baseballhall.org
Ben Taylor was considered, along with Buck Leonard and Jud Wilson, one of the three best black first basemen. He came from a family with a great Negro Leagues history – his brother Charles was the manager of the Indianapolis ABCs; his brother “Candy Jim” was a great third baseman; his brother “Steel Arm” Johnny was a star pitcher. But Ben is considered to be the best of all of them.
“The South Carolina-born lefty was a standout hitter who, while not known for his power, could drive the ball to all fields and occasionally stretch a single into extra bases.”
Jack Morelli, Heroes of the Negro Leagues
Ben’s career as a player and manager spanned from 1910-1940. Among the teams he played for include the Chicago American Giants, Indianapolis ABCs, Hillsdale Daisies, Baltimore Black Sox, and New York Cubans. He also was an umpire in the East-West League (1932) and Negro National League (1934). He actually began his career as a pitcher before transitioning to third base. His career batting average was .334.
Ben Taylor was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame posthumously in 2006.