Larry walker is the 1st BC-born player elected to the baseball hall of fame

Larry gets the call to the Hall. #HOF2020 pic.twitter.com/qDNSipAQsF

— MLB (@MLB) January 21, 2020

Larry Walker has a date with Cooperstown.

Walker has joined Ferguson Jenkins as the only Canadian-born players elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The announcement was made this afternoon.

Walker, a resident of Maple Ridge, joins Yankee legend Derek Jeter, who entered the hall one vote shy of a unanimous vote.

Walker was named to the hall on the 10th and final year of eligibility.

He was named on 76.6 per cent of ballots cast by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

The threshold to enter the hall is 75 per cent.

Earlier in the day, Walker Tweeted a thank you to those who have supported him, while believing he would fall just short of election.

Although I believe I’m going to come up a little short today I still wanna thank all you that have been pulling for me and showing your support. I’m grateful for all of you! It’s been fun leading up to today reading everyone’s thoughts. Cheers ? LW

— Larry Walker (@Cdnmooselips33) January 21, 2020

Walker played 17 seasons in the majors with Montreal, Colorado and St. Louis.

He started his career with the Expos, playing six seasons in Montreal before moving on to Colorado, where he had his most success.

He was named to five all-star games, captured seven gold gloves, won three NL batting titles in 1998, 99 and 2001, and was named NL MVP in 1997, when he batted .366 with 49 home runs and 130 runs battled in.

Walker's career numbers, a .313 average, 2,160 hits, 383 home runs and 1,311 runs batted in were all worthy of selection to Cooperstown.

But, it was his success while playing nine plus seasons in the thin Colorado air that caused many voters to debate his election.

Walker will become the only Canadian-born position player in the Cooperstown, and the only B.C. native.

Photo: Associated Press