Larry Walker Dave Winfield
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A Case to Enshrine Larry Walker Into the MLB Hall of Fame ARGUMENT MADE BY COMPARING HIS STATS TO THOSE OF CURRENT HALL OF FAMER, DAVE WINFIELD. By David Played 17 seasons for 3 teams making 5 all-star games, winning 3 silver slugger awards and 7 gold gloves. Was plagued by injuries throughout his career playing over 150 games in a season only once. From 1997-1999, he went 3 consecutive seasons batting over .360!!! Ended his career with 389 career home runs (then 50th all time, now 52nd) in less than 2000 career games played. Played 22 seasons for 6 teams making 12 all-star games, winning 6 silver slugger awards and 7 gold gloves. Played his first game for the San Diego Padres in 1973 after playing 0 minor league games. Was also drafted by the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL, the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA and the Utah Stars of the ABA. Was drafted as a pitcher, but was put in right field so he could bat every day and still make use of his cannon of an arm. In 1983, while warming up in the outfield before the 5th inning of a game in Toronto, he accidentally hit and killed a seagull… Traded for…..what?! Career Stat Comparison Larry Walker Dave Winfield G 1988 2973 H 2160 3110 R 1355 1669 RBI 1311 1833 HR 383 465 BA 0.313 0.283 OBP 0.400 0.353 SLG 0.565 0.475 Larry Walker and Dave Winfield were clearly the same type of hitter. 60.00 50.00 40.00 30.00 Walker Winfield 20.00 10.00 0.00 1B 2B 3B HR BB SO IPO 120.00 100.00 80.00 60.00 Winfield Walker 40.00 20.00 0.00 1B 2B 3B HR BB SO IPO 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% Winfield Walker 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1B 2B 3B HR BB SO IPO 0.400 BA 1.400 OPS 0.350 1.200 0.300 1.000 0.250 0.800 0.200 Walker Walker Winfield 0.600 0.150 Winfield 0.100 0.400 0.050 0.200 0.000 0.000 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 14.000 RC/27 12.000 10.000 8.000 Walker 6.000 Winfield 4.000 2.000 0.000 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 Larry Walker Dave Winfield 1B 1B 2B 2B 3B 3B HR HR BB BB SO SO IPO IPO 9 8 7.98 7 6 5 5.79 Walker 4 Winfield 3 3.4917 2 1 1.5604 0 Mean RC/27 Mean LWTF3/27 Larry Walker Dave Winfield Black-ink Test 24 4 (average HOFer ≈ 27) HOF standard test 58 56 (average HOFer ≈ 50) Similarity Test Vladimir Guerrero (914) Eddie Murray (883)* Duke Snider (891)* Al Kaline (868)* Ellis Burks (884) Carl Yastrzemski (852)* An * indicates a player in the hall of fame Closing Argument • After careful review of the statistics presented here, I believe that Larry Walker should be inducted into the Hall of Fame. While he didn't compile the same kind of career stats that Dave Winfield did, he was more effective during the years that he did play. His career OPS of .9654 is 16th all time, .0017 shy of Joe DiMaggio and .0024 better than Alex Rodriguez. These are the types of names that Larry Walker should be surrounded by in Cooperstown, NY. .