Larry Walker took a large leap in his ninth year on the Hall of Fame ballot, while fellow Rockies great Todd Helton posted a decent showing Tuesday in his first year of eligibility.
Walker finished with 54.6 percent of the vote, shy of the 75 percent needed but a big increase from the 34.1 percent mark the right-fielder received last year. Helton, meanwhile, got 16.5 percent of the vote, putting the first baseman about three percent shy of how Walker debuted in 2011.
Most notably, Walker’s vote totals underscore a marked shift in how BBWAA voters are perceiving the three-time batting champion and 1997 National League MVP.