Mr. Speaker, I join the people of Maple Ridge in congratulating our hometown hero, Larry Walker. There are over 19,000 former major league baseball players. Larry is only the second Canadian to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Larry's family has a long history with baseball in Maple Ridge. Back in the 1940s and 1950s, Larry's father and grandfather played for local teams in what is now Larry Walker Field. Larry was a bat boy for his dad's team, but was more interested in hockey at the time.
He took up baseball again in the mid-80s and signed his first contract with the Expos in 1989.
Larry won three batting titles, seven Gold Gloves and was an all-star five times. He was a fan of the number “3”. He wore the number 33, was married at 3:33 p.m. and is the 333rd member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
I ask members to please join me in congratulating Larry Walker.