The 1884 Maroons: Taylor Jumps The Club (Again)

Handsome Henry Boyle

"Billee" Taylor has finally jumped the St. Louis Unions.  On his first jump he received $300 from Lew Simmons, of the Athletics, but, instead of joining the latter organization, spent the money and went back to the Unions.  He then asked Mr. Lucas to send Simmons $500, which he claimed to have received.  His request was not complied with, Mr. Lucas having satisfied himself that Taylor received but $300 and was trying to work him out of $200, declined to send a cent to Simmons.  Taylor urged that the $500 be remitted until he found that the scheme would not succeed, and then went to Simmons and squared matters by signing with the Athletics.  His place on the nine has been filled by the engagement of "Pudge" Boyle, formerly of the Actives, of Reading, Pa., who is reported to be a fine pitcher and strong batsman.  In yesterday's game at Baltimore he held the Baltimore Unions down to four hits.

-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 10, 1884


Check back tomorrow for the box score and game account of Handsome Henry's first game with the Maroons.

As to Bollicky Bill Taylor, the guy certainly had some nerve.  I'm not sure what to make of him as a player.  I can't decide if he was undervalued and underused most of his career (with his "personality" contributing to  that) or if his career numbers are inflated because of his 1884 season.  The guy looks like a homeless man's version of Bob Caruthers but eighty percent of his career value comes from 1884, when he went 43-16 and had 2.4 oWAR.  His age 27-29 seasons are interesting enough to wonder what his career could have looked like had he gotten more playing time but, after 1884, the guy only got into 17 more major league games.  And I think the Globe did a fair job of explaining why Taylor didn't get too many more chances in the majors.