
Larry Walker, OF, 1997
Stats: .366 AVG, 208 H, 143 R, 46 2B, 49 HR, 130 RBI, .452 OBP, .720 SLG, 1.172 OPS
Todd Helton’s 2000 season was great, phenomenal for any hitter. Larry Walker’s 1997 season was even better. The greatest individual season in Colorado Rockies history belongs to the Canadian-born Walker. After breaking his collarbone and missing time during the 1996 season, Walker came back on fire to open up the 1997 season. In his first 23 games of the ’97 season, he had a .456 average with 11 homers and 29 RBI.
He came home at the end of the season with a stockpile of awards. Walker won the first Gold Glove in Rockies history, a Sliver Slugger award, an All-Star appearance, and the 1997 NL MVP trophy. Still to this day, he is the only Rockies player to ever receive the award. He led the league in WAR for position players, total bases, slugging percentage, and OPS.
Next: Reliving the 5 greatest seasons in Colorado history
Walker had a great career. He retired in 2005 after playing two seasons with the St.Louis Cardinals. It is still a constant debate whether or not he’ll make the Hall of Fame. He has the numbers to get in, and his 1997 season was the greatest in Rockies team history. Will there ever be another? Only time will tell.