Ben Taylor
| Birthdate | 7/1/1888 |
| Death Date | 1/24/1953 |
| Debut Year | 1908 |
| Year of Induction | 2006 |
| Teams | Negro Leagues |
| Position | First Base |
Soft-spoken Ben Taylor began his career as a successful pitcher before becoming a slick-fielding, power-hitting first baseman in the Negro Leagues.
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Ben Taylor and three of his brothers played in the Negro Leagues
Ben Taylor and three of his brothers played in the Negro Leagues
Ben Taylor broke into professional baseball in 1908 playing in the Pre-Negro League era for more than a decade. When the league was formed in 1920, Taylor became a hot commodity, eventually signing with the Indianapolis ABC’s. He continued playing in the league until 1941.
Taylor is part of a legendary and influential Negro League family. His brothers C.I., Steel Arm John, and Candy Jim played in the league.
Ben developed a reputation as a line-drive hitter with a high average and was outstanding in the field at first base. According to Baseball Reference, Taylor finished his career with a .337 average, .398 on-base percentage, and a 133 OPS+.
Taylor died more than five decades before his 2006 induction into the baseball Hall of Fame.
Taylor was part of the Hall's largest induction class in 2006
Taylor was part of the Hall's largest induction class in 2006
Ben Taylor died in 1953 in Baltimore at the age of 64. According to the Hall of Fame’s website the Chicago Defender newspaper said of Taylor upon his passing, “Ben was recognized as one of the great first baseman in Negro baseball. His name is bracketed with that of other top first sackers of that period. He was an excellent fielder and a cracking good hitter from the left side.”
In 2005, the Hall of Fame put together a special screening committee to find people associated with the Negro Leagues who were most deserving of induction.
An original list of 94 nominees was cut to 29 candidates who appeared on the final ballot. Seventeen of the 29 received the Hall call including Taylor.
The cover of the 2006 Hall of Fame yearbook shows those 17 and former closer Bruce Sutter who was also inducted.
