Larry Walker’s journey from Canada to Cooperstown is a must-listen

On episode No. 5 of “Mile High Memories,” it’s all about Rockies Hall of Famer Larry Walker. Sandy Clough is joined by Denver 7’s Troy Renck, as the two discuss the outfielder’s journey from Canada to Colorado to Cooperstown.

This was a fascinating listen for me. It was filled to the brim with interesting tidbits. Wow, that sounded lame, but I said it because I’m too lazy to find a better way to write it.

I had no idea that Walker wanted to be a goalie in hockey, and didn’t focus on baseball until he was 17. Sandy and Troy really broke down the amazing athletic ability that Walker possessed, something I think a lot of Rockies fans may have overlooked or took for granted.

By the time I got in sports radio, Walker was at the tail end of his career. I did have the opportunity to cover a few of his games and he was always nice to me and other media members while in the clubhouse. But most of my memories of Walker revolve around the Blake Street Bombers. Sandy and Troy dug into this legendary time in Rockies history, and did an amazing job going through Walker’s role in it all.

One of the interesting things the guys brought up was Walker having a hard time staying interested in the game and all that went into it. He wasn’t completely consumed by it, and I respect the hell out of that. Way too many people get way too deep into their careers and neglect what’s truly important in life. Like tacos or pizza! Or family, if you’re into that human-to-human type of thing. Anyway, the fact that he missed a lot of games and still made it into the Hall of Fame tells you how great he was.

At one point in this episode, Renck got fired up when talking about the Coors Field stigma. Troy doesn’t get pissy very often, so his angry rant gave me much-needed joy.

Sandy and Troy also got into the soured relationship between the Rockies and Walker, and how it seemed to stem from poor spending by the Rockies. I know, it’s shocking to hear that, but I swear the guys talked about it.

Walker played like he was still on the playground. He wasn’t afraid to play any position. And any position he played, he could do it well. He played hard and that ultimately caused injuries that lead to him missing more games. But when he was on the field, you could count on him to give 100 percent.

If you love the Rockies, this is a must listen. If you love baseball, this is a must listen. So what I’m saying is – YOU MUST LISTEN TO THIS.

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To listen to the Larry Walker edition of “Mile High Memories,” CLICK HERE