HALL CEREMONY WORTH THE WAIT FOR WALKER
The baseball great from Maple Ridge says delay won't detract from thrill of honour
His induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame may have been temporarily placed on hold, but for those fortunate enough to visit the home of the sport's treasured shrine this past summer, the presence of B.C. baseball icon Larry Walker was difficult to miss.
There were banners of the class of 2020 along Main St. in Cooperstown, N.Y., while posters of Walker and his fellow electees were pasted on windows throughout the postcard-picture village in the heart of Otsego County.
And inside the hallowed Hall itself, a display honouring the trail-blazing star from Maple Ridge paid tribute to Walker's days with the Montreal Expos and Colorado Rockies, highlights of a 17-year career that was finally recognized as HOF material in his final year of eligibility.
As the class of 2021 is set to be unveiled on Tuesday, the Hall is still preparing to honour Walker and his fellow inductees. And a life-altering year of dealing with the fallout of COVID-19 has done little to dim the anticipation for what will be a memorable day in the life of one of Canada's greatest baseball players.
“It has been a horrible time for everyone so really, missing this was non-important in the realm of life,” Walker said in a conversation with Postmedia this past fall. “Putting it off a year doesn't affect me one bit.”
Walker has been to the Hall of Fame twice in his life — once several years earlier and again 13 months ago for an introductory visit to prepare him for what awaits on induction weekend. On his most recent trip the 17-year MLB veteran was given a highly personalized tour of the magnificent Hall and museum.
“Part of the process is that between the time they are elected and the induction ceremony, they come here to Cooperstown for an orientation, to get to know the village and see how we operate behind the scenes,” Jon Shestakofsky, the Hall's vice-president of communications and education told us during a pit stop on the way from Buffalo to Boston during the Jays 2020 season.
“Among the many things he did while he was here, Larry saw where his plaque will be hanging in the players gallery and he signed the back. You could tell it meant something to him.”
It's been a difficult year on the Hall, with limited capacity and no ceremony, attendance was a fraction of what it is normally. As well, 10 honoured members have passed in 2020 and 2021, the latest being the incomparable Hank Aaron.
There is plenty to celebrate going forward, however, and the folks who administer the Hall will do the utmost to make sure Walker, Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller and Ted Simmons won't have their experience dulled by sharing the moment with whoever gets the call for the 2021 class. Who knows what the world will look like this summer, but induction weekend scheduled for July 23-26 has the potential to be extra special.
Walker speaks with reverence when talking about his most recent Cooperstown visit which came just weeks before the pandemic shuttered so much of the world this past March.
“Being a Canadian growing up with hockey and not being aware of everything with the history of baseball, it was quite fascinating to hear and see the whole thing,” Walker said. “I really took that all in. I was able to pick up stuff from Babe Ruth, stuff from today's players and even a couple of things of my own.
“And when you end it by stopping at the spot on the wall where your plaque is going to hang up and sign your signature ... it kind of smacks you in the face, the reality of it. That's the holy (bleep) moment.”
If there's a regret for the enshrinement being delayed by a year it is that Walker has had that much more time to fret over his acceptance speech.
“I look forward to every moment of it except when I get up on that podium and have to do that speech,” Walker said with a chuckle. “I have nights I don't sleep because I'm thinking about it and I get up in the middle of the night and write something in my phone. I'm a fairly private guy. My time is done and I'm happy with being unknown, so to speak. It's what I'm more comfortable with. It still hasn't hit home completely. No matter where I was — starting in rookie ball and all the way to the major leagues — I never saw myself as better than anyone else.”
Hall of Fame voters have rendered a different opinion, however.