Harry Taylor (1946–52 pitcher)

James Harry Taylor (May 20, 1919 – November 5, 2000) was an American professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher who appeared in 90 games, 44 as a starter, in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1946–48) and Boston Red Sox (1950–52). The native of East Glenn, Indiana, stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg).

Harry Taylor
Pitcher
Born: (1919-05-20)May 20, 1919
East Glenn, Indiana
Died: November 5, 2000(2000-11-05) (aged 81)
Terre Haute, Indiana
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 22, 1946, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
May 4, 1952, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record19–21
Earned run average4.10
Strikeouts127
Innings pitched35723
Teams

Taylor's professional career lasted from 1938 through 1955, with five seasons (1941–45) missed due to United States Army service in World War II[1] and another two (1953–54) out of organized baseball in the semipro ranks. He spent the entire 1947 campaign on the Dodgers' big-league roster, winning ten of 15 decisions with 20 starting assignments and two shutouts. It was an eventful season for Brooklyn that saw Jackie Robinson break the baseball color line in the Major Leagues, manager Leo Durocher's season-long suspension for "conduct detrimental to baseball", and the Dodgers win their seventh overall National League pennant.

Taylor was the Dodgers' starting pitcher in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series on October 3 at Ebbets Field. Matched against the New York Yankees' Bill Bevens, Taylor failed to record an out, facing four batters in the first inning and allowing two singles, a base on balls, a fielder's choice (the batter reaching on an error) and an unearned run before being relieved by Hal Gregg, who got out of the inning without further scoring.[2] Bevens, meanwhile, threw 823 innings of no-hit baseball. But the Yankee hurler allowed ten bases on balls, and his no-hitter and game were ruined by pinch hitter Cookie Lavagetto's double, the Dodgers winning what some call "The Cookie Game", 3–2.

Taylor returned to the minor leagues during the 1948 season, and spent almost all of the following two years at Triple-A. But in September 1950, his contract was purchased by the Red Sox, who were chasing the Yankees and Detroit Tigers in the American League pennant race. After one game in relief, he threw two complete game victories, September 25 against the Philadelphia Athletics (a two-hit shutout) and October 1 against the Yankees.[3] But Boston fell short in the standings, finishing in third place, four games behind the Yankees.

In his 90 MLB games, Taylor worked 35723 innings pitched, and allowed 344 hits and 201 bases on balls. He recorded 127 strikeouts, 16 complete games and four saves.

He posted a .161 batting average (20-for-124) in his career. He fielded his position well, recording a .990 fielding percentage with only one error in 105 total chances.

References

  1. "Those Who Served A to Z". BaseballinWartime.com. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  2. "Brooklyn Dodgers 3, New York Yankees 2". retrosheet.org. October 3, 1947. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  3. "The 1950 BOS A Regular Season Pitching Log for Harry Taylor". retrosheet.org. Retrieved July 5, 2017.


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