| Zack Taylor | |
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Zack Taylor in 1948 |
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| Catcher | |
| Born: July 27, 1898 Yulee, Florida |
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| Died: September 19, 1974 (aged 76) Orlando, Florida |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| June 15, 1920 for the Brooklyn Robins | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 24, 1935 for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .261 |
| Home runs | 9 |
| Runs batted in | 311 |
| Teams | |
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As Player:
As Manager:
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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James Wren "Zack" Taylor (July 27, 1898 - September 19, 1974) was an American professional baseball player, coach, scout and manager.[1] He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher with the Brooklyn Robins, Boston Braves, New York Giants, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, and again with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Although Taylor was not a powerful hitter, he sustained a lengthy career in the major leagues due to his valuable defensive abilities. After his playing career, he became better known as the manager for the St. Louis Browns owned by Bill Veeck.[2] His baseball career spanned 58 years.[2]
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A native of Yulee, Florida, Taylor began his professional baseball career at the age of 16 with the Valdosta Millionaires during the 1915 season.[3] After playing in the minor leagues for five seasons, he made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Robins on June 15, 1920 at the age of 21.[1] He became the Robins main catcher in 1923, succeeding Hank DeBerry. Although he led National League catchers in errors and in passed balls, he also led in range factor, assists and in baserunners caught stealing while producing a .288 batting average in 93 games.[1][4]
In 1924, his batting average improved to .290 and he led the league's catchers in range factor and in fielding percentage.[1] Taylor had his best season offensively in 1925, posting career-highs with a .310 batting average, 3 home runs and 44 runs batted in.[1] He developed a reputation as one of the best catchers in the National League, finishing the season with 102 assists and leading the league's catchers with 64 baserunners caught stealing.[5][6] On October 6, 1925, Taylor was traded by the Robins with Eddie Brown and Jimmy Johnston to the Boston Braves for Jesse Barnes, Gus Felix and Mickey O'Neil.[6]
After a season and a half with the Braves, he was traded to John McGraw's New York Giants along with Larry Benton and Herb Thomas for Doc Farrell, Kent Greenfield and Hugh McQuillan.[7] Despite performing well defensively, Taylor lasted only one season under McGraw before he was released back to the Braves for the waiver price of $4000.[8] McGraw stated that he regretted releasing the 29-year old Taylor, but that he wanted to give younger catchers a chance to play.[8] Taylor took over as the Braves starting catcher for the 1928 season.[9]
Having been displaced by Al Spohrer as the Braves starting catcher early in the 1929 season, Taylor's contract was sold to the Chicago Cubs for the waiver price of $7500 in July, after all the other teams in both the American and National Leagues had refused to make an offer on him.[10][11] When future Hall of Fame catcher Gabby Hartnett suffered an arm injury early in 1929, Taylor filled in capably as the Cubs won the National League pennant.[11] He helped guide the Cub's pitching staff to a league-leading 14 shutouts and finished second in team earned run average and strikeouts.[12][13] In the only post-season appearance of his career in the 1929 World Series against the Philadelphia Athletics, Taylor only had three hits, but was cited as an unsung hero in a losing cause for the Cubs for his consistent, unwavering defensive skills as a catcher.[14][15] When Hartnett returned from his injury in 1930, Taylor resumed the role as the Cubs' backup catcher. In 1932, Cubs manager, Rogers Hornsby credited Taylor with helping develop the skills of Lon Warneke, as the young pitcher led the league with 22 wins.[16][17]
After being released by the Cubs in November 1933, he appeared in four games for the Yankees in 1934, before ending his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1935.[1] He played his final major league game on September 24, 1935 at the age of 36.[1] Taylor returned to the minor leagues where he served as a player-manager for the San Antonio Missions from 1937 to 1939, and then with the Toledo Mud Hens from 1940 to 1941.[18]
In a sixteen-year major league career, Taylor played in 918 games, accumulating 748 hits in 2,865 at bats for a .261 career batting average, along with 9 home runs, 311 runs batted in and an on base percentage of .304.[1] He ended his career with a .977 fielding percentage.[1] Taylor led National League catchers three times in range factor and in baserunners caught stealing, twice in assists and once in fielding percentage.[1]
Taylor joined the St. Louis Browns as a coach in 1941, and was a member of the 1944 Browns team that won the American League pennant – the team's only championship in its 52 years in St. Louis, although they eventually lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1944 World Series.[19] When Luke Sewell resigned as manager in 1946, Taylor took over as the interim manager.[20] After Muddy Ruel managed the team in a disastrous 1947 campaign, Browns general manager Bill DeWitt re-hired Taylor to be the manager. He lost 100 games in two of his five seasons as the manager of the under-funded Browns, and was fired after the 1951 season.[20] Taylor also coached for Brooklyn and the Pittsburgh Pirates, and remained active in baseball as a scout for the Chicago White Sox and the Braves until his death.[2][21]
Taylor was the St. Louis manager who, upon orders from then-owner Bill Veeck, sent Eddie Gaedel to the plate on August 19, 1951 against Bob Cain and the Detroit Tigers.[2][22] He also participated in another Veeck stunt, in which the Browns handed out placards - reading take, swing, bunt, etc. - to fans and allowed them to make managerial decisions for a day. Taylor dutifully surveyed the fans' advice and relayed the sign accordingly. The Browns won the game.
In 1974, Taylor was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.[23] He died from a heart attack while at his home near Orlando, Florida on September 19, 1974 at the age of 76.[2]
| Preceded by Luke Sewell Muddy Ruel |
St. Louis Browns Manager 1946 1948-1951 |
Succeeded by Muddy Ruel Rogers Hornsby |
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