What was the nickname of the 1978 National League MVP and a two-time batting champion, who started off in a minor league baseball team, based in Monroe, North Carolina?
Monroe Pirates The Monroe Pirates were a minor league baseball team, based in Monroe, North Carolina, in 1971. The team was the city's second team in the Western Carolinas League, after the Monroe Indians left for Sumter, South Carolina in 1970. The club was a class-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates and went on to produce the notable major league careers, of Dave Parker, Ed Ott, Tony Armas and Mario Mendoza.
Verlon Walker Verlon Lee Walker (March 7, 1929 – March 24, 1971) was an American catcher in minor league baseball and a coach for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball from 1961 through 1970. He was also known as Rube Walker, nicknamed after his more famous older brother Albert, who preceded him as a catcher in the Chicago farm system, played all or parts of 11 seasons in the Major Leagues, and was an MLB pitching coach for three clubs, most notably the New York Mets.