He batted over .300 for three consecutive years (1955–1957) in the American Association but was unable to crack the Brooklyn lineup, which featured eight-time All-Star first baseman Gil Hodges.

Larker was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 1956 Rule 5 Draft, but failed to make the 1957 ChiSox roster and was offered back to the Dodger organization.

Placed on the 28-man, early-season squad of the first-ever edition of the Los Angeles Dodgers as a 27-year-old rookie in 1958, Larker proceeded to win a permanent roster spot.

Larker started 85 of Los Angeles' 156 regular season games (55 at first base and 30 in the outfield), raised his batting average to .289, and hit eight home runs.

The Dodgers rose from seventh place in 1958 to a flat-footed tie with the defending NL champion Milwaukee Braves, forcing a best-of-three playoff.

He battled for the National League batting title into the season's final days with NL Most Valuable Player Dick Groat of the Pittsburgh Pirates before finishing second by two one-thousandths of a point.

After spending 1964 with the Giants' Triple-A Tacoma farm club, Larker signed with the Toei Flyers in Japan's Pacific League, where he played in 1965–1966.

During his career, Larker also played winter ball with the Navegantes del Magallanes club of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, where he captured the batting crown with a .340 average in the 1955–1956 season.

[3] After leaving baseball, Larker entered private business in Long Beach, California, where he'd moved in the late 1950s during his tenure with the Dodgers.