017}}</ref> He missed the [[1988 in baseball|1988]] season after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery for an injury while playing in the [[Mexican Pacific League]].<ref name=sickels050811/><ref name=hoffer061101>{{cite magazine |last=Hoffer |first=Richard |url=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 |title=Handy Man: The Rockies' Larry Walker has all the major league tools, and he wields them like a master craftsman |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=June 11, 2001 |access-date=July 22, 2017}}</ref> The Expos moved him up to [[Indianapolis Indians]] of the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] [[International League]] in [[1989 in baseball|1989]]. There, he played in 114 games and batted .270 with 68 runs scored, 12 home runs, 36 stolen bases and six times caught stealing.<ref name=walkerreg/>

===Montreal Expos===
====Major league debut (1989)====
Walker made his debut with the [[1989 Montreal Expos season|Montreal Expos]] on August 16, 1989. He [[Base on balls|walked]] twice in the game while recording a single in his first official at bat,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=hMmgM-zqII4C&q=Larry+Walker DeMarco, Tony, "Larry Walker: Canadian Rocky" ''Sports Publishing LLC'', 1999, p.15. Retrieved through Google Books 4/24/11]</ref> off [[Mike LaCoss]] of the [[1989 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]]. Walker's first season totals included a .170 batting average, .264 OBP, and .170 SLG in 56 [[plate appearance]]s.<ref name=jaffe121516/> [[Montreal]] fans gave him the nickname "Booger."<ref name=crothers041497>{{cite magazine |last1=Crothers |first1=Tim |last2=Farber |first2=Michael |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1997/04/14/225482/kevin-mitchell-and-deion-return-in-style-spring-flings-home-run-binge-by-larry-walker |title=Kevin Mitchell and Deion Sanders return in style; Spring flings; Home run barrage by Larry Walker |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=April 14, 1997 |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref>

====Early major league career (1990−1992)====
[[File:MON1989-1991H33WALKER.jpg|thumb|left|160px|1989-1991 Montreal Expos #33 Larry Walker home jersey]] Ranked No. 42 on ''[[Baseball America]]'''s list of top prospects in advance of the [[1990 Montreal Expos season|1990]] season, the Expos never optioned Walker back to the minor leagues, instead, he became their regular right fielder following [[Hubie Brooks]]' departure via [[Free agent|free agency]], patrolling an outfield which at times featured [[Tim Raines]] and [[Marquis Grissom]], both accomplished [[Stolen base|base stealers]] and hitters. Walker [[Slash line|batted]] .241/.326 /.434 for a 112 [[On-base plus slugging#Adjusted OPS (OPS+)|OPS+]] in his first full season. He also hit 19 home runs with 21 stolen bases and produced 3.4 [[Wins Above Replacement]] (WAR).<ref name=jaffe121516/> He placed seventh in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] balloting.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1990.shtml#all_NL_ROY_voting |title=1990 awards voting |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref> As the top native Canadian to ever play for the Expos, Walker became a role model for young Canadian baseball players.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

Over the next four seasons, Walker hit a combined .293/.366/.501 for a 134 OPS+, with an average of 20 home runs, 19 stolen bases, excellent defense (+10 runs per year) and 4.5 WAR. He became another in the succession of Montreal's great outfielders. He never appeared in more than 143 games, spending significant time on the [[disabled list]] (DL) in [[1991 Montreal Expos season|1991]] and 1993 while playing on [[Olympic Stadium (Montreal)|Olympic Stadium]]'s notorious [[artificial turf]], a product perceived to create excessive stress on [[knee]]s, accelerating injuries to players like former Expos star outfielder [[Andre Dawson]].<ref name=jaffe121516/> In 1991, Walker appeared in 39 games at first base, including [[Dennis Martínez's perfect game]] on July 28, a 2−0 victory over the [[1991 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref name=mlbbio>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/larry-walker-123833 |title=Larry Walker stats, fantasy & news (Career biography) |work=MLB.com |access-date=May 13, 2017 |archive-date=October 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004110832/http://m.mlb.com/player/123833/larry-walker |url-status=live }}</ref> In that contest, Walker hit the only RBI, driving in [[Dave Martinez]] on a triple, and scored the second run on an error. He was involved in 17 of 27 outs: 16 putouts and one assist.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN199107280.shtml |title=Montreal Expos at Los Angeles Dodgers box score, July 28, 1991 |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 21, 2017}}</ref>

Approximately one-quarter of the way through the [[1992 Montreal Expos season|1992]] season, the Expos made Alou [[List of Washington Nationals managers|manager]] at the major league level, touching off a period of heightened success lasting the rest of Walker's time in Montreal.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kurkjian |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Kurkjian |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1992/07/27/106784166/baseball |title=Baseball: Northern exposure |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=June 27, 1992 |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> In the July 4 game against the [[1992 San Diego Padres season|San Diego Padres]], he fielded a ground ball to right field and threw out speedy [[shortstop]] [[Tony Fernández]] at first base.<ref name=cohen122115/> Walker was named to his first [[1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], debuting as a [[pinch hitter]] in the fourth inning for [[Greg Maddux]] and producing a [[Single (baseball)|single]].<ref name=1992asg>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1992-allstar-game.shtml |title=1992 All-Star Game box score, July 14 |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref> Walker was also selected to his first [[Home Run Derby (Major League Baseball)|Home Run Derby]], hitting four home runs.<ref name=hrderby>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/hr_derby.jsp |title=All-Star Game Home Run Derby history |work=MLB.com |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref> For the 1992 season, Walker batted .301/.353/.506 and rated 10 runs above average while fielding,<ref name=jaffe121516/> with 16 outfield assists,<ref name=cohen122115/> for a total value of 5.4 WAR. He won his first both of a [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove]]<ref name=bbrefnlgg>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/gold_glove_nl.shtml |title=MLB National League Gold Glove Award winners |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref> and [[Silver Slugger Award]],<ref name=bbrefss>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/silver_slugger_nl.shtml |title=MLB Silver Slugger Award winners − National League |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 3, 2017}}</ref> and became the first and only Canadian to win the [[Montreal Expos Player of the Year|Expos Player of the Year]] award.<ref name=jaffe121516/> Walker received consideration for the [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]] (MVP) for the first time in 1992, finishing fifth in the National League.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1992.shtml#all_NL_MVP_voting |title=1992 awards voting |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 7, 2017}}</ref>

====1993−94 seasons====
The [[1993 Montreal Expos season|1993]] Expos reached a rare watermark, winning 94 games. A core of young talent propelled the club, including Grissom and a rising [[Moisés Alou]] (son of manager Felipe) complementing Walker in the outfield, [[Ken Hill (baseball)|Ken Hill]] and [[Jeff Fassero]] in the starting rotation, and [[John Wetteland]] and [[Mel Rojas]] anchoring the [[bullpen]].<ref name=shea021015>{{cite news |last=Shea |first=John |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/shea/article/Strike-thwarted-Felipe-Alou-s-dynamic-Expos-6073824.php |title=Strike thwarted Felipe Alou's dynamic Expos |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=February 10, 2015 |access-date=January 8, 2017}}</ref> An improbable finish to the regular season including a record of 30−9 catapulted Montreal to a second-place standing with a 94−68 record, thus nearly matching the club record of 95 wins set in [[1979 Montreal Expos season|1979]].<ref name=cocoran032814>{{cite magazine |last=Cocoran |first=Cliff |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/strike-zone/2014/03/28/five-best-teams-in-montreal-expos-history |title=Le Grand Cinq: The five best teams in Montreal Expos history |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=March 28, 2014 |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/WSN/ |title=Washington Nationals team history & encyclopedia |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2017}}</ref> Now, to the delight of Montreal fans, who had watched the team struggle through decades of futility, excitement in Canada began to crescendo over the prospect of the first-ever all-Canadian [[World Series]], as the [[1993 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]] were defending [[List of World Series champions|champions]] in [[1993 Major League Baseball season|1993]], and [[1993 World Series|repeated]] that October.<ref name=simmons071913>{{cite web |last=Simmons |first=Jeff |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/what-happened-looking-back-at-the-1994-expos/ |title=What happened? Looking back at the 1994 Expos |website=[[Sportsnet]] |date=July 19, 2013 |access-date=January 8, 2017}}</ref> Walker batted .265, 22 home runs, and 86 RBI, setting then-career highs each of 80 walks, 20 [[Intentional base on balls|intentional walks]], 29 stolen bases, and .371 OBP. He won his second Gold Glove Award.<ref name=bbrefnlgg/>

