▁year , ▁was ▁a ▁two - time ▁Pitts burgh ▁Post - G az ette ▁Male ▁Ath lete ▁of ▁the ▁Year . ▁ ▁His ▁baseball ▁j er sey , ▁# 2 4 , ▁was ▁retired ▁from ▁P ine - Rich land ▁during ▁a ▁pre - game ▁ceremony ▁before ▁the ▁Pitts burgh ▁Pir ates ' ▁July ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁game . ▁ ▁Neil ▁grew ▁up ▁as ▁a ▁fan ▁of ▁the ▁Pitts burgh ▁Pir ates , ▁and ▁attended ▁many ▁of ▁the ▁team ' s ▁games ▁while ▁sitting ▁in ▁the ▁" Pe an ut ▁Heaven " ▁section ▁of ▁Three ▁R ivers ▁Stadium . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 4 , ▁he ▁attended ▁the ▁All - Star ▁Game , ▁where ▁he ▁obtained ▁the ▁sign atures ▁of ▁Ken ▁Griff ey , ▁Jr . ▁and ▁Frank ▁Thomas . ▁To ▁this ▁day , ▁those ▁signed ▁baseball s ▁are ▁among ▁his ▁most ▁pri zed ▁baseball ▁poss essions . ▁Prior ▁to ▁being ▁draft ed ▁by ▁the ▁Pir ates , ▁Walker ▁approached ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Pitts burgh ▁and ▁P enn ▁State ▁about ▁dou bling ▁in ▁baseball ▁and ▁football ; ▁however , ▁he ▁passed ▁on ▁those ▁options ▁out ▁of ▁concern ▁that ▁P enn ▁State ▁wanted ▁him ▁to ▁add ▁ 6 0 ▁pounds ▁and ▁become ▁a ▁tight ▁end . ▁ ▁Professional ▁baseball ▁career ▁ ▁Minor ▁le agues ▁The ▁Pitts burgh ▁Pir ates ▁selected ▁Walker ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁round ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁Major ▁League ▁Baseball ▁draft . ▁After ▁three ▁minor ▁league ▁seasons , ▁At ▁the ▁beginning ▁of