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A multi-talented athlete, Walker
was captain of baseball, football, and
wrestling teams at Centralia High
School. While Captain of the football team, his
Senior year the team finished 5-3-1
(1972). In wrestling, he captained the 1973 team and
finished the regular season undefeated. He
took third place at the Sectional, closing
out a 27-1 season. Walker was named Southern
Illinois Wrestler of the Year by the
Southern Illinois Coach’s Association. His
career wrestling record was 63-10.
As a four year
starter in baseball at CHS, he played
outfield, first base, and pitched. As
Captain his Senior year (1973), Walker took
the John Abrams Memorial Award for the
highest batting average of .485. He also had
an ERA of 1.35 and pitched a no hitter. He
was named All-South Seven Conference as a
pitcher and first baseman, and was selected
“Southern Illinois Baseball Player of the
Year” by the Evansville Courier and
Press.
Walker holds
the single season record for doubles at 10.
He also is tied with two other pitchers for
the most strike outs in a seven inning game
with 18. His career batting average at CHS
is .353. The 1973 CHS Athlete of the Year,
was drafted by the St. Louis Baseball
Cardinals as an outfielder in the 26th
round. Instead of signing with the Cardinals,
Walker accepted a baseball scholarship to
Murray State University. He was the starting
first baseman for MSU in 1975, 1976 and
1977. In 1975, he ranked seventh in the
nation in RBIs with 53 which also set a new
MSU record. The team was a MSU best ever
40-9. He is second on the MSU career RBI
list at 129, and his career batting average
at MSU was .296. Walker came back to CHS as Head Baseball
Coach in 1981
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