Dr. Ron Taylor, a two-time World Series champion pitcher who later became the Toronto Blue Jays team physician for three decades, died Monday, June 16 in Toronto after a lengthy illness. He was 87.
The New York Mets announced Taylor’s death, describing him as one of the unsung heroes of their 1969 World Series championship team. Taylor was born in Toronto on December 13, 1937, and became a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
Taylor’s major league career spanned 11 seasons from 1962 to 1972, beginning with the Cleveland Indians and concluding with the San Diego Padres. The right-handed pitcher made his big league debut on April 11, 1962, at Fenway Park, throwing 11 scoreless innings before surrendering a 12th-inning grand slam in a 4-0 defeat.
His first World Series championship came with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964. Taylor joined the Cardinals in 1963 after his stint with Cleveland and helped them capture the title the following year.
Taylor pitched for the Houston Astros from 1965 to 1966 before joining the Mets in 1967, where he remained through 1971. His most memorable season came in 1969 when he led the Miracle Mets with 59 appearances and 13 saves, compiling a 9-4 record with a 2.72 earned run average.
During the 1969 postseason, Taylor proved instrumental in the Mets’ championship run. In the National League Championship Series against Atlanta, he earned a save in Game 1 and a win in Game 2. Against the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series, Taylor pitched 2⅓ scoreless innings across two appearances, recording a save in Game 2 when he retired Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson with two runners on base in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Former teammate Art Shamsky emphasized Taylor’s importance to the team, stating that Taylor “was the only guy on our staff with postseason experience.” Shamsky noted that Taylor had won a championship with the Cardinals in 1964 and brought a winning mentality to the Mets, adding that they would not have won the title without Taylor.
Taylor concluded his playing career in 1972 with the Padres after the Mets sold his contract to the Montreal Expos, who did not use him in any games. His career statistics included a 45-43 record with a 3.93 earned run average, 464 strikeouts, and 74 saves across 491 games, including 17 starts.
Near the end of his playing career, Taylor’s interest in medicine was sparked during a USO tour to Vietnam, where he met and befriended doctors. This experience led him to pursue a medical degree at the University of Toronto after retiring from baseball in 1972. He completed his medical studies in 1977.
In 1979, Taylor joined the Blue Jays as team physician, earning the nickname “Dr. Baseball” during his tenure. He served in this role for more than 30 years until his retirement in 2014. During his time with Toronto’s medical staff, the Blue Jays won World Series championships in 1992 and 1993, giving Taylor four total World Series rings.
The Blue Jays released a statement confirming Taylor’s death, acknowledging his impact on the game, community, and organization. The team noted that the Toronto native won four World Series championships during his career, including two with the Blue Jays in the 1990s.
Taylor received numerous honors throughout his post-playing career. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985 and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. The Ontario Sports Hall of Fame welcomed him in 2010. Lieutenant Governor James Bartleman appointed Taylor to the Order of Ontario in 2005.
Taylor returned to Mets games on multiple occasions over the past 16 years for ceremonies honoring the 1969 World Series-winning team. In a 2009 interview, Taylor reflected on his diverse career path, indicating that he felt very fortunate because every career he had pursued, from engineering to major league baseball to medicine, he had loved what he was doing.
With the Mets, Taylor accumulated 50 saves from 1967 to 1971, a total that still ranks 14th in franchise history. His 269 regular-season appearances for New York resulted in a 3.04 earned run average and a 1.144 WHIP.
