Ben Taylor (first baseman, born 1888) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ben Taylor |
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: July 1, 1888 Anderson, South Carolina |
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| Died: January 24, 1953 (aged 64) Baltimore, Maryland |
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| debut | |||
| 1908, Birmingham Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1929, Bacharach Giants | |||
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As Player
As Manager
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2006 | ||
| Election Method | Committee on African-American Baseball | ||
Benjamin Harrison Taylor (born July 1, 1888 – died January 24, 1953) was an American first baseman and manager in the Negro leagues. He was a very talented baseball player. Taylor played for many teams, including the Birmingham Giants and Indianapolis ABC's. His career as a player lasted from 1908 to 1929. In 2006, he was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Early Life and Family
Ben Taylor was born in Anderson, South Carolina. He was the youngest of four brothers. All four brothers became famous baseball players. His brothers were C.I., Candy Jim, and Johnny "Steel Arm". They all made a big impact on baseball.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
Ben Taylor started his baseball journey as a pitcher in 1908 for the Birmingham Giants. He later played for teams like the St. Louis Giants and the New York Lincoln Giants. From 1913 to 1914, he played for Rube Foster's Chicago American Giants.
Ben Taylor became well-known while playing for the Indianapolis ABCs. This team was managed and owned by his brother, C.I. Taylor. In 1915, Ben had a great season, hitting for a .308 batting average. He then played in a winter league in Cuba, where he hit an amazing .500.
He carried this strong hitting into the 1916 championship season. During the World Series, Ben got 11 hits out of 18 tries. He also stole three bases in just five games.
Ben played for the ABCs from 1914 to 1922. In 1919, he briefly played for Hilldale and also managed the Bacharach Giants. In his final season with the ABCs in 1922, he took over as manager after his brother C.I. passed away.
In 1923, Taylor started a new team called the Washington Potomacs. His brother Johnny joined him as the pitching coach. The Potomacs became part of the new Eastern Colored League in 1924.
Ben Taylor was also an excellent first baseman. He was very good at fielding ground balls. He made difficult plays look easy, helping his teammates in the infield.
Ben continued to play and manage for several years. He joined the Harrisburg Giants in 1925. From 1926 to 1928, he played for and managed the Baltimore Black Sox. In 1929, he was traded to the Bacharach Giants. This was the last season of his playing career.
For most of his career, Ben Taylor batted over .300. He was also a great teacher for younger players. Famous player Buck Leonard learned many of his first base skills from Ben. Ben continued to coach and manage baseball teams until 1940.
Later Life and Recognition
After he stopped playing and managing, Ben Taylor became a successful businessman. He owned a poolroom. He also got the rights to print and sell game programs at Baltimore Elite Giants games.
In 1949, a newspaper article asked baseball legend Oscar Charleston to pick his all-time All-Star team. Oscar Charleston chose Ben Taylor as his first baseman. In 1952, as the Negro Leagues were becoming less popular, the Pittsburgh Courier newspaper asked its readers to vote for the greatest Negro League players. Ben Taylor was honored as the second-best first baseman.
Ben Taylor passed away in Baltimore, Maryland at the age of 64.
