Description
1985 Hall of Famer.
Comes with a letter of authenticity.
In 1955, Toronto-area scout, Chester Dies, convinced Ron Taylor to try out for the Cleveland Indians. By that time, the teenage hurler from the Toronto?s Leaside Baseball Association had been dominating players several years older than him. Taylor impressed at the tryout and the Indians inked him to a deal that included a $4,000 signing bonus.
After several years in the minors, Taylor made one of the most remarkable pitching debuts in major league history, hurling 11 scoreless innings against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 11, 1962. Later that year, the young moundsman was dealt to St. Louis, where he would assume a key bullpen role on the Cards? 1964 World Series-winning squad. With the Cards trailing 2-1 in that Fall Classic series, Taylor held a Yankee lineup that boasted Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Elston Howard hitless for four innings in relief in Game 4 to preserve a one-run victory.
Taylor would find himself in a crucial relief role again with the Miracle Mets in the 1969 World Series. With two out and two men on base in the ninth inning of Game 2, Taylor was summoned to face Brooks Robinson, who grounded to third base to end the game. In helping the Mets win, Taylor became the only Canadian to win a World Series with two different teams (St. Louis 1964, New York 1969). In total, Taylor pitched a record seven innings without surrendering a hit in World Series play.
Upon retiring from baseball, Taylor returned to Toronto, where he earned a degree in medicine from the University of Toronto. He is currently the team doctor of the Toronto Blue Jays.
