AUTHOR
Blake Williams
Barry Bonds, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Rogers Hornsby, Mike Trout, and Christian Walker whenever he plays at Dodger Stadium, these are some of the greatest hitters in MLB history.
Walker took over as the Arizona Diamondbacks starting first baseman in the 2019 season, and since then, he has developed into one of the game’s best all around players at his position. However, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Walker takes his game to a legendary level that can only be matched by some of the greatest players of all-time.
In his nine games against the Dodgers this year, Walker is hitting .412/.500/1.265 with a 1.765 on-base plus slugging. He hit one home run to open the series, and two in each of the next two games.
His play earned the comparison of “Babe Ruth,” from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Walker became the first player in MLB history with seven home runs in a five-game span against the Dodgers while on the road, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.
His home runs in five straight games against the Dodgers tied him with Eddie Matthews (1960), Mays (1956) and Cy Williams (1927) for the third-longest home run streak against the Dodgers, trailing Williams’ six from 1926-27 and Joe Adcock’s nine in 1956.
His seven home runs are tied for the most in a five-game span against the Dodgers with Todd Helton (2003), Bonds (2001-02) and Mays (1958). Additionally, Walker’s nine home runs against the Dodgers this season are the second-most a player has ever hit in their first nine games against an opponent in a season, trailing Willie Stargell, who hit 10 against the Atlanta Braves in 1971.
Over his last five games at Dodger Stadium, Walker has been on base 15 times with 11 hits, nine of them for extra-bases, and seven of them home runs. According to OptaStats, only Gehrig has reached all those numbers at any road ballpark in a season, which he did at League Park in 1930.
Gehrig reached base 15 times with 13 hits, 10 extra-base hits and seven homers.
Since the start of 2018, Walker has hit 19 homers at Dodger Stadium, eight more than the next closest visiting player, according to Langs.
In addition, his 19 homers in his first career 42 games at Dodger Stadium are four more than the next closes player, with Cody Bellinger and Dave Kingman both hitting 15 in their first 42 games at Chavez Ravine.
Since taking on a full-time role in 2019, Walker has hit .252/.310/.545 with 25 home runs against the Dodgers in 82 games. However, at Dodger Stadium, those numbers improve to .343/.405/.776 with 18 home runs, 31 RBI and 26 runs scored in 38 games.
Those numbers put him on pace for 76 home runs, 132 RBI and 111 runs scored over a full 162 game season.
Dodgers ‘bring out the best’ in Christian Walker
Roberts discussed Christian Walker’s success against his club, and praised the first baseman for stepping up every time the two teams meet.
“Gosh, yeah, I don’t know,” Roberts said. “Yeah, the numbers are like better than Shohei’s here at Dodger Stadium. It’s a division rival, I do think that we bring out the best in him.
“He actually plays really well at home against us, as well. But at this ballpark, it’s otherworldly. He doesn’t give anything away, he really doesn’t. I’ve said it, he’s one of the guys I really enjoy watching play.”
