The Walker Files: WAR says Walker is Hall of Fame worthy

Maple Ridge, B.C., native Larry Walker is worthy of a plaque in Cooperstown. Photo Credit: National Baseball Hall of Fame Library

By Tracy Ringolsby

Larry Walker won the battle on the field, but not at the Hall of Fame ballot box. Walker’s career WAR of 72.6 is the 51st highest among position players. There is only one of the 50 players with a higher WAR than Walker who has been eliminated from consideration by Hall of Fame voters — Lou Whitaker, who didn’t even get the five percent necessary to stay on the ballot in his first year of eligible.

Six others ahead of Walker have not been enshrined. Two are on the ballot for the first time this year, Jim Thome and Chipper Jones. Barry Bonds is on the ballot but hasn’t been elected because of the steroid issue. Alex Rodriguez has not been retired the required five years to be on the ballot. Pete Rose is banned from consideration. Adrian Beltre is still active with the Texas Rangers.

The top 51 career WAR:

Rk	Player	WAR		Rk	Player	WAR
1	Babe Ruth	163.1		27	Al Kaline	92.5
2	x-Barry Bonds	162.4		28	Wade Boggs	91.1
3	Willie Mays	156.2		29	Nap Lajoie	89.8
4	Ty Cobb	151		30	George Brett	88.4
5	Hank Aaron	142.6		31	1-Chipper Jones	85
6	Tris Speaker	133.7		32	Ken Griffey	83.6
7	Stan Musial	128.1		33	Rod Carew	81.1
8	Rogers Hornsby	127		34	Charlie Gehringer	80.6
9	Eddie Collins	123.9		35	Jeff Bagwell	79.6
10	Ted Williams	123.1		36	b-Pete Rose	79.1
11	y-Alex Rodriguez	117.7		37	Brooks Robinson	78.4
12	Honus Wagner	113.8		38	Joe DiMaggio	78.1
13	Lou Gehrig	112.4		39	Robin Yount	77
14	Rickey Henderson	110.8		40	Ozzie Smith	76.5
15	Mickey Mantle	109.7		41	Paul Molitor	75.4
16	Mel Ott	107.8		42	Johnny Bench	75
17	Frank Robinson	107.2		43	e-Lou Whitaker	74.9
18	Mike Schmidt	106.5		44	Luke Appling	74.5
19	Joe Morgan	100.3		45	Reggie Jackson	73.8
20	Albert Pujols	99.4		46	Frank Thomas	73.7
21	Eddie Mathews	96.4		47	Sam Crawford	73.2
22	Jimmie Foxx	96.4		48	1-Jim Thome	72.9
23	Carl Yastrzemski	96.1		49	Arky Vaughan	72.9
24	Cal Ripken	95.5		50	Paul Waner	72.8
25	Roberto Clemente	94.5		51	Larry Walker	72.6
26	a-Adrian Beltre	93.9

Source: Baseball-reference.com

a-still active (Adrian Beltre)

1-first year on ballot (Chipper Jones, Jim Thome)

x-on ballot, not elected yet (Barry Bonds)

y-no yet eligible (Alex Rodriguez)

e-eliminated by voters first year of eligiblity (Lou Whitaker)

b-banned from Hall of Fame (Pete Rose)