By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

It was a shortened major-league season from the regular 162 games to 60.

And the competition for the calendar year as the Most Influential Canadian of the Year was basically over 21 days into 2020. Because around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday Jan. 21, Jack O’Connell, secretary-treasurer of the Baseball Writers of America Association, placed a call to Jupiter, Fla.

Larry Walker answered and was given the good news as his friends and family cheered. Walker (Maple Ridge, BC), the failed goalie, had been elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. He’s the first Canadian position player elected and joins RHP Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) as the only Canucks will plaques on the wall.

Now, any time -- especially in years like this -- when someone might squawk “what about ...?” we think of how a wise-cracking night court judge on a Law and Order episode would handle things:

Judge, peering over his glasses: “Yes, counsellor?”

Lawyer, rising from his chair: “I’d like to make a case for my client because of what was accomplished in 2020 by ...”

Judge: “You would? Certainly. But first ... please have all the other Canadians elected to Cooperstown this year stand up ... None? Case dismissed. Congratulations Mr. Walker.”

(Gavel bangs)

(Roll opening)

How Canadian was Walker on what some Hall of Famers call “the greatest day of their lives -- next to induction day” his 10th and final year on the ballot?

Earlier in the day he tweeted “I believe I’m going to come up a little short today,” after checking Ryan Thibodaux’s vote tracker which projected he would finish at 73.3%. Then, when he was elected along with Derek Jeter who came within a vote of being a unanimous pick, Walker described himself as “the B side.”

Walker was named on 304 ballots, six above the 75% needed for election. He had a time in mind when his phone was supposed to ring -- if it was going to ring -- and by Walker’s watch it was two minutes past due when the phone rang.

“You didn’t come up short this year, you passed the 75% threshold, welcome to the Hall of Fame,” Jack O’Connell told Walker. Walker’s first words: “Oh, my God!” He was wearing a black and gold NASCAR-style SpongeBob SquarePants shirt.

On Feb. 25, after his tour, Hall of Fame president Tim Mead, staffers Jon Shestakofsky and Craig Muder took Walker for lunch at Bocca Osteria on Highway 28. Denver columnist Tracy Ringolsby, a former Spink winner, and myself had been invited on the tour by Walker and to dine as well.

We teased Walker about doing a commercial for MLB Network after not doing any endorsements in Montreal, Colorado or in St. Louis

“I sat on a couch,” scoffed Walker “and stared at a blank green wall.”

What appeared on the TV was a deep voice began starting with a command:

“Meet Larry Walker ... he’s watching MLB Network ...”

Then a clip of Al Leiter: “Five tool ... three time batting champion ... 1997 MVP ... beast ... stud ... both sides of the ball.”

Deep voice concludes add: “... because that’s what Hall of Famers do.”

It does not take too much to get Walker’s back up if he feels Canada has been slighted.

During the World Baseball Classic there isn’t any access to the clubhouse. After one game against Team USA in 2009, I bumped into Walker in the hall at Rogers Centre,

“Did you see Davey Johnson at home plate?” Walker asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“Did you see how he didn’t shake Ernie Whitt’s hand when the teams lined up ... horse bleep.”

I had not noticed that.

Four years later we walked to the Team Canada bus in Clearwater with a player finishing up an interview. Along came Walker, “What did you think of our game against the Blue Jays yesterday? Toronto had John McDonald and a bunch of minor leaguers. They should have fielded a full team and had the game on TV.”

That night around 11 my phone rang. “Hey I just heard what Walker said, please tell me you didn’t write it did you?” a Baseball Canada official asked. “These guys give us money.”

Sorry, the story had been filed hours before.

The only bad part of 2020 for Walker is that after the David Ayres became the emergency replacement when the Carolina Hurricanes lost both their goalies, the Colorado Rockies named Walker as emergency goalie for the March 14 game in Denver between the Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights.

Walker always says “baseball found me,” after being cut from the Regina Pats and not being given playing time with a Tier II team, made him toss his pads in the garage. Sadly for Walker -- and everyone else -- the NHL season was shut down two days before he was scheduled to be the emergency goalie when our world changed.

* * *

What Baseball Canada officials thought of Walker’s election on his 10th and final year of eligibility ...

Ray Carter (Tsawwassen, BC) long-time Baseball Canada president: “He never let his God given athletic ability, which brought incredible fame and attention, go to his head. He remained a ‘good old boy,’ proud of his Canadian heritage and never hesitated to say so.”

Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.) coach and director National Teams: “He has and continues to be a highly valued and respected member of our Canadian National Program. He has always been a passionate Canadian who truly gets what it means to represent our country in International competition. While we all respect his extraordinary talents and accomplishments, it is his Hall of Fame character that makes him extra special in our clubhouse.”

André Lachance (Ottawa, Ont.) business, sport development and women’s National Team director: “Growing up in Québec City, my dad used to bring me to Montreal a couple of times a year to attend Expos games. During the two-hour drive, I got to learn more about past players, including Fergie Jenkins and Claude Raymond who were both Canadian born able to play with the best at the highest possible level of play. Not only were they able to reach the Majors but they were able to be among the best in the game. Being a middle ‘Gen X’ kid, Fergie was late in his career and Claude had already retired, so it was difficult for myself and others in my generation to identify ourselves with these two great athletes.

“Larry Walker came at a moment when we needed someone to identify ourselves with. Like Jenkins and Raymond, he was able to establish himself among the best and was able to inspire the current generation of young athletes that this was possible, that a Canadian could play at that level. He basically bridged an important gap in the history of baseball in Canada. His arrival brought a new vibe in Montreal but across Canada as well, plus paired with Expos and Jays successes created a boost in registration in Canada that lasted for a decade.

“Without Larry, there would have been a whole generation without a hero, a model and someone to look up to. He was able to help us remember what Jenkins and Raymond had accomplished and was also able to set the stage for the next generation of elite Canadians that included Justin Morneau, Jeff Francis, Eric Gagne and many others. He was instrumental in bringing Canadian baseball to another dimension.”

Adam Morrissette (Orleans, Ont.) PR co-ordinator: “He is supremely proud to be Canadian and he truly wants to be involved with the national team program. He doesn’t have to do any of this but you can tell that he really enjoys being around Canadian players and being around a group of people that love and care for one another and love competing together. With the national team, he’s one of the guys, fully engaged in the camaraderie of being part of a team.”

Ernie Whitt (Windsor suburb of Macomb County, Mich): “I admired Larry’s talent as one of the best all around players. When Larry joined us with baseball Canada and I watched him with our players it showed how much passion he had to represent his country. When Larry puts on the Canadian jersey all he wants to do is win and help our players represent this great country. He loves wearing the Maple Leaf.”

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No. 2 … coming soon ….

Previous most Influential Canadians in baseball:

2020 Larry Walker

2019 Larry Walker

2018 Larry Walker

2017: Joey Votto

2016: Joey Votto

2015: Alex Anthopoulos

2014: Edward Rogers

2013: Blue Jays fans

2012: Paul Beeston

2011: Greg Hamilton

2010: Joey Votto

2009: Paul Beeston

2008: Paul Beeston

2007: Paul Godfrey and Greg Hamilton