Chuck Taylor: Early 1970's Mets Relief Pitcher (1972)

Charles Gilbert Taylor was born on April 18th, 1942 in Shelbyville, Tennessee. The six foot two right hander attended Middle Tennessee State University, getting signed by the St. Louis Cards in 1961. 

Trivia: The Mid Tenn. Blue Raiders locker room is named after him & he is a member of their Hall of Fame.

After three years in the St. Louis organization, he was traded along with (future Met) Jim Beauchamp, to the Houston Colt 45's for Carl Warwick.

The next year he was sent back to St. Louis along with Hal Woodehick, for pitcher Mike Cuellar & 1969 Mets ace reliever Ron Taylor. 

MLB Career: In 1969, Chuck Taylor began his career as a starter with the Cardinals going 7-5 with 2.56 ERA. In 1970 he made 57 appearances, still making seven starts. He was 6-7 with eight saves, posting a 3.11 ERA finishing off 22 games. Taylor would pitch with the Cardinals through the 1971 season, going 3-1 that year.

Mets Career: On October 18th, 1971, he was traded to the New York Mets along with Jim Beauchamp, Harry Parker & Chip Coulter in exchange for Art Shamsky, Jim Bibby, Rich Folkers & Charlie Hudson. 

In 1972 Taylor began the season in the Mets bullpen as a middle inning reliever. He debuted in the second game of the season pitching one inning against the World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates.

On April 25th in San Diego, Taylor pitched three innings of scoreless relief, helping Buzz Capra to a 2-1 win over the Padres while earning a save. 

On May 16th, he pitched 3.2 innings of relief at Sha Stadium helping Tom Seaver to a win over the Expos. It was his longest relief effort of the year.

On May 28th he surrendered five runs on ten hits in St. Louis then on June 4th gave up four more runs to the Braves as Darrell Evans hit a three run HR off him in a 9-3 Mets loss. Taylor's ERA went over six.

Chuck Taylor made twenty appearances for the '72 Mets earning two saves, posting a 5.52 ERA, striking out nine batters & walking nine in 31 innings pitched while finishing off eight games. 

He was placed on waivers in September & got picked up by the Milwaukee Brewers

Post Mets Career: In Milwaukee he pitched five games with a 1.54 ERA in 11.2 innings of work.

In 1973 he went to the Montreal Expos having success in the Expo bullpen over the next four seasons. In 1974 he had his best season, going 6-2 with 11 saves (5th most in the NL) posting a 2.17 ERA while making 61 appearances (9th in the NL) while finishing off 39 games. 

In 1975 he saved six games which still was enough to lead the Montreal staff, going 2-2 in 54 appearances. His last season in the majors was 1976 where he pitched in 31 games going 2-3 with no saves as more of a set up man.

Career Stats: In his eight-year career Taylor was 28-20 with 31 saves, posting a 3.07 ERA with 282 strike outs & 162 walks in 607 innings of work. He made 305 appearances, with 21 starts & 133 games finished.

Family: Chuck & his wife Joyce had one son Christopher.

Retirement: After baseball he & his wife ran an Auto parts store in Smyrna. Chuck suffered a heart attack in the early 1990's but was still active in mid Tennessee sports. A golf Tournament is also named after him. 

Passing: Chuck passed away in hospice care in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in June 2018 at the age of 76.