RIP Hawk Taylor

[Cowtipper]

Catcher Hawk Taylor played for the Mets from 1964 to 1967, hitting .213 with 11 home runs for those lowly squads. He died on June 9. Here is his well-detailed obituary:

MURRAY - Taylor, Robert "Hawk," 73, died June 9, 2012. J.H. Churchill Funeral Home

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/louisville/obituary.aspx?n=Robert-Taylor&pid=157993957

Though Jesse Gonder was their primary catcher in 1964, he played significantly nevertheless, earning 225 at-bats and hitting four home runs with 23 RBI. His only other 100 at-bat season with the team was 1966.

[Joe Rigatoni]

Catcher Hawk Taylor played for the Mets from 1964 to 1967, hitting .213 with 11 home runs for those lowly squads. He died on June 9. Here is his well-detailed obituary:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/louisville/obituary.aspx?n=Robert-Taylor&pid=157993957

Though Jesse Gonder was their primary catcher in 1964, he played significantly nevertheless, earning 225 at-bats and hitting four home runs with 23 RBI. His only other 100 at-bat season with the team was 1966.

That's really sad to hear that.A couple of years ago a friend of mine booked him for a small autograph signing and he was
really great to talk to.I and another friend of mine who coincidentally is also named Joe was in the car with him when we
took him from the hotel to the autograph signing.Coincidentally,Tom Seaver among others were doing a big autograph
signing at a different hotel nearby.My friend Joe said to Hawk Taylor "Do you wanna say hello to Tom Seaver?" Hawk said
"Sure I would." They haven't seen each other since 1967.So we took Hawk over to see Seaver and Hawk and Seaver really
appreciated the fact that they got to see each other again after all these years.Joe Morgan was sitting at a table next to
Seaver and he said "Hawk Taylor,How are you doing?" so Hawk and Joe Morgan got to see each other after all these years
and they both appreciated that.Once again,it is really sad to hear this news.

[VIBaseball]

His 1964 baseball card sticks in my memory. A number of the Topps cards that year looked like they were paintings of the players rather than photos. I wonder what it was about the printing and/or the finish. Taylor also had a big grin with these perfect white choppers.