Ringolsby: Walker "thrilled and honoured" to have number retired by Rockies

Canadian slugger Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, B.C.) will have his No. 33 retired by the Colorado Rockies. Photo: David Zalubowski, AP.

*This article was originally published on Tracy Ringolsby’s Inside the Seams website on January 17, 2020. You can read the original version here.

By Tracy Ringolsby

Inside the Seams

Larry Walker began his career with Montreal and ended it as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

His big-league days, however, will be underscored by his time with the Rockies, when he was in the prime of a career that should eventually earn him recognition in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Rockies, however, are not waiting for Cooperstown to call.

They are ensuring that Walker will be remembered among the greats in the history of the franchise, announcing on Friday that they will retire Walker's No. 33 during a ceremony on April 19, prior to the Rockies game with the Cardinals at Coors Field.

Walker joins Todd Helton as the only Rockies players to have their numbers retired, although the Rockies also have honoured late club president Keli McGregor by placing his initials KSM on the right field facade, where Walker's No. 33 will be posted, alongside No. 17 for Helton, and the number 42, which was retired through Major League Baseball in 1997 in honor of Jackie Robinson.

"Like Dick (Monfort, the Rockies owner/chariman and CEO) said, the number has basically been retired since I left (the Rockies)," said Walker. "Nobody has worn it with the exception of Justin Morneau, and he called and asked.

"He's a left-handed hitter from Canada (like Walker) and he was born in the same hospital as two of my brothers. We grew up in British Columbia. That made the decision easy."

And in truth, Walker's career made the decision easy for the Rockies, who are hopeful their announcement on Friday can be followed up by the announcement next week that Walker, in his 10th and final year of eligibility, will be inducted to the Hall of Fame.

"There is no bigger honour an organization can give a player than retiring his number," said Walker. "I can't tell you how taken aback I am by this gesture. I am both thrilled and honoured, and I look forward to seeing my number hanging next to the greatest Rockie of all time, No. 17."

Walker spent more time with the Rockies than either his original team, the Expos, or the Cardinals, where he finished his career. Signed as a free agent in the spring of 1995 by Colorado after Montreal, in a cost-cutting mode at the time, declined to even try to re-sign him, Walker was a key factor for the Rockies until August of 2004 when he was dealt to the Cardinals.

And the admiration for Walker extended well past the Rockies organization.

During his Rockies career, he hit .334 with 297 doubles, 44 triples, 258 home runs, 848 RBI, 126 stolen baes and 584 walks. He is the franchise's all-time leader in batting average, on-base percentage (.426) and slugging percentage (.618) and ranks second to HElton in runs scored, doubles, home runs, and RBI.

"Larry Walker carried all five tools and was the most instinctive player I have ever seen play the game," said Monfort. "He put together 17 incredible years in the big leagues. No. 33 hanging in Coors Field will be a constant reminder of the vast talent of Larry Walker that we were all lucky to witness here in Colorado."

And now he will remain a legend over time, his No. 33 posted next to Helton's No. 17 on the outfield facade in Coors Field.