Larry Walker, left, was voted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame this week along with Derek Jeter. (The Canadian Press)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame

Local baseball community reacts to Walker being voted into Cooperstown

Jan 23, 2020 | 2:33 PM

Saskatchewan’s baseball community is welcoming the induction of Canadian Larry Walker into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY.

The retired outfielder was elected to the hall in his final year on the ballot and will be enshrined alongside Derek Jeter, Ted Simmons and former Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Marvin Miller.

Jane Shury, president and CEO of the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Battlefords said Walker is deserving of the induction.

“I think it’s absolutely great, he certainly deserves it, he’s won a lot of different things over the years and was certainly a great player,” she said.

Shury said Walker, who originally hails from Maple Ridge B.C., being inducted will be good for baseball in helping the visibility of the game, similar to the success the Toronto Blue Jays enjoyed in recent years.

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“It certainly does give a boost,” she said.

When Walker is officially enshrined in Cooperstown this coming summer he will be the second Canadian to receive the honour. The first Canadian born player to be inducted was pitcher Ferguson ‘Fergie’ Jenkins who was part of the class of 1991.

Ferguson Jenkins delivered the guest speech at the 2019 Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame Induction ceremony in Battleford on August 17, 2019. (Brady Lang/650 CKOM)

Jenkins is also an honorary member of the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, an honour he received when he delivered the guest speech at the hall’s 2019 induction ceremonies. Shury said they would definitely be willing to invite Walker to Battleford and give him the same treatment.

“That would be wonderful to get him here,” she said.

The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in the Town of Battleford is home to Canada’s largest bat. (Facebook/ Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn