Winnipeg Goldeyes pitcher Ace Walker practices at Shaw Park in May 2012. (TED GRANT / CHRISD.CA FILE)
The Winnipeg Goldeyes will retire the number of Andrew “Ace” Walker after his five seasons with the Fish.
Walker, 31, will have his No. 31 jersey retired by the Goldeyes prior to the game on June 23 against the Gary SouthShore RailCats this summer.
“Ace is one of the all-time great players to put on a Goldeyes uniform,” said Goldeyes GM Andrew Collier. “Not only did he set many records during his five seasons with the team, but he always took the time to connect with Goldeyes fans off the field and was a great ambassador for the organization.”
Walker joined the Goldeyes in 2008 and holds the team career pitching records for wins (47), complete games (13), games started (105) and innings pitched (692.2). He also held the team career record for strikeouts with 380 when he retired following the 2012 season, but was passed by former teammate Chris Salamida last season.
His best season with the Fish came in 2009 when he was awarded as the Northern League Pitcher of the Year after going 12-6 with a 3.32 ERA from a small town in Oklahoma.
“I want to thank the Goldeyes organization and my former host family, the Hunts, for letting me play in their city for five years,” Walker said in a release.
Few fans may know that Walker is also an accomplished artist, having painted the Goldeyes logo on the wall in the team’s training room. He would also often paint graphics on the grass behind home plate.