Before the start of the [[1994 Montreal Expos season|1994]] season, the Expos, seeking to replace departed [[Ace (baseball)|ace]] [[Dennis Martínez]] in the starting rotation, acquired a young reliever in [[Pedro Martínez]], who the [[1993 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] had cast doubt over his potential as starter and pitched him out of the bullpen.<ref name=cocoran032814/> One amusing moment happened on April 24 while playing the [[1994 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Dodgers]] in [[Los Angeles]] and Martínez starting. With one out in the third inning, Walker caught a [[Mike Piazza]] fly ball and innocently handed it to a young fan, six-year-old Sebastian Napier, thinking it was the third out of the inning. He then quickly noticed that [[José Offerman]], already on base, was running at full speed. Walker managed to retrieve the ball from Napier and throw it back in, but Offerman was held at third base because the ball had gone out of play.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MON@LAD: Larry Walker forgets number of outs {{!}} 04/24/1994 |url=https://www.mlb.com/video/walker-s-outfield-blooper-c28932145 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> Embarrassed, Walker admitted that he "told the little kid that maybe next time I'll give him a ball when there are three outs instead of two. Everybody around him was laughing." Where Offerman was stationed made little difference, as [[Tim Wallach]] homered on the next pitch from Martínez for two runs. True to his word, when the Expos assumed the field in the bottom half of the fourth inning, Walker gave Napier a signed ball, inducing a standing ovation.<ref name=cohen122115/>

From June 1 forward, Montreal transformed into the dominant club in the National League, going 46−18 until the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|players' strike]] halted the season on August 11.<ref name=cocoran032814/> In turn, they produced the most successful season in [[List of Washington Nationals seasons|franchise history]] in terms of [[winning percentage]] (.649) as they attained a major league-best 74−40 record.<ref name=jaffe121516/><ref name=simmons071913/><ref name=shea021015/> Walker was suspended four games starting June 24 for inciting a bench-clearing brawl by charging the mound in a game against [[Pittsburgh Pirates|Pittsburgh]].<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/24/sports/sports-people-baseball-national-league-suspends-walker.html |title=National League suspends Walker |work=The New York Times |date=June 24, 1994 |access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref> He paced for new levels production in spite of a shoulder injury in late June that confined him to first base for the remainder of the season. He easily accelerated past his previous career highs set in 1992 with a .322 batting average, .394 OBP, and .587 SLG, including what could have been his first 100-RBI year. He finished with 86 RBI, 151 OPS+, and a league-leading 44 doubles; the latter two figures were also new career-highs.<ref name=jaffe121516/> He was sixth in the league in RBI, seventh in WAR (4.7), offensive win % (.739) and OPS+, and eighth in batting and SLG.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1994-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1994 National League batting leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 7, 2017}}</ref> He placed 11th in the NL MVP voting.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1994.shtml#all_NL_MVP_voting |title=1994 awards voting |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 7, 2017}}</ref>

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Expos' transcendent season was that they did so with the second-lowest payroll in baseball. However, as the team lost millions of dollars in revenue from 29 canceled home games and playoffs, [[List of Washington Nationals owners and executives|general manager]] [[Kevin Malone (baseball)|Kevin Malone]] was given orders to drastically reduce payroll. The club dealt away their young stars and did not offer Walker [[salary arbitration]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Trueblood: Larry Walker’s unfortunate timing – |url=https://sabr.org/latest/trueblood-larry-walkers-unfortunate-timing/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]}}</ref> As such, he was granted [[Free agency (Major League Baseball)|free agency]].

===Colorado Rockies===
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{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = Rockies Retired 33.png
|Name   = Larry Walker
|Number = 33
|Team   = Colorado Rockies
|Year   = 2020
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Walker signed a four-year contract with the [[1995 Colorado Rockies season|Colorado Rockies]] worth nearly $22.5&nbsp;million [[United States dollar|USD]] (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|22.5|1995|r=1}}}} million today), the largest agreement since the strike.<ref>{{cite news |last=Blum |first=Ronald |url=https://apnews.com/3864965701cfec9cd42fd3a67b891b6f |title=The biggest contract since the end of strike, Larry Walker's 4 |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=April 12, 1995 |access-date=January 7, 2017}}</ref> The average annual value equated to more than $5.6 million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|5.6|1995|r=1}}}} million today), up from the $4 million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|4.025|1994|r=1}}}} million today) the Expos had paid him the year prior.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chass |first=Murray |author-link=Murray Chass |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/09/sports/baseball-rockies-open-their-wallet-for-two-stars.html |title=Rockies open their wallet for two stars |work=The New York Times |date=April 9, 1995 |access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref> From Olympic Stadium to [[Coors Field]], Walker transitioned into the most benevolent hitting environment since [[World War II]]. Nonetheless, even after mathematically adjusting for stadium and altitude advantages, his production during his Rockies years consistently rivaled other hitters whose accomplishments came in settings of greater difficulty.<ref name=jaffe121516/>

====1995−96 seasons====
In his Rockies debut and inaugural game of Coors Field on April 26 against the [[1995 New York Mets season|New York Mets]], Walker doubled three times, including one that tied the score with two outs in the ninth resulting in an 11−9 [[extra innings]] win. On May 7, 1995, he hit his 100th career home run off [[Hideo Nomo]] of [[1995 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles]].<ref name=mlbbio/>

Walker attained new career-highs with 36 home runs and 101 RBI, reaching both 30 home runs and 100 RBI for the first time in his career, in spite of missing 13 games of a season shortened by the strike that had begun the year before. His rate numbers were .306/.381/.607,<ref name=walkerbrefmain>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walkela01.shtml |title=Larry Walker statistics and history |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=April 24, 2011}}</ref> and as the average club scored 5.4 runs per game, his OPS+ fell about 20 percent from the year before to 131.<ref name=jaffe121516/> Walker ranked second in the NL in home runs (tied with [[Sammy Sosa]]), slugging, extra base hits (72), total bases (300), [[at bats per home run]] (13.7) and [[Hit by pitch|hits by pitch]] (14), third in OPS (.988), and seventh in runs scored (96) and RBI.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1995-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1995 National League batting leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 13, 2017}}</ref> He placed seventh in the NL MVP voting,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1995.shtml#all_NL_MVP_voting |title=1995 awards voting |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 7, 2017}}</ref> his second time in the top ten.

