When the Phillies left the 6’3″, lefthanded-hitting Walker unprotected in the 1979 major league draft, the White Sox quickly claimed him. Winning Chicago’s first base job in 1984, Walker batted .294. He played an AL-high 163 games in 1985, but his 1986 campaign was marred by wrist and hand injuries and seizures cut into his 1988 season.
Walker’s 27 homers in 1987 were the most by a White Sox first baseman since Dick Allen‘s 32 in 1974. Commented Walker’s former manager Tony LaRussa, “Everybody sees his swing and knows it’s great. But his toughness… that’s something you don’t appreciate until you’re around him.”
