John Boyce Taylor (August 12, 1879 – March 25, 1956) was the second-oldest of four baseball-playing brothers, the others being Charles, Benjamin, and James. Taylor was a pitcher and played in professional pre-league and Negro league baseball from 1903 to 1925.
Taylor was given his baseball nickname, "Steel-Arm Johnnie," by a white sportswriter for the Charlotte Observer (a predominantly white paper during the time) wrote about Taylor's great speed, when he pitched for Biddle University in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1898. In the summer of 1898, he played two months for the Greenwood, South Carolina Red Stockings, and finished the season with the Greenville, South Carolina team.[6]
In 1899 and 1900, Taylor pitched for his home club in Anderson, South Carolina where he reportedly won 90 percent of his games.
During the spring months of 1899 and later in 1905, he coached the Biddle University team.
He pitched the 1903 season for the Birmingham Giants where he pitched from thirty to forty games per season. He also reportedly never lost over seven games per season while at Birmingham. All four brothers were on that team by 1908, and he beat Hall of Famer Joe Williams 1–0 in San Antonio, striking out the side with the bases loaded in the ninth inning.
In the Spring of 1908, Taylor coached the M. and I College team of Holly Springs, Mississippi, developing players like Cobb and Pinson, who both went on to become the battery for the Birmingham Giants.
When the Negro Leagues started in 1920, Taylor managed the Peoria, Illinois Black Devils[3] for half a season, joining the Indianapolis ABCs again on June 21, 1920.[4] Then 40-year-old Taylor pitched at least 3 known games that year.
Taylor pitched professionally until 1925.
During his years of coaching college baseball, it was said he reportedly never used tobacco, and did not drink alcohol and often emphasized to his players the virtues of clean living and hard work.
The Indianapolis ABCs: History of a Premier Team in the Negro Leagues, by Paul Debono
The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues, by Jim Riley
Ashwill, Gary (2012-02-18). "John Boyce Taylor". Retrieved 2012-02-18.
Ashwill, Gary (2012-02-13). "Which Taylor Brother Is It?". Retrieved 2012-02-18.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference and Baseball-Reference Black Baseball stats and Seamheads
December 18, 2023
steel, johnny, taylor, john, boyce, taylor, august, 1879, march, 1956, second, oldest, four, baseball, playing, brothers, others, being, charles, benjamin, james, taylor, pitcher, played, professional, league, negro, league, baseball, from, 1903, 1925, pitcher. John Boyce Taylor August 12 1879 March 25 1956 was the second oldest of four baseball playing brothers the others being Charles Benjamin and James Taylor was a pitcher and played in professional pre league and Negro league baseball from 1903 to 1925 Steel Arm Johnny TaylorPitcher ManagerBorn 1879 08 12 August 12 1879Anderson South CarolinaDied March 25 1956 1956 03 25 aged 76 Peoria IllinoisBatted RightThrew RightTeamsGreenwood South Carolina Red Stockings 1898 Greenville South Carolina 1898 Anderson South Carolina 1899 1900 Birmingham Giants 1903 1909 St Paul Colored Gophers 1909 Chicago Giants 1910 1 West Baden Sprudels 1910 St Louis Giants 1911 2 West Baden Sprudels 1912 1913 St Louis Giants 1913 Chicago American Giants 1913 Indianapolis ABCs 1914 Louisville White Sox 1915 Indianapolis ABCs 1916 Bowser s ABCs 1916 Hilldale Daisies 1917 Bacharach Giants 1919 Peoria IL Black Devils 1920 3 Indianapolis ABCs 1920 4 Washington Potomacs 1924 Career highlights and awardsPitched a no hitter June 5 1910 in Chicago 5 Taylor was given his baseball nickname Steel Arm Johnnie by a white sportswriter for the Charlotte Observer a predominantly white paper during the time wrote about Taylor s great speed when he pitched for Biddle University in Charlotte North Carolina in 1898 In the summer of 1898 he played two months for the Greenwood South Carolina Red Stockings and finished the season with the Greenville South Carolina team 6 In 1899 and 1900 Taylor pitched for his home club in Anderson South Carolina where he reportedly won 90 percent of his games During the spring months of 1899 and later in 1905 he coached the Biddle University team He pitched the 1903 season for the Birmingham Giants where he pitched from thirty to forty games per season He also reportedly never lost over seven games per season while at Birmingham All four brothers were on that team by 1908 and he beat Hall of Famer Joe Williams 1 0 in San Antonio striking out the side with the bases loaded in the ninth inning In the Spring of 1908 Taylor coached the M and I College team of Holly Springs Mississippi developing players like Cobb and Pinson who both went on to become the battery for the Birmingham Giants 1910 St Paul GophersTaylor pitched for the St Paul Colored Gophers in 1909 helping them claim a share of the western championship that year posting a combined record of 37 6 between Birmingham and St Paul He pitched for the Chicago Giants in 1910 1 the St Louis Giants in 1911 2 the West Baden Sprudels in 1912 and the Chicago American Giants in 1913 before reuniting with his brothers in 1914 on the Indianapolis ABCs When the Negro Leagues started in 1920 Taylor managed the Peoria Illinois Black Devils 3 for half a season joining the Indianapolis ABCs again on June 21 1920 4 Then 40 year old Taylor pitched at least 3 known games that year Taylor pitched professionally until 1925 During his years of coaching college baseball it was said he reportedly never used tobacco and did not drink alcohol and often emphasized to his players the virtues of clean living and hard work Taylor laid in an unmarked grave for 51 years until researchers with the Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project put a proper gravestone on his grave in 2007 7 References edit a b Chicago Giants Will Raise Flag Sunday Chicago Broad Ax Chicago IL Page 2 Columns 4 and 5 a b Colored Team in New York Syracuse Herald Syracuse NY August 3 1911 Page 13 Column 4 a b Negro Giants Beat Black Devils St Louis Globe Democrat St Louis Missouri May 19 1920 Page 8 a b Stars Resume Play Tuesday Detroit Free Press Detroit Michigan Tuesday June 22 1920 Page 14 Column 4 News of the Sporting World PDF The Freeman Indianapolis Indiana June 11 1910 Page 4 Column 4 Frank Lelands Chicago Giants Base Ball Club Fraternal Printing Company 1910 Larry Lester s Krock Watch Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project 2010 Newsletter The Indianapolis ABCs History of a Premier Team in the Negro Leagues by Paul Debono The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by Jim Riley Ashwill Gary 2012 02 18 John Boyce Taylor Retrieved 2012 02 18 Ashwill Gary 2012 02 13 Which Taylor Brother Is It Retrieved 2012 02 18 External links editCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference and Baseball Reference Black Baseball stats and Seamheads Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Steel Arm Johnny Taylor amp oldid 1149652669, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