One of a quartet of Rockies players who became known as The Blake Street Bombers, Walker, [[Dante Bichette]], [[Vinny Castilla]] and former Expos teammate [[Andrés Galarraga]] each contributed at least 30 home runs in 1995. The Rockies simultaneously won the first-ever [[List of National League Wild Card winners|National League wild card]] berth under the new [[Major League Baseball postseason|postseason]] format and first playoff appearance in franchise history in just their third season of play. Walker collected three hits in 14 at bats in the [[1995 National League Division Series|National League Division Series]] (NLDS) versus the [[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]]. He hit his first career postseason home run off [[Tom Glavine]] in the sixth inning of a 7−4 Game 2 loss. The Braves defeated the Rockies in four games.<ref name=cohen122115/>

Walker primarily played [[Center fielder|center field]] in [[1996 Colorado Rockies season|1996]] (54 out of 83 games) in a season cut short by injury.<ref name=walkerbrefmain/> On May 21 against the [[1996 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]], he doubled, tripled, and hit a pair of two-run home runs to drive in a career-best six runs in a 12–10 win. He set a club record with 13 total bases in a game.<ref>{{cite news |last=Montella |first=Paul |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/05/13/this-date-in-baseball/84321034/ |title=This date in baseball |work=USA Today |date=May 13, 2016 |access-date=January 8, 2017}}</ref> The next day, also against the Pirates, he set an MLB record with six consecutive extra base hits.<ref name=hofbio>{{cite web |author=BBHOF |url=http://baseballhall.org/hof/2015-bbwaa-ballot/walker-larry |title=Larry Walker bio |work=BaseballHall.org |access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref> On May 26, he won his first MLB [[Major League Baseball Player of the Week Award|Player of the Week Award]].<ref name=mlbpow>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mlb-players-of-the-week.shtml |title=Major League Baseball Players of the Week |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 2, 2017}}</ref> He missed more than two months of the 1996 season due to a fractured [[clavicle]]<ref name=jaffe121516/><ref>{{cite news |author=UPI |url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/06/09/Walker-out-with-broken-collarbone/7584834292800/ |title=Walker out with broken collarbone |work=[[United Press International]] |date=June 9, 1996 |access-date=January 8, 2017}}</ref> that occurred in a collision with an outfield fence. He hit .393 at Coors Field and .142 on the road.<ref name=chass062297>{{cite news |last=Chass |first=Murray |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/22/sports/three-cheers-for-the-rockies-walker-he-prefers-it-that-way.html |title=Three cheers for the Rockies' Walker (He prefers it that way) |work=The New York Times |date=June 22, 1997 |access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref>

====Most Valuable Player Award (1997)====
The Rockies commenced the [[1997 Colorado Rockies season|1997]] season on the road, and thus Walker started a reversal of his poor fortunes away from Coors. He hit two home runs in the season-opening series against the [[1994 Cincinnati Reds season|Reds]] in [[Cincinnati]],<ref name=crothers041497/> and, on April 5, hit three more in [[Montreal]], his first career three-home-run game.<ref name=chass062297/> The second landed near a home-made sign reading "Boogerville." After the third, fans cheered Walker for the [[hat-trick]] in recognition of his former dream of playing hockey professionally. He hit .440 with six home runs in 25 at bats in his first week,<ref name=crothers041497/> winning the NL Player of the Week Award for the second time.<ref name=mlbpow/> He ended April batting .456 with 41 hits, 29 runs scored, 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 7 stolen bases, a .538 OBP, and .911 SLG.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=walkela01&year=1997&t=b |title=Larry Walker 1997 batting splits |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> He set major league records for March–April for both OPS (later surpassed by [[Barry Bonds]] in [[2004 Major League Baseball season|2004]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Justice |first=Richard |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/christian-yelich-cody-bellinger-an-mvp-race-to-watch |title=Yelich-Bellinger could be MVP race for the ages |work=[[MLB.com]] |date=April 30, 2019 |access-date=April 30, 2019}}</ref>) and runs scored (later surpassed by [[Bryce Harper]] in [[2017 Major League Baseball season|2017]]).<ref name=macklin043017>{{cite news |last=Macklin |first=Oliver |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/bryce-harper-sets-mlb-runs-record-for-april-c227454450 |title=Harper sets MLB record for runs in April |work=MLB.com |date=April 30, 2017 |access-date=April 30, 2017 |archive-date=May 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504102839/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/227454450/bryce-harper-sets-mlb-runs-record-for-april/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Walker won his first NL [[Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award|Player of the Month]] award.<ref name=mlbpom>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mlb-players-of-the-month.shtml |title=Major League Baseball Players of the Month |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref>

Walker sat out an interleague game on June 12 versus the [[1997 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]]. Former Expos teammate [[Randy Johnson]], a left-handed pitcher standing {{convert|6|ft|10|in|m}} and one of the most intimidating players in sports history, was scheduled as the [[Starting pitcher|starter]]. "I faced Randy one time in spring training and he almost killed me," Walker explained of the rationale.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-12-sp-2622-story.html |title=Walker will not face Johnson |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 12, 1997 |access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref> He collected his 1,000th career hit and 108th of the season on June 20 against [[Andy Ashby]] of [[1997 San Diego Padres season|San Diego]].<ref name=cohen122115/>

However, the decision to not bat against Johnson instigated a debacle as one of the indelible moments of Walker's career one month later in the [[1997 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1997 All-Star Game]]. This time, Walker faced Johnson, who theatrically threw over his head. Ever adaptable, Walker placed his [[batting helmet]] backwards and switched sides in the batters' box to stand ''right-handed'' for one pitch. He ended the at bat by drawing a walk.<ref>{{cite news |author=Cut4Staff |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/video-ted-williams-hits-asg-walk-off-home-run-c135270768 |title=Today in All-Star Game history: Larry Walker flips helmet, bats right-handed |work=MLB.com Cut 4 |date=July 8, 2016 |access-date=January 7, 2017}}</ref> The incident momentarily drew mirth and laughter from players in both [[Dugout (baseball)|dugouts]], [[Fan (person)|fans]] and announcers, and comparisons to Johnson pitching against [[John Kruk]] in the [[1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1993 All-Star Game]], in which he also threw over his head.<ref name=baker070997>{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Chris |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-jul-09-sp-11026-story.html |title=Johnson's wild toss amuses Walker, fans |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 9, 1997 |access-date=January 7, 2017}}</ref> In spite of garnering a reputation of avoiding Johnson,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eisenberg |first1=John |last2=Kubatko |first2=Roch |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1997/07/09/relieved-walker-walks-away-from-hairy-at-bat-vs-johnson-kruk-like-wild-pitch-keeps-rockie-on-toes-68th-all-star-game/ |title=Relieved Walker walks away from hairy at-bat vs. Johnson Kruk-like wild pitch keeps Rockie on toes |work=[[Baltimore Sun]] |date=July 9, 1997 |access-date=January 7, 2017}}</ref> Walker batted .393 (11 hits in 28 at bats) against him in his career,<ref>{{cite web |author=[[Elias Sports Bureau]], Inc. |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/news/insider/story?id=2083323 |title=Elias says ...|work=ESPN.com |date=June 11, 2005 |access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref> nearly double the rate of all left-handed batters at .199.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=johnsra05&year=Career&t=p |title=Randy Johnson career pitching splits |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=January 7, 2017}}</ref>

