Rube Walker
From BR Bullpen
Albert Bluford Walker
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.
- Debut April 20, 1948
- Final Game June 15, 1958
- Born May 16, 1926 in Lenoir, NC USA
- Died December 12, 1992 in Morganton, NC USA
[edit] Biographical Information
"I shared the ride in to Ebbets Field, maybe 15 minutes away, with Ed Roebuck, Pee Wee, Erskine, Rube Walker. It was just so much fun." - Don Zimmer, talking about commuting to the ballpark in the mid-1950's with Rube Walker and other Dodgers
Rube Walker played 11 seasons as a catcher, never playing any other position in the majors and never getting more than 213 at-bats in any one season. He spent 3 1/2 seasons with the Cubs before playing the rest of his major league career with the Dodgers. He backed up Roy Campanella for years.
He had his highest major league batting average as a 22-year-old rookie in 1948. That was also the year he had his highest RBI total.
Although Walker was on several World Series teams, he appeared in only the 1956 World Series.
Walker was released in June 1958 by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and coached them for the rest of the season. In 1959 he began the year as player/manager of the independent Houston Buffs, but was replaced on June 21 and played for the St. Paul Saints the rest of the season. He managed in the minors from 1961 to 1964. Walker was a coach for the Washington Senators (1965-1967), New York Mets (1968-1981), and Atlanta Braves (1982-1984).
Although Walker had been a catcher, as a coach he was a pitching coach. He coached the pitching staff of the famous 1969 Mets.
His brother, Verlon Walker, was a longtime Chicago Cubs coach.
Rube Walker died of lung cancer in 1992.
