Larry Walker’s path to Cooperstown started in a way few debuts ever do: with patience, a little bit of mystery, and a whole lot of reaching base.
On Aug. 16, 1989, the 22-year-old made his MLB debut for the Montreal Expos against the San Francisco Giants and went 1-for-1 with three walks and two runs scored. He reached base in all four of his plate appearances as Montreal rolled to a 4-2 win.
That night even drew a reaction from Giants first baseman Will Clark. After Walker picked up his second walk, Clark joked that San Francisco was pitching to the unknown rookie like he was Babe Ruth. Walker didn’t say much back, just smiled.
Walker would go on to become inseparable from No. 33, the number he wore during his Rockies years. He also built a collection of habits around it, from taking three practice swings in the on-deck circle to reportedly setting alarms and even microwave timers around combinations of threes.
Baseball has always had room for that kind of thing. Wade Boggs famously ate chicken before every game, and Nomar Garciaparra became known for carefully adjusting his batting gloves between pitches.
The rituals didn’t seem to hurt. Boggs made it to the Hall of Fame, Garciaparra won two batting titles, and Walker eventually joined Boggs in Cooperstown, getting in on his final ballot.
For Walker, though, the biggest part of the résumé was built in Colorado. After six seasons in Montreal, he signed with the Rockies in 1995 and immediately hit .306 with 36 home runs and 101 RBI.
Then came the explosion in 1997. Walker batted .366 with 49 home runs, 130 RBI and 33 stolen bases, good enough for the National League MVP award. He also became the only player in MLB history to combine at least 30 steals with a slugging percentage above .700.
What made that peak so striking was the variety. Walker wasn’t just a power bat or just a speed threat. He mixed elite contact skills, pop, wheels and Gold Glove defense, and he hit at least .350 in four different seasons between 1997 and 2001.
That kind of production is almost impossible to find. Since 2016, only three batting-title seasons have finished at .350 or better: DJ LeMahieu at .364 and Juan Soto at .351 in the shortened 2020 season, and Luis Arraez at .354 in 2023. Aaron Judge led the Majors at .331 in 2025.
From three walks in his debut to becoming a Colorado legend, Walker left behind a career that still stands apart. Now enshrined in Cooperstown, he remains the benchmark for every future Rockies star, whether the conversation is about complete greatness or the odd little superstitions that helped define him.
In Other News...
Rockies Have A Hunter Goodman Issue They Can't Just Push Through
Hunter Goodmans recent shoulder issue has become the kind of nagging problem the Rockies cannot simply play through and hope disappears. The inflammation first showed up on a swing against the Diamondbacks, and it was enough to keep him out of Fridays game before the team pulled him from the lineup again on Saturday.
Warren Schaeffer said Goodman is getting treatment while Colorado takes a cautious approach to his recovery, which is the sensible path even if it leaves the club waiting for clarity. The day-to-day tag keeps the door open for a quick return, but after two straight days of uncertainty, the Rockies have reason to be careful with how they handle one of the lineups more important bats. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Had One Bright Spot In Another Brutal Night
Another rough night at Oracle Park had at least one encouraging note for Colorado, and it came from a newcomer still trying to settle in. Connor Norby drew praise from manager Warren Schaeffer for his defense and for picking up his first hit with the Rockies, a small but meaningful sign for a club that has been searching for anything to build on during a difficult stretch.
The rest of the evening belonged to San Francisco, as Logan Webb was sharp before leaving because of tightness and Michael Lorenzen could not find the zone when Colorado needed him most. The turning point came in a six-run fourth inning that put the game out of reach, leaving the Rockies with another lopsided loss and little solace beyond Norbys early contributions. [Read more 🡒]