During the All-Star break, Walker participated in the Home Run Derby, placing second with 19 home runs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Arthur |first=Benjamin |url=http://www.denverpost.com/2017/07/10/rockies-home-run-derby-participants/ |title=How have the Rockies fared in the Home Run Derby over the years? Here's a look back at every Rockies player who has competed in the HR Derby |work=Denver Post |date=July 10, 2017 |access-date=July 15, 2017}}</ref> Both he and [[Tony Gwynn]] of the Padres, also a selectee that year's All-Star Game, were batting near .400, and right fielders for teams in the [[National League West]] division. They were jointly interviewed,<ref name=gwynn082002>{{cite news |last=Gwynn |first=Tony |author-link=Tony Gwynn |url=http://a.espncdn.com/mlb/columns/gwynn_tony/1420582.html |title=Baserunning big part of Walker's greatness |work=ESPN.com |date=August 20, 2002 |access-date=February 5, 2017}}</ref> as batting .400 is one of the most difficult achievements in all of sports.<ref name="caple">{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/080612&sportCat=mlb |title=Three cheers for Chipper Jones and his pursuit of .400  |date=June 13, 2008 |first=Jim |last=Caple |author-link=Jim Caple |access-date=May 16, 2010 |work=ESPN.com}}</ref> Asked just how challenging it is, Gwynn, known to be a very studious hitter, elaborated with what he later termed a "complete dissertation." Walker responded, "I don't know anything about that stuff. I just hit the ball." While neither player wound up achieving the statistic over any full season, Gwynn won that year's National League [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|batting championship]] and Walker finished second.<ref name=gwynn082002/>

Continuing his remarkable season,<ref>{{cite news |last=Knisley |first=Michael |title=Preheat to .400 |work=The Sporting News |date=July 14, 1997 |page=14}}</ref> Walker was batting .402 as late as July 17.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=walkela01&t=b&year=1997 |title=Larry Walker 1997 batting gamelogs |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 9, 2017}}</ref> On September 12, Walker was batting a league-leading .371 with 43 home runs; no National League player had ever simultaneously marshaled those totals.<ref name=newhan091297>{{cite news |last=Newhan |first=Ross |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-12-sp-31559-story.html |title=Piazza not most valuable to Baylor |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 12, 1997 |access-date=July 5, 2017}}</ref> He then experienced another power surge, hitting home runs in four consecutive games – a total of five in that span – including the 199th and 200th of his career in San Diego on September 17. He injured his right elbow while swinging at the pitch that was thrown just prior to his 49th home run during the Rockies' 160th game, forcing him out of the final two games. In spite of Walker's magnificent season, the Rockies were unable to capitalize, missing the playoffs with an 83–79 record.<ref name=cohen122115/>

Walker's 1997 was a career season, when he hit .366 with 49 home runs, 130 RBI, 208 hits, 143 runs scored, 33 stolen bases, .720 slugging percentage, 1.172 OPS, 409 [[total bases]] and 9.8 WAR. He won the NL MVP Award, thus becoming the first Canadian player to win the MVP. The home run and stolen base totals placed him in the [[30–30 club]]. He became and remains the only player to have reached at least 30 stolen bases and a slugging percentage of .700 in the same season,<ref name=obrien121215>{{cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Sean |url=http://bsndenver.com/more-support-for-larry-walker-needs-to-be-a-colorado-standard/ |title=More support for Larry Walker needs to be a Colorado standard |website=bsndenver.com |date=December 12, 2015 |access-date=January 28, 2017}}</ref> the second with at least 45 home runs and 30 stolen bases,<ref name=simon122515>{{cite news |last=Simon |first=Andrew |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/larry-walker-deserves-to-be-in-hall-of-fame/c-160410864 |title=By the numbers: The HOF case for Larry Walker: Slugger's advanced stats, all-around game show he's worthy of Cooperstown plaque |work=MLB.com |date=December 25, 2015 |access-date=July 8, 2017}}</ref> and the fifth with 40−30.<ref name=walkercaenc>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/larry-walker/ |title=Larry Walker |encyclopedia=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]] |access-date=January 28, 2017}}</ref> The 9.8 WAR produced is tied for the 67th-highest single-season total among position players in MLB history, per [[Baseball Reference]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR_bat_season.shtml |title=Single-season leaders & records for WAR position players |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2017}}</ref> Walker's production slotted within four hits and 10 RBI of winning the first batting [[Major League Baseball Triple Crown|Triple Crown]] in 60 years.<ref name=walkercaenc/> He led the major leagues in WAR, slugging, OPS, total bases, [[runs created]] (187), adjusted batting runs (71), adjusted batting wins (6.7), extra base hits (99), and offensive win % (.857);<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/1997-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1997 Major League Baseball batting leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 13, 2017}}</ref> and the NL in on-base percentage (.452), and at bats per home run (11.6).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1997-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1997 National League batting leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 13, 2017}}</ref>

Also, Walker's 409 total bases were the most in an NL season since [[Stan Musial]] gained 429 in [[1948 Major League Baseball season|1948]], and is tied with [[Lou Gehrig]] and [[Rogers Hornsby]] for the 18th-highest in MLB history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/TB_season.shtml |title=Single-season leaders & records for total bases |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2017}}</ref> Walker's season marked the 23rd occasion in MLB history a batter reached 400 total bases and the first time in the National League since [[Hank Aaron]]'s 400 in [[1959 Major League Baseball season|1959]].<ref name=smith111497>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Claire |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/14/sports/baseball-walker-is-the-first-canadian-mvp.html?ref=topics |title=Walker is first Canadian M.V.P. |work=The New York Times |date=November 14, 1997 |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> Combined with 12 outfield assists, and a league-leading of both a .992 fielding percentage and four double plays turned,<ref name=walkerbrefmain/> Walker's 1997 season remains one of the finest all-around performances in recent baseball history. Further, he won a series of other awards, including the [[Players Choice Awards|Players Choice Award]] for National League Outstanding Player,<ref name=bapcawards>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_plch.shtml |title=Players Choice Awards |work=Baseball Almanac |access-date=May 13, 2017}}</ref> the [[Baseball Digest#Baseball Digest Player of the Year|''Baseball Digest'' Player of the Year Award]],<ref name=babaseballdigest>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_bdpy.shtml |title=Baseball Digest Player of the Year Award |work=Baseball Almanac |access-date=May 5, 2017}}</ref> his seventh Tip O'Neill Award,<ref name=batoaward/> third Gold Glove,<ref name=bbrefnlgg/> second Silver Slugger,<ref name=bbrefss/> and first Rockies Player of the Year Award.<ref name=rockiesawards>{{cite web |url=http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/col/history/awards.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070505060114/http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/col/history/awards.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 5, 2007 |title=Rockies awards |website=Colorado Rockies |publisher=MLB.com |access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref> In honor of Canada's 150th anniversary of [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]] on July 1, 2017, [[The Sports Network]] named Walker's achievement of the MVP award among the nation's most iconic sports moments.<ref>{{cite news |author=TSN.ca Staff |url=https://www.tsn.ca/tsn-ca-s-canada-150-iconic-baseball-moments-1.794011 |title=TSN.ca's Canada 150: Iconic baseball moments |work=TSN.ca |date=July 1, 2017 |access-date=July 1, 2017}}</ref>

The 49 home runs set a single-season club record for Colorado. Walker's production held up well on the road, including nine more home runs than at Coors Field: .346 average, 29 home runs and 62 RBI in 75 games.<ref name=ap111497>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-14-sp-53748-story.html |title=Walker MVP by a country mile |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 14, 1997 |access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref><ref name=smith111497/> Other single-season franchise records Walker set in 1997 were WAR, slugging percentage, OPS, runs scored, total bases, adjusted OPS+, offensive win percentage, and at bats per home run.<ref name=crsstop10>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/COL/leaders_bat_season.shtml |title=Colorado Rockies top 10 single-season batting leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 13, 2017}}</ref>

