Tony Taylor was a Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers.
- Died: July 16, 2020 (Who else died on July 16?)
- Details of death: Died of complications of a stroke at the age of 84.
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MLB All-Star
A native of Cuba, Taylor was 18 when he signed as an amateur free agent with the New York Giants in 1954. He didn’t make his MLB debut until 1958, when he signed with the Chicago Cubs and became their starting second baseman. In 1960, Taylor was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, and he played on the National League All-Star team that year. A fan favorite, Taylor set a record with the Phillies for playing 1003 games at second base, though his record was later broken. He led the Phillies in stolen bases six times. In 1971, Taylor was traded to the Detroit Tigers, where he was part of the division title-winning team in 1972. He returned to the Phillies as a free agent in 1974, closing out his career there before his retirement in 1976. Taylor was later a coach for the Phillies, the Giants, and the Florida Marlins.
Taylor on his love of baseball
“Every time I put on the uniform, I have so much fun. That’s why I got into baseball in the first place, because I loved it. To me, the day isn’t right until you put on the uniform and cross the white line. And when you walk back in the locker room and take off the uniform, that’s it, that’s when the fun stops.” —As quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer
What people said about him
Full obituary: The Philadelphia Inquirer
