Evening star., 1952-12-11
Bones Taylor Talks of Quitting,
But Redskins Refuse to Listen
By Lewis F. Atchison

When it was announced that
Sammy Baugh definitely had de-
Icided to call it a day. Hugh Tay-
lor. the Redskins lanky, pass
Catching end. said he thought he
might retire. too. Like Sam, Bones
has threatened to do it for sew
eral years, but he can't get any,
body to listen.
Bones will be back" says
Coach Curly Lambeau, who Is
screening the 1852 squad and
signing the men he wants and
who want to stay. Hell be back, p"
Lambeau adds confidently. land
we can use him. Bones will be
better than ever next year."
Taylor is the only "mail-order"
end in the National Football
League. Turk Edwards, then an
assistant on the Redskins staff,
came across his name one day
while browsing through a foot
ball magazine. The item recount
ed how Bones had snagged nine
touchdown passes in Al minutes
playing time for Oklahoma City
University. That was during the
winter of 1947 when pro talent
wasn't too plentiful. and Edwards
decided a three-cent stamp wasn't
too much to spend on an investi-
cation.
Wanted to Play Baseball.
Taylor signed, but he really
wasn't a football player at heart.
He knew about Baugh, however,
and the chance to play with the
great passer overcame his mis-
givings about pro football. Bones
really wanted to play big league
baseball and with Brooklyn at
that. He knew all about the
colorful Dodgers and their ups
and downs and suffered and re-
joiced with them. The Dodgers
liked Taylor's outfielding, but
weren't sure of his ability to hit
big league pitching. Bones says
they offered him contract. but
wanted to send him to the minors
for experience and polish. Bones
couldn't see knocking around the
minors, even for a season.
Bones developed into a problem
child with the Redskins. His
6-foot-4 frame was too lean for
the rugged blocking chores that
sometimes fall to an end, but the
Redskins couldn't put any beef
on his wiry frame. literally speak
ing. Bones worked in slaughter
house one summer and the sight
of meat brought back unpleasant
memories. Food of any type had
little appeal for him.
Back in Washington, his wife
did her culinary best to coax Tay-
lor into eating, but it was futile.
He only brought home ravenous,
bachelor teammates, who agreed
that Mrs. Taylor's cooking was
tops and that Bones was a great
host. Bones says some virtually
ate themselves out of condition,
while he continued to be lean and
lackadaisical.
Moody About Football.
Although a natural comic, Bones
sometimes was moody and dis
couraged about football. He didn't
shake off the attitude even after
catching three touchdown passes
against the Eagles in his pro FOOT
ball debut in 1947 at Philadelphia.
He talked of calling it day and
going home. But Bones is COM
petitor at heart and football was
sort of a challenge. Even now,
though, you can't fool him about
the kind of day he has on the field.
Good day?" he'll say. shaking
his head. Thanks, but I was
awful and know it,"
Bones could be the life of the
party in training camp. His bur-
lesque of Sammy Baugh throwing
pass would make teammates
roll on the ground and clutch
their stomachs. Sam, himself,
would chuckle as Bones cranked
up and made the imaginary throw.
Taylor also panicked 'em with his
baseball pantomines.
A camera portrait of Bones an
tics in the dining car or playing