====First batting title (1998)====
Although he rested the right elbow in the off-season, Walker aggravated the injury while playing [[golf]] the following January.<ref name=cohen122115/> The elbow soreness kept him at one home run through April of the [[1998 Colorado Rockies season|1998]] season. He produced a season-high 20-game hitting streak from May 4−25, and the second-longest in the NL, batting .342 in that span, which was actually ''worse'' than his average at season's end. In that streak, Walker hit a pinch-hit grand slam on May 6 off [[Jerry Spradlin]] of the [[1998 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Philles]].<ref name=mlbbio/> The Rockies placed Walker on the DL for two weeks in June due to the elbow soreness,<ref name=cohen122115/> and he managed to hit .331 through the first half of the season.<ref name=walkercaenc/> Walker started in the [[1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] for the second consecutive season, playing [[Center fielder|center field]] and batting seventh. He drew a walk and scored a run.<ref name=1998asg>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1998-allstar-game.shtml |title=1998 All-Star Game box score, July 7 |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 6, 2017}}</ref>

{{quote box
|width=29%
|align=left
|quote= One of the most amazing things I've seen Larry accomplish, was during those two seasons after '97, when, hurt as he was, he hit for a high average.  He had to take daily inventory of what was going good and come up with a stroke that would work within the parameters of his health.  It was never dramatic–a layman's eye would never notice.  But he'd raise his hands on the bat or open his stance, just to have a stroke that was pain-free.  It was different every night for two years.
|source=—former Rockies manager and hitting coach [[Clint Hurdle]]<ref name=hoffer061101/>
|style=padding:8px
}}

Immediately following the All-Star break, Walker collected six hits in his first 32 at bats (.188), dropping his average to .314, its lowest since April 5. During a seven-game homestand spanning July 23−28, he produced 15 hits in 27 at bats (.556) with three doubles, two triples, four home runs and nine RBI, raising his average from .319 to .340. He surged from tenth to second place for the batting crown. From August 19 to the end of the season, he hit .440 (78-for-177). He endured back spasms toward the end of the season, starting in nine of the team's final 17 games.<ref name=mlbbio/>

Walker produced a .402 second-half batting average. After 1997, he never reached 500 at bats again as various injuries cut short each season. With a .363 batting average, he became the first Canadian-born player to win a major league batting title in the 20th century, the first to do so in the National League,{{ref label|toneill|a|a}}<ref name=walkercaenc/><ref name=mlbbattingchamps>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/batting-titles.shtml |title=MLB batting champions as recognized at end of year |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 11, 2017}}</ref> and broke Gwynn's streak of four consecutive National League batting championships.<ref name=mlbbio/>

Walker won the prestigious [[Lou Marsh Trophy]] in 1998 as Canadian athlete of the year, one year after finishing runner-up to [[Formula One]] [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|champion]] [[Jacques Villeneuve]],<ref name=rs120908>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/546390 |title=Lou Marsh winners |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=December 9, 2008 |access-date=December 9, 2008}}</ref> of which he remarked at the time that he lost "to a car."<ref>{{cite news |last=Stinson |first=Scott |url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/tainted-awards-and-the-second-winner-is |title=Tainted awards: And the second winner is ... |work=National Post |date=May 15, 2010 |access-date=March 28, 2020}}</ref> Walker also attained the [[Lionel Conacher Award]] as the top male Canadian athlete,<ref name=hs123098>{{cite news |url=https://secure.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/508457811.html?FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT |title=Larry Walker named male athlete of the year |work=[[The Hamilton Spectator]] |date=December 30, 1998 |access-date=September 1, 2011 |page=E1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121217170806/https://secure.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/508457811.html?FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT |archive-date=December 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[Best Major League Baseball Player ESPY Award|ESPY Award for Best Major League Player]],<ref name=hickok>{{cite web|last=Hickok |first=Ralph |url=http://www.hickoksports.com/history/espyawrd.shtml |title=The ESPY Awards |website=HickokSports.com |access-date=May 5, 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020223000325/http%3A//www.hickoksports.com/history/espyawrd.shtml |archive-date=February 23, 2002 }}</ref> and a Tip O'Neill Award.<ref name=batoaward/> He also received his fourth Gold Glove.<ref name=bbrefnlgg/>

====1999 season====
Plagued by injuries for the last several years of his career, Walker nevertheless continued to produce. He missed the first week of the [[1999 Colorado Rockies season|1999]] season with a strained rib cage. On April 28, he hit three home runs against the [[1999 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]] for his second career three home run game while contributing eight RBI in a 9–7 win.<ref name=cohen122115/> Walker hit safely in 21 consecutive games from April 25−May 19, making that the second occasion since 1987 a reigning batting champion had achieved a hit streak of at least 20 games.<ref>{{cite news |last=Capozzi |first=Joe |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/baseball/marlins-jose-reyes-says-hitting-streak-simply-about-putting-good-swing-each-pitch/bbnHqMezxi1b41ACpfD0EO/ |title=Marlins' Jose Reyes says hitting streak is simply about putting a good swing on each pitch |work=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=August 3, 2012 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |archive-date=January 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108151037/https://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/baseball/marlins-jose-reyes-says-hitting-streak-simply-about-putting-good-swing-each-pitch/bbnHqMezxi1b41ACpfD0EO/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=br1999gamelogs>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=walkela01&t=b&year=1999 |title=Larry Walker 1999 batting gamelogs |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 24, 2017}}</ref> On May 19, Walker collected four hits versus the [[1999 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]] to raise his season average to .431, but the Rockies were on the losing end of a 24−12 final, tied for the fourth-highest run-scoring output in MLB history.<ref name=br1999gamelogs/><ref>{{cite web |last=Gould |first=Andrew |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2698031-the-top-15-highest-scoring-mlb-games-in-history |title=The top 15 highest scoring MLB games in history |work=[[Bleacher Report]] |date=March 17, 2017 |access-date=June 24, 2017}}</ref> For the month of May, Walker batted .392, .647 slugging, and 40 hits in 102 at bats.<ref name=br1999splits>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=walkela01&year=1999&t=b |title=Larry Walker 1999 batting splits |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 24, 2017}}</ref>

From June 18−23, Walker tied Bichette's club record by homering in five consecutive games. The following day, Walker tied another club record, held by Galarraga, with his sixth consecutive multi-hit game.<ref name=mlbbio/> In June, Walker played in 25 games, and batted .385, .813 SLG, 10 home runs, 30 RBI, 25 scored, 35 hits, 10 walks, and nine strikeouts.<ref name=br1999splits/> On July 8, Walker hit his 250th career home run versus [[Chan Ho Park]] of the [[1999 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Dodgers]].<ref name=mlbbio/> Walker batted .326 in July with 15 walks and 10 home runs.<ref name=br1999splits/>

Carrying a .382 first-half average, Walker had batted .390 (189 hits in 484 at bats) from the 1998 All-Star break to the same point in 1999, the equivalent of a full season.<ref name=mlbbio/> He was named to his third consecutive [[1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team. Played at [[Fenway Park]] in [[Boston]], he started in right field and batted second.<ref name=1999asg>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1999-allstar-game.shtml |title=1999 All-Star Game box score, July 13 |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 6, 2017}}</ref> He was one of the strikeout victims of former Expos teammate Pedro Martínez, who became the first to strike out the first three batters in an All-Star Game.<ref>{{cite news |last=Edes |first=Gordon |author-link=Gordon Edes |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/01/06/pedro-martinez-showcase-red-sox-ace-strikes-out-all-star-game/8YYU0zXUNViM9v1C4Hq3SJ/story.html |title=It's Pedro Martinez's showcase: Red Sox ace strikes out 5 in All-Star game |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=July 13, 1999 |access-date=June 17, 2017}}</ref> In the July 19 contest versus the [[1999 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]], Walker became the second player to homer into the plaza reserve seating of one of the upper decks in the [[Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum|Oakland Coliseum]], following [[Mark McGwire]], who had done so three seasons earlier.<ref>{{cite news |last=Durkin |first=Jimmy |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/20/chad-pinder-joins-rare-company-with-monstrous-blast/ |title=A's Chad Pinder joins rare company with monstrous blast |work=[[The Mercury News]] |date=May 20, 2017 |access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref> On July 27, Walker recorded his 100th and 101st career outfield assists. He hit the game-winning home run August 18 versus [[John Rocker]] of [[1999 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta]] for his 1,400th career hit. Walker closed his season by hitting safely in 12 consecutive starts, including multiple hits in the final six.<ref name=mlbbio/> Limited to 15 games and 49 plate appearances in September, Walker batted .513 with 20 hits in 39 at bats, 10 runs scored, five doubles, four home runs, 13 RBI, nine walks and two strikeouts.<ref name=br1999splits/>

