A Prince George baseball player and coach believes the induction of Larry Walker into the Baseball Hall of Fame can provide a measuring stick for players coming up through the system.
Curtis Sawchuk grew up watching the Maple Ridge product dominate at the plate and couldn’t help but be inspired by his success.
“He and Jason Bay were really the only two that were kind of dominant in the sport of baseball being from Canada so those were the two focal points whenever they were in the highlights. Seeing a Canadian in the MLB and seeing him have success and knowing he came from the same place we were all from.”
He adds it’s a win-win for everyone.
“To see a fellow player grow up through the ranks, especially from BC and is the second Canadian inducted into the Hall of Fame, it’s a big accomplishment not only for him but for Baseball Canada as well.”
“Looking at the kids growing up wanting to play baseball I think it’s kind of huge to see the success that he had and the potential success other kids can have doing the same thing.”
"I was glued to everything."@Cdnmooselips33 was locked in on #HOF2020 ballots. pic.twitter.com/Uw9H0EETSJ
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 23, 2020
Sawchuk states Walker’s offensive talents were uncanny.
“He swung the bat like no one else. Larry Walker was known for putting the ball over the fence and he played for a bunch of teams like the Montreal Expos and when I was watching baseball as a kid he was one of the players you focused on.”
Sawchuk also mentioned the recent accolades of fellow PG product and Chicago Cubs prospect Jared Young who recently finished his first season with the Tennessee Smokies who are the MLB club’s AA affiliate.
“Prince George is kind of a secluded region and you see a guy like Jared Young have success and it’s only going to help the kids and enlighten them with their dreams and goals, making them a reality.”
Walker had a career .313 batting average with 383 home runs and 1,311 RBI.
His best season came in 1997 with the Colorado Rockies where he recorded 49 home runs and 130 RBI’s and was named National League MVP.