Exactly two years ago, the president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum stepped to the podium and announced on MLB Network that Larry Walker was going to Cooperstown.
Not only had the suspense been building for the past decade since Walker was first put up for election by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, but the early returns on public ballots for the Class of 2020 suggested reaching the required 75% mark would not be guaranteed.
Once the words “five-tool player” were uttered during the announcement, fans of the Colorado Rockies around the world rejoiced to know there would finally be representation for their franchise in the Hall of Fame.
Though the pandemic postponed the induction until 2021, it didn’t stop Walker from turning the crowd of Derek Jeter and New York Yankees supporters on his side.
“It was a special moment and it was worth the wait,” shared Jon Shestakofsky, Vice President of Communications and Education. “And that’s in front of fans and with members of the Hall of Fame family behind them. Larry did a great job with his speech. I know it weighed on him a little bit, but he delivered a heck of a speech. It’s something I hope he’s very proud of.”
Those in attendance at the Colorado Convention Center and Play Ball Park during the All-Star Game Week witnessed numerous artifacts from the museum in Cooperstown that tell the story of the sport. From the first organized game of base ball on Elysian Field in Hoboken, NJ in 1846 to the final MLB team represented in the Hall, the history was on display.
For the 1997 National League MVP, those artifacts include the comical shirt worn on the day the good news was passed along over the phone by Jack O’Connell, president of the BBWAA.
“We thought it would be fun and interesting and something that the fans who watched that moment would appreciate seeing in the museum, and that’s kind of the genesis of SpongeBob coming to the Hall of Fame,” Shestakofsky admitted about the shirt in his archive. “That was a unique circumstance where the attire (pauses to laugh) of the Hall of Famer at the time of his learning of that wonderful moment. It’s just a unique circumstance where SpongeBob became almost as much a part of that moment as Larry himself.”
For the plaque, the one that would hang in the literal hall besides the likes of Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente and Babe Ruth, the team in Cooperstown brought in a sculptor who crafted the statues at the entrance of Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. A person who could capture the enthusiasm and determination of the Canadian-born slugger.
“(We) want to capture what is his best or most classic look. And that’s with the Rockies,” artist Tom Tsuchiya said of creating Walker’s plaque. “There’s a certain look. You might find a really good series of images that wasn’t from that particular era, but then because of sculpting we decided to just use different sources and we put stuff together. So we pull together things and we come up with the classic look.”
Created by designer Tom Tsuchiya, seen here touching up a clay bust of George Wright, Wednesday, April 24, 2019, the 1869 Pavilion will be dedicated on May 4, the 150th anniversary of the 1869 Red Stockings’ first game. It features the original 1869 Red Stockings players and will be the primary memorial to the original team.
Tom Tsuchiya Reds Pavilion 4 24 2019
That bronze plaque was on display for those in attendance at the No. 33 retirement ceremony on September 25 against the San Francisco Giants. It was a rare occasion for a plaque to be removed from the wall, but one justified for Walker’s special day. For those Rockies’ faithful who were spared the 3,500 mile round trip to upstate New York, it was a once in a lifetime moment to witness in their own back yard known as Coors Field.
Next on the wish list is enshrinement for Todd Helton.
In his fourth year on the ballot, Helton is poised for more growth after receiving 44.9% in 2021. Considering Walker didn’t approach 50% until his ninth and penultimate year, Helton is indeed ahead of schedule.
We still may have to wait a few more years for the Rockies to get the recognition they deserve in Cooperstown. But if it’s anything like the celebration for Walker, it will be well worth it for Helton.
