The Washington times., 1926-02-16

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Of hitters. He had developed fr
Of the greatest defensive players
Late in August, at time pig
league scouts managers, ana owl own
ers are eager to buy the outstand-
ing minor league stars, young Tay-
Tor was hit on the head by
pitched ball. He suffered frac.
tured skull and q broken ear drum.
AS he was carried off the diamond
after first-aid treatment nad 4alte'i
to bring him around his teammates
thought him dead.
A half dozen big league clubs
had had scouts looking over Taylor.
on the day he was hurt, two nag
league scouts were on the ground
and began bidding against each
other before Taylor had been hit.
when the ball hit Taylor. these
scouts lost no time in calling OH
negotiations for his purchase.
Taylor was rushed to the hos.
pital where x-ray pictures showed
he ilad been injured seriously.
Physicians &c first held out ntsae
hone for his recovery, put ne
improved gradually, and after
inr in bed for more than week,
the physicians said ne na0
Fighting chance
Casey Stengel, colorful inajos
Ieag,,e nIayer who came into the
Easfern League from the Boston
Ia,aves TO manage the Worcester
cI,,h. had seen Taylor play with
Albany Stengel led Worcester N
the rarnc Taylor was injured.
And although Taylor lay in the
hospital with only fighting
chance for his life, Stengel wired
ire Boston club to buy him.
seTaylor is the best prospect N
me Eastern League, " were words
used BY Stengel In his telegram to
officials OF the Boston team. This
,ele9ram was sent when physicians
were sim working over Taylor, Sill
uncertain whether he would win his
greatest fight
And while Taylor was lying in the
hospital, weak and unable to see
friends. in q room OF q. hotel not
for from the hospital Arthur II.
Powell and Casey Stengel, repfe-
renting the Boston National League
club. and Michael J. Hawkins and
5ill AcCorry. president and mana
ger OF the Albany club, came to
terms whereby Taylor became q
inemker Of the Boston National
League club team. The exact terms
1T the sale never have been an
nonnced. but the understanding is
that Boston paid something like
s.. 900 down and agreed to turn
over 81 900 more If Taylor Is re-
tanned
Its . big gamble we are TAX
Ing" StengeL said, when the deal,
was completed, "but this boy de-
serves . chance I'm the big show
and the accident he suffered
eh0uld mot stand i'm his way"
Had Taylor escaped injury last
year. it is certainty he would have
been sold for a big sum to any one
OF half a dozen big league clubs,
because Eastern League critics
voted him the best shortstop in the
circuit. ranking him far above Leo
Durocher, the kid sfortstop the
Yankees bought from Hartford for
reported price Of S12,5
Maybe sentiment persuaded
Stengel to prevail upon the Boston
Braves to buy Taylor at a time ais
baseball career was much in doubt.
Stengel. friend OF the youngster in
baseball, marveled at Taylor's
ability at the short field. He was
impressed with his hitting, ne was
impressed with his throwing. and
he believes the Braves got a ball
player who is bound to become a
star in the major leagues, *. not in
1926, then in the next yard.
Taylor, an Eastern Lacquer for
three seasons, has had his ups and
downs in the little time he has
been in organized basketball. He
was taken South in the spring of
1922 by the Chicago White SOx.
and sent out to Albany on option
the same year Albany bought his
services in 1923 and sent him to
Pittsfieid. also in the Western
League, where he startled Eastern
League fans by a display Of field
ing and hitting rarely seen in the
minor ranks.
His work attracted the attention
Of big league teams, but in Au-
gust he suffered q broken right
leg sliding into second base and
al deals for his purchase were
called off.
Handicapped by this injury in
1921 he had q poor season, but in
1926 he came back and again was
rated the best shortstop in the
circuit.
But when 1t seemed certain he
would be sold he suffered a frac.
tured skull. and critics figured he
would losc all chance of advance.
met again.
Just when 1t seemed certain that
The unfortunate accident would de.
priye Taylor from going higher,
the Braves came along and nur.
chased his release.
So TAR as is known Taylor il the
first minor league player to be sold
To q big league club while he Law
in q hospital with physicians IN.
certain whether he would be able
to play again.
The fans in the Eastern League
will watch with interest his come.
back and his attempt to win big
league spurs.
6c0pyright 1895. by The christy
Walsh syndicate)