Jonathan Boyce "Steel Arm" Taylor | |
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Pitcher / Manager | |
Born: January 1, 1879 Anderson, South Carolina |
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Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
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Jonathan Boyce Taylor (1879 – ?) was the second-oldest of four baseball-playing brothers, the others being Charles, Benjamin, and James. Taylor was a pitcher and played in professional pre-league and Negro league baseball from 1903 to 1925.
Taylor was given his baseball nickname "Steel Arm Johnny" by a white sportswriter when he pitched for Biddle University in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1898. He pitched for a number of semi-pro teams in South Carolina during the summers as well, and began his professional career in 1903 with the Birmingham Giants. All four brothers were on that team by 1908, and he beat Hall of Famer Joe Williams 1-0 in San Antonio, striking out the side with the bases loaded in the ninth inning.
Taylor pitched for the St. Paul Colored Gophers in 1909, helping them claim a share of the western championship that year, posting a combined record of 37-6 between Birmingham and St. Paul. He pitched for the Chicago Leland Giants in 1910, the St. Louis Giants in 1911, the New York Lincoln Giants in 1912, and the Chicago American Giants in 1913 before reuniting with his brothers in 1914 on the Indianapolis ABCs. He pitched professionally until 1925.
He also coached college baseball for many years, starting in 1899, emphasizing to his players the virtues of clean living and hard work, abstaining from alcohol and tobacco himself.