Larry Walker was one of the most popular players in the 1990s. He made a name for himself as one of baseball’s most prolific power hitters. He also did this during the height of the steroid era, however, he was never thrown under suspension like Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire. In 17 seasons he slashed .313/.400/.565 good for a .965 OPS with 383 home runs and 1311 RBIs. He also won the MVP award in 1997, along with three Silver Sluggers, seven Gold Gloves, and made five All-Star Games. Very impressive for someone who dreamed of being a hockey player.
These numbers and awards were good enough to get Walker elected to the Hall of Fame. Most people remember Walker as the face of the Rockies. Sure he spent some time with the Expos. However, what he was able to do with Colorado will be his last mark on the league. Yet, there was another team that Walker made an impression on. In the twilight of his career, he was a very important part of the St.Louis Cardinals. That’s where our story begins.
Larry Walker’s Time With the Cardinals
In 2004 the Rockies were struggling. They were 47-61, 17.5 games behind the Dodgers for first in the NL West. They also were buried in the NL Wild Card standings being 13 games behind the Cubs for the extra playoff spot. This was unfamiliar territory for Walker and Colorado because they were always competitive. Walker seeing that the Rockies were going nowhere wanted to go somewhere where he had a shot at a title.
This caused the Rockies to shop the face of their franchise. Two teams had interest in the former MVP winner, the Texas Rangers and the St.Louis Cardinals. At first, it seemed like the Rangers were the favorite to land the All-Star. They even had a deal in place to acquire him. However, Walker vetoed this trade, opening the door for the Cardinals. On August 6th, 2004, a trade was agreed upon that sent Walker to St.Louis for three minor leaguers.
Second Half of the 2004 Season
Walker made his Cardinals debut on August 8th against the Mets. He was a late-game substitution pitch hitting in the seventh inning and remaining in the game. This would lead to his first impact moment as a Cardinal. In the ninth inning, he would draw a walk. He would come around a score the game-winning run thanks to a Yadier Molina single. Walker’s presence helped the Cardinals dominate the National League and win an MLB-best 105 games. Walker slashed .280/.393/.560 good for a .953 OPS with eleven home runs and 27 RBIs.
The postseason was where Walker made his impact felt. Throughout the playoffs, he slashed .293/.379/.707 good for a 1.086 OPS with a franchise record six home runs and 11 RBIs. He also was the first Cardinal to hit multiple home runs in a divisional series. He was one of the main reasons why the Cardinals won the pennant. It was also the first time in Walker’s career that he made an appearance in a World Series game. He was the only Cardinal to produce in the World Series, batting .357 and a 1.366 OPS.
2005 Season
Walker returned in 2005 however he struggled to stay on the field. He had been dealing with a herniated disc in his neck. The pain was so bad that he was unable to turn his neck to the left. Throughout the season Walker received multiple cortisone shots to try and deal with the pain. Despite this pain, he was still able to appear in 100 games for the Cardinals. He slashed .289/.384/.502 good for a .886 OPS with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs.
Despite Walker’s inability to stay on the field the Cardinals still had a strong season. They won the NL Central winning 100 games. Unlike in the previous season postseason Walker was unable to produce. His injury was affecting him and it was clear with his play on the field. In 28 at-bats he was only able to muster three hits, all of which came in the NLCS. The Cardinals would come up short losing in the NLCS to the Astors in six games. Walker retired shortly after the Cardinals’ season ended.
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