For the season, Walker batted .379 − setting a Rockies record<ref name=crsstop10/> and the fourth-highest since [[Ted Williams]] hit .406 in [[1941 Major League Baseball season|1941]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Barbosa |first=Victor |url=http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/mlb-batters-since-ted-williams-closest-hitting-400.html/?a=viewall |title=The 4 batters since Ted Williams closest to hitting .400 |work=Sports Cheat Sheet |date=January 18, 2017 |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> − while leading the major leagues in batting for a second time. Walker also led the major leagues in offensive win % (.838), on-base percentage (.458), slugging percentage (.710), and OPS (1.168).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/1999-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1999 Major League Baseball batting leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> Sometimes referred to as the "Slash Stat Triple Crown," he became the seventh player within the previous 60 years to lead the league in each of average, OBP and SLG in the same season, and first since [[George Brett]] in [[1980 Major League Baseball season|1980]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Funck |first=Kevin |url=http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9449 |title=Changing speeds: The Slash Stat Triple Crown |publisher=[[Baseball Prospectus]] |date=August 26, 2009 |access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> The last NL player to lead the majors in each of the three slash stat categories was Musial in [[1943 Major League Baseball season|1943]].<ref name=mlbbio/> Walker also hit 37 home runs and 115 RBI in just 438 at bats, stole 11 bases in 15 attempts, and registered 12 outfield assists.<ref name=newhan100399>{{cite news |last=Newhan |first=Ross |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-oct-03-sp-18326-story.html |title=Around the NL: Walker gave Leyland joy in down season |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 3, 1999 |access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref>

Per the Elias Sports Bureau (ESB), Walker's .461 average at Coors is the highest home batting average since ESB began tracking home/road splits in 1974, and 43 points higher than any other player's in that span.<ref name=mlbbio/> In 66 games at Coors, Walker also hit .531 OBP, .879 SLG, 26 home runs, 70 RBI, 107 hits, 72 runs, nine stolen bases, 31 walks, and 17 strikeouts in 273 plate appearances. On the road, he batted .286, .894 OPS, 11 home runs and 35 strikeouts.<ref name=br1999splits/> He won his fifth Gold Glove<ref name=bbrefnlgg/> and was selected as Rockies Player of the Year for the second time.<ref name=rockiesawards/> He placed 10th in the NL MVP balloting.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1999.shtml#all_NL_MVP_voting |title=1999 awards voting |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 6, 2017}}</ref> Following the season, he underwent knee surgery.<ref name=newhan100399/>

Walker produced 10.8 WAR combined in 1998−99 while missing at least 30 games in both seasons,<ref name=jaffe121516/> and from 1997−99, he hit .314/.410/.592 ... ''away'' from Coors Field.<ref>{{cite web |last=Keri |first=Jonah |author-link=Jonah Keri |url=http://grantland.com/the-triangle/hall-of-fame-voting-primer-randy-johnson-pedro-martinez-craig-biggio/ |title=Hall of Fame Voting Primer: My top 10, plus a Randy Johnson appreciation |work=[[Grantland]] |date=December 22, 2014 |access-date=June 17, 2017}}</ref> His aggregate batting average at .369 in that same time,<ref name=kurkjian063005>{{cite news |last=Kurkjian |first=Tim |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?id=2097512&columnist=kurkjian_tim |title=Career winding down for 'gifted' Walker |work=ESPN.com |date=June 30, 2005 |access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> he became the first player since [[Al Simmons]] from [[1929 Major League Baseball season|1929]]–[[1931 Major League Baseball season|31]] to hit at least .360 in each of three consecutive seasons.<ref name=cohen122115/> Walker signed a six-year, $75 million (USD, ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|75|1999|r=1}}}} million today) contract extension after the 1999 season.<ref name=jaffe121516/> He was named as the ninth top male athlete of [[Canada's athletes of the 20th century|Canada's Athletes of the 20th Century]] list compiled in 1999, trailing only [[Ferguson Jenkins]] (number seven) among baseball players. ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' listed Walker as the 13th greatest sporting figure in Canadian history in 1999.<ref name=si122799>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1999/12/27/273991/the-50-greatest-sports-figures-from-canada# |title=The 50 Greatest Sports Figures from Canada |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=December 27, 1999 |access-date=May 22, 2017}}</ref>

====2000−01 seasons====
While missing a major portion of [[2000 Colorado Rockies season|2000]] with a stress fracture in the right elbow,<ref name=jaffe121516/> Walker spent two stints on the DL.<ref name=cohen122115/> He recorded an outfield fielder's choice on April 16 versus [[2000 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis]], leading to a forceout at second base. On April 19 versus the [[2000 Arizona Diamondbacks season|Arizona Diamondbacks]], he collected his 1,448th career hit to pass [[Jeff Heath]] as the major's all-time hits leader for Canadian-born players. Walker completed his longest hitting streak of the season, at eight games, from April 21−May 1. In that time, he batted .471 (16-for-34) with three home runs and nine RBI. On May 13, the team received diagnostic results revealing he had a stress reaction irritation in his right elbow, and placed him on the DL, in which he missed 23 games.<ref name=mlbbio/> To that point, he was batting .347.<ref name=cohen122115/>

Walker returned from the DL notably weakened, batting .286 over his final 57 games of the season.<ref name=cohen122115/> He homered to drive in his 888th career run on July 1 versus the [[2000 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]], passing Heath for the all-time lead among Canadian-born players. He also collected his 1,500th career hit in that game. On the August 10−17 road trip, he collected five outfield assists.<ref name=mlbbio/> On September 8, he had surgery on the elbow after it was revealed to be troubled with soreness.<ref name=cohen122115/> Walker appeared in 87 games and batted .309 with nine home runs and 51 RBI. He led the club with 10 outfield assists, eight from right field and two from left field. He ended the season as Canada's all-time leader in hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, and runs scored in the major leagues.<ref name=mlbbio/> First baseman [[Todd Helton]], Walker's teammate on the Rockies from 1998 until his trade to the Cardinals in 2004, won the MLB Slash Stat Triple Crown in 2000, making them the first teammates in history to accomplish the feat in consecutive years. It also gave the Rockies four consecutive MLB batting champions in 1998−2001.<ref name=rockiesbio2000>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2000 |title=Todd Helton stats, fantasy & news (Career biography) |access-date=October 29, 2008 |work=MLB.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/player |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925073133/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting?sort=avg&split=0&league=mlb&season=2000&seasonType=2&type=reg&ageMin=17&ageMax=51&minpa=0&hand=a&pos=all |url-status=live |archive-date=September 25, 2008 |title=MLB batting statistics and league leaders |work=ESPN.com |access-date=May 20, 2017}}</ref> Helton eventually succeeded Walker as the Rockies' career franchise leader in a number of statistical categories.<ref name=brefrockiesbattingrecords>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/COL/leaders_bat.shtml |title=Colorado Rockies top 10 career batting leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=April 24, 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Larry Walker (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Walker in the outfield at Coors Field in 2001]]
Prior the [[2001 Colorado Rockies season|2001]] season, Walker committed to a new fitness regimen, including using a [[personal trainer]]. He displayed restored health in his right arm on Opening Day, throwing out [[Fernando Viña]] of the [[2001 St. Louis Cardinals season|Cardinals]] at home plate.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJumz0VAlpg |title=STL@COL: Walker throws out Vina at the plate |date=2013-05-07 |last=MLB |access-date=2025-05-20 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref name=cohen122115/> Walker opened the season with a 10-game hit streak, from April 4−13, batting .425 with six home runs and 16 RBI.<ref name=mlbbio/> From April 17 to May 23, Walker safely reached base in 31 consecutive games.<ref name=cohen122115/> He batted .375, 11 home runs, 30 RBI during the month of April, becoming the first player in NL history to hit at least 11 home runs in the month of April twice. On May 22, he swiped his 200th career base. He scored his 1,000th career run on June 3 versus [[2001 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco]].<ref name=mlbbio/>

