Tony Taylor
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- This page is on the Major League Baseball player. For the former Scottish footballer and Canadian soccer coach see Tony Taylor (footballer)
Antonio Nemesio (Sanchez) Taylor (born December 19, 1935 in Central Alava, Cuba) is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1958 through 1976, Taylor played for the Chicago Cubs (1958-60), Philadelphia Phillies ( 1960-71 and 1974-76) and Detroit Tigers (1971-73). He batted and threw right handed.
In a 19-season career, Taylor posted a .261 batting average with 75 home runs and 598 RBI in 2195 games.
Taylor came to the majors with the Chicago Cubs in 1958 and was traded to the Philaldelphia Phillies early in the 1960 season. Despite the fact Philadelphia was a mediocre team, Taylor established himself and was named to the National League All-Star team that year.
A solid and dependable performer, Taylor holds the record having played in 1,003 games for the Phillies at second base, and his six steals of home, ranks him second on the team all-time list.
In 1963, Taylor hit .281 and collected career-highs in runs (102) and hits (182), and the next season, he made the defensive play that saved Jim Bunning’s perfect game. In 1970, he hit a career-high .301 average with 26 doubles, nine triples and nine homers.
Dealt to the Detroit Tigers in the 1971 midseason, Taylor helped them to a division title a year later. A free agent before the 1974 season, he signed again with the Phillies and became a valuable utility man and pinch hitter for his final three major league seasons.
Following his retirement as a player, Taylor coached for the Phillies and Marlins. One of the most popular Phillies ever, he was inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame in 2002.
[edit] See also
- 1972 American League Championship Series
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- List of players from Cuba in Major League Baseball
