Walker supports HOF board's decision to delay induction

Photo: Baseball Canada

May 2, 2020

By Adam Morissette

Baseball Canada

OTTAWA – Larry Walker will have to wait another year to be formally inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York after the announcement on Wednesday that its Board of Directors had voted unanimously to cancel the 2020 induction ceremonies and postpone to 2021 over concerns associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Walker, Derek Jeter, the late Marvin Miller and Ted Simmons will still be inducted as members of the 2020 class but will do so along with the 2021 class on July 25, 2021 in Cooperstown.

"I fully understand and agree with the board's decision,” said Walker in a statement issued by the National Baseball Hall of Fame. “It is most important to do the right thing for everybody involved, and that means not putting any participants in jeopardy, whether Hall of Famers or visitors.

“I realize how serious this situation has become and how many lives have been lost.”

National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies have been held in Cooperstown, New York, the site of the Hall of Fame and Museum, every year since 1961. The last time that no induction ceremony took place was in 1960 after no of the individuals on the ballot received the required 75% of the vote.

In January, Walker received 76.6% of the vote on his tenth and final time on the Hall of Fame ballot to become just the second Canadian-born player to reach the hall.

The Maple Ridge, BC native played 17 seasons in the big leagues where he won a National League Most Valuable Player Award (1997), seven Gold Glove Awards, three Silver Slugger Awards, three NL batting titles and was named to five All-Star teams.

Walker has coached with Baseball Canada’s Senior National Team 11 times since 2006.