Walker was selected to play in the [[2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2001 All-Star Game]], starting as the [[designated hitter]] and batting fifth.<ref name=2001asg>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/2001-allstar-game.shtml |title=2001 All-Star Game box score, July 10 |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=May 6, 2017}}</ref> On August 5, he hit his 300th career home run, coming against the [[2001 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]] in a 5−4 loss.<ref>{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/2001/20010805/recap/pitcol.html |title=Walker's 300th HR wasted in loss to Pirates |work=ESPN.com |date=August 5, 2001 |access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref> He hit his 204th home run for Colorado on August, passing Castilla for the franchise record. On September 5, he took the lead for good for the batting title from former Expos teammate Moisés Alou. By scoring five runs on September 24 versus [[2001 San Diego Padres season|San Diego]], Walker tied his career-high and the Rockies franchise record.<ref name=mlbbio/>

On the season, Walker tied [[Ichiro Suzuki]] for the major league lead in batting at .350<ref name=mlbbio/> for his third batting title, with 38 homers and 123 RBI in 497 at bats. He did not reach his personal goal of 150 games, but did play in 142 and managed 601 plate appearances, his highest totals since 1997.<ref name=cohen122115/> Also he finished in the top ten in numerous other categories, including second in OBP (.449), third in offensive win % (.831), fifth in SLG (.663), sixth in OPS (1.111), adjusted OPS+ (160), at bats per home run (13.1), and WAR (7.8), and ninth in home runs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2001-batting-leaders.shtml |title=2001 National League batting leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> He led the majors with a .406 home batting average and in left-hander versus left-hander batting average at .378.<ref name=mlbbio/> He won another Gold Glove that year.<ref name=bbrefnlgg/>

====2002−2004 seasons====
The Rockies struggled to play well in [[2002 Colorado Rockies season|2002]], including a franchise-worst 6−16 start, and ended the season 25 games out of first place.<ref name=cohen122115/> Walker played his 1,532nd game on April 6, surpassing [[Terry Puhl]] for most games played by a Canadian-born player in MLB history. Walker's 74th outfield assist with Colorado on May 23 gave him the franchise record, passing Bichette.<ref name=mlbbio/> Walker raised his average from .310 to a season-high .368 in June and July.<ref name=cohen122115/> His June totals included .410, seven doubles, seven home runs and 21 RBI. He hit safely in 20 of 24 games.<ref name=mlbbio/> In July, he was the NL Player of the Month for the second time, batting .438/.505./742, five home runs, and 17 RBI.<ref name=mlbpom/> He became the first player since [[Paul O'Neill (baseball)|Paul O'Neill]] in April and May of [[1994 Major League Baseball season|1994]] to hit at least .400 in successive months.<ref name=mlbbio/>

Overall, Walker batted .338 in 2002, second in the NL to Bonds' .370 average, and reached 100 RBI for the second consecutive year. Walker also hit 26 home runs and led the team with 40 doubles.<ref name=cohen122115/> He played in 136 games, and hit for a .421 OBP and .602 SLG. He won his seventh Gold Glove Award<ref name=bbrefnlgg/> and was 20th in the MVP voting. His .452 average in [[interleague play]] led the major leagues.<ref name=mlbbio/> Throughout his age-36 season of [[2003 Colorado Rockies season|2003]], Walker battled knee, shoulder, hamstring, groin and hip ailments. The knee injury occurred in a collision with [[Preston Wilson]] on August 2. In spite of all the injuries, Walker never missed more than three consecutive games and made 143 appearances. He hit 16 home runs and 79 RBI while batting .284, just the second time since 1993 his average had slipped below .300.<ref name=cohen122115/> He drew a career-high 98 bases on balls, resulting in a .422 on-base percentage, the seventh time in his career he reached .400.<ref name=walkerbrefmain/> He was fifth in the NL in OBP, sixth in IBB (16), eighth in BB, and ninth in HBP (11).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2003-batting-leaders.shtml |title=2003 National League batting leaders |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=July 29, 2017}}</ref> Commented [[List of Colorado Rockies managers|manager]] [[Don Baylor]], "Even with the injuries and the lack of numbers from what they used to be in the past, Larry is still pitched to very carefully and fearfully throughout the league. He's played beaten up and bruised." Walker underwent surgery to repair the labrum in the left shoulder and meniscus in the right knee following the season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Renck |first=Troy E. |title=Walker to undergo surgery on shoulder |work=Denver Post |date=September 29, 2003 |page=C-06}}</ref>

A groin strain caused Walker to miss the first 68 games,<ref name=ap070104>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2004/jul/01/walker-reaches-2000-hits/ |title=Walker reaches 2,000 hits |work=[[The Spokesman-Review]] |date=July 1, 2004 |access-date=May 27, 2017}}</ref> or two and one-half months, of the [[2004 Colorado Rockies season|2004]] season.<ref name=jaffe121516/> His first three home runs of the season came on June 25, 2004, versus the [[2004 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]], including one off [[José Jiménez (baseball)|José Jiménez]] which won the game in the 10th inning for a 10−8 margin.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.mlb.com/video/walker-s-three-homer-game-c7143417 |title=Walker's three-homer game |date=2004-06-25 |type=Television production |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=2025-03-20}}</ref> Walker totaled four hits and five RBI on the day, and it was his third career three-home run game.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/scores104/104177/20040625ML---CLEVELAND-0nr.htm |title=Colorado vs. Cleveland |work=[[USA Today]] |date=June 26, 2004 |access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref> He reached 2,000 career hits on June 30, 2004,<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.mlb.com/video/walker-s-2-000th-hit-c31193655 |title=Walker's 2,000th hit |date=2004-06-30 |type=Television production |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=2025-03-20}}</ref> becoming the 234th player in major league history to do so. Having already achieved 400 doubles, 300 home runs, 1,000 runs scored, and 1,000 RBI, Walker became the 40th player to reach all five totals. The milestone hit was a double off [[Ben Sheets]] in the fourth inning versus the [[2004 Milwaukee Brewers season|Milwaukee Brewers]]. Through that point, Walker was the Rockies' career leader in 12 categories.<ref name=ap070104/>

