Larry Walker won the National League MVP award in 1997. In an offense-inflated era, playing in pre-humidor Coors Field, Walker was still such a great all-around player that BBWAA voters selected him for the honor on a Rockies team that finished in third place in the NL West.
Central to Walker’s case to be in the Hall of Fame is the fact that he performed every aspect of the game at an elite level. His incredible all-around talent was on display his entire career, but never more so than in 1997.
Walker was the walking embodiment of a five-tool player: the abilities to hit for power and average were obvious, the fielding glove and throwing arm were mostly obvious, and Walker paired enough speed with even more know-how to be an elite baserunner.