Colorado Rockies: It is about time to retire Larry Walker’s #33

The Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2020 is set to be announced in the coming days with the induction slated for July 26 in Cooperstown, New York.

This year, there are two Colorado Rockies on the ballot: the second year for Todd Helton and the final for Larry Walker.  One of these players has a good shot of making the HOF this year, the other won’t.  One has their number hanging on the right field facade at Coors Field but the other doesn’t.  This leads to the obvious question.

Why haven’t the Rockies retired Larry Walker’s #33?

Currently, there have been two numbers retired by the Rockies: Jackie Robinson‘s #42 (retired throughout the Majors in 1997) and Helton’s #17.

Obviously, being the greatest Rockies’ player of all-time after playing all 17 years of his career with the Rockies and leading the franchise in career games, hits, home runs, runs scored, and RBI, among countless other statistical categories, Helton deserves this great honor.  Unfortunately, he is going to have to wait before he is/or if ever selected into to Hall of Fame.

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

For Walker, according to Hall of Fame Tracker, he is in prime position of receiving the 75% of the vote that is required to be inducted.  In his 17-year career (10 with Colorado), Walker slashed .313/.400/.565 with three batting titles.  He won the NL MVP in 1997, a 5-time All-Star, 7-time Gold Glover, and a 3-time Silver Slugger.

As for the Rockies’ franchise, Walker holds many single season records, including batting average, home runs, and runs scored.  He also leads in career batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging and is second, behind Helton, in almost every other one the categories listed before.

There is only one minor issue why he shouldn’t retire his number. Fellow Canadian, Justin Morneau wore coveted number since Walker’s departure, but only after getting the blessing from Walker.

Whether or not Walker receives baseball’s highest honor, it is about time the Rockies’ organization give him their’s and retire his number.

As a founding member of the “Blake Street Bombers” it is only fitting that “Crazy Train” be blared through the sound system of Coors Field one more time as #33 is being unveiled below “The Rooftop” in right field.