With the Rockies struggling to make the playoffs—which they had not accomplished since his first year in Colorado in 1995—Walker indicated a desire to be traded to a contender.<ref>{{cite news |last=Springer |first=Steve |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-oct-06-sp-cardside6-story.html |title=Walker doubles his excitement |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 6, 2004 |access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref> The [[2004 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]] agreed to send to the Rockies two of their prospects then-minor leaguer [[Ian Kinsler]] and prospect right-hander Erik Thompson in exchange for Walker in July, but he vetoed the trade.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/040730penny.html |last=Callis |first=Jim |title=Dodgers, Marlins swap six players, may not be done |work=Baseball America |date=July 30, 2004 |access-date=August 4, 2009 |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606233147/http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/040730penny.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===St. Louis Cardinals===
====World Series appearance (2004)====
[[File:Larry Walker (51004151168).jpg|thumb|Walker at bat during his first game with St. Louis in 2004]]
On August 6, 2004, Colorado sent Walker, who was batting .324 in 38 games, to the [[2004 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]] for [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] pitcher Jason Burch and two [[player to be named later|players to be named later]].<ref>{{cite news |author=ESPN.com News Services |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1853911 |title=Rockies get three prospects for Walker |work=ESPN.com |date=August 6, 2004 |access-date=January 7, 2017}}</ref> On August 11, those players were identified as [[Chris Narveson]] and [[Luis Martínez (pitcher)|Luis Martínez]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/rockies/news/rockies-top-5-in-season-trades/c-53878222|title = Rockies' Top 5 in-season trades| website=[[MLB.com]] | date=July 18, 2013 }}</ref> Customarily the Rockies' number three hitter, Walker became the Cardinals' number two hitter.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jenkins |first=Lee |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/14/sports/baseball/new-no-2-hitters-arent-secondrate.html |title=New no. 2 hitters aren't second-rate |work=The New York Times |date=October 14, 2004 |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> He hit behind a speedy [[Tony Womack]] and in front of the 3−4−5 hitters of [[Jim Edmonds]], [[Albert Pujols]] and [[Scott Rolen]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Habib |first=Daniel |url=https://www.si.com/vault/2004/10/04/8187431/the-pride-of-st-louis |title=The Pride of St. Louis |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=October 4, 2004 |access-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-date=February 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213000729/http://www.si.com/vault/2004/10/04/8187431/the-pride-of-st-louis |url-status=dead }}</ref> who combined for 122 home runs and 358 RBI that year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/cardinals/article_e83365c8-a72c-52ff-872e-8836354d03a7.html |title=2. 2004 Cardinals |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=February 28, 2015 |access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref> Walker made his Cardinals debut on August 8, playing the [[2004 New York Mets season|New York Mets]], and appeared as a pinch-hitter and struck out in the seventh inning. He drew a walk from [[Mike Stanton (left-handed pitcher)|Mike Stanton]] in the ninth inning and scored the game-winning run on a [[Yadier Molina]] single.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-aug-08-sp-nlsep8-story.html |title=Walker walks, then Molina wins it |work=Los Angeles Times |date=August 8, 2004 |access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref> Walker appeared in 44 games for the Cardinal powerhouse that won a major league-best 105 games, batting .280, .393 OBP, .560 SLG and 11 home runs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/2004.shtml |title=2004 St. Louis Cardinals statistics |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2004-standings.shtml |title=2004 Major League Baseball standing & expanded standings |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=April 30, 2017}}</ref><ref name=perkins050508>{{cite news |last=Perkins |first=Owen |url=http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/2646630// |title=Walker returns to Coors with Cards |work=MLB.com |date=May 5, 2008 |access-date=January 8, 2017 |archive-date=January 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109021906/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/2646630// |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In three playoff rounds in 2004, Walker combined to hit .293/.379/.707 with a pair of home runs in each series,<ref name=jaffe121516/> setting a franchise record for home runs hit by a left-handed batter in one postseason.<ref>{{cite news |last=Miklasz |first=Bernie |author-link=Bernie Miklasz |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/bird-bytes-a-closer-look-at-cards-homer-bash/article_ff5644ec-be9a-5021-aa94-2570d75b211f.html |title=A closer look at Cards' homer bash |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=October 13, 2014 |access-date=February 19, 2017}}</ref> Walker made his playoff debut with the Cardinals in Game 1 of the [[2004 National League Division Series|NLDS]] versus the [[2004 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Dodgers]], homering twice and scoring four runs in an 8−3 Cardinals win.<ref>{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Dave |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/06/sports/baseball/walker-puts-on-show-for-showme-missourians.html |title=Walker puts on show for show-me Missourians |work=The New York Times |date=October 6, 2004 |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> He became the first Cardinal with a multi-home run game in LDS play. In Game 1 of the [[2004 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]] (NLCS) versus the [[2004 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]], he was a home run short of [[hitting for the cycle]].<ref name=mlbbio/>

St. Louis advanced to the [[2004 World Series|World Series]] to face the [[2004 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] − the first and only of Walker's playing career. In his debut, he collected four hits in five at bats with a home run and two doubles.<ref>{{cite news |last=Finley |first=Bill |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/24/sports/baseball/walker-is-dangerous-when-others-give-way.html |title=Walker is dangerous when others give way |work=The New York Times |date=October 24, 2004 |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> His four-hit outing tied a Cardinals World Series record, becoming the seventh overall and first to do so since [[Lou Brock]] in [[1967 World Series|1967]].<ref name=mlbbio/> Boston won the Series by sweeping St. Louis.<ref name=jaffe121516/> The Cardinals struggled to hit, batting .190 with a .562 OPS, while Walker batted .357 with a 1.366 OPS. His two home runs accounted for the only two hit by the entire Cardinals team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2004_WS.shtml#all_post_batting_STL |title=2004 World Series: Boston Red Sox over St. Louis Cardinals (4–0) |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref> In the 2004 postseason, Walker scored 21 percent (14 of 68) of Cardinals runs.<ref name=mlbbio/>

====Final season (2005)====
{{quote box
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|quote=Larry Walker ... he's a walking bag of ice.
|source=—[[List of St. Louis Cardinals coaches|Cardinals coach]] [[Dave McKay (baseball)|Dave McKay]], on Walker's late-career heroic hitting and fielding brilliance, per his Canadian Sports Hall of Fame profile
|style=padding:8px
}}
Walker also contributed to the [[2005 St. Louis Cardinals season|2005]] [[National League Central|NL Central]] division champions, winners of 100 games.<ref name=2005stlstats>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/2005.shtml |title=2005 St. Louis Cardinals statistics |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=July 29, 2017}}</ref> A herniated disc in his neck prevented him from turning his head to the left, and on June 27, 2005, he received a second cortisone shot to alleviate the pain. With eight previous surgeries and now playing in pain that impeded his ability to continue to produce at a high level, Walker signaled that he would retire from playing after the season. He had $12 million team option for 2006.<ref name=kurkjian063005/>

In 100 regular-season games, Walker batted .289/.384/.502, good for a 130 OPS+.<ref name=2005stlstats/> His playoff effort yielded much less success than the year prior, combining to collect three hits in 28 at bats in two rounds.<ref name=jaffe121516/> The [[2005 Houston Astros season|Astros]] defeated the Cardinals in the [[2005 National League Championship Series|NLCS]] in the last game ever played at [[Busch Memorial Stadium]], the second iteration of [[Sportsman's Park|Busch Stadium]]. Walker doubled in the sixth inning in elimination Game 6 versus [[Roy Oswalt]] for his final major league hit, but struck out in the ninth inning versus [[Dan Wheeler]], his final at bat. He retired shortly after the game.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schlegel |first=John |url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1255119// |title=Walker says goodbye to baseball |work=MLB.com |date=October 19, 2005 |access-date=January 8, 2017 |archive-date=December 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203234141/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1255119/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Walker ended his career 50th on Major League Baseball's all-time home run list with 383.