Hawk Taylor
Catcher · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1957-1970)
Hawk Taylor was a catcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1957 to 1970 for 4 teams, including the Milwaukee Braves, a span of 14 seasons. In 394 career games, he hit .218 with 158 hits, 16 home runs, and 82 RBI.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Catcher
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'1" / 187 lb
- Died
- 6/9/2012 in Paducah, KY, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1957-06-09
- Last Game
- 1970-09-22
Full name: Robert Dale Taylor
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 394 | 724 | 56 | 158 | 25 | 0 | 16 | 82 | 0 | 36 | 146 | .218 | .258 | .319 | .578 | -1,022 |
Career AVG .218 vs. league average .251 across their career seasons — 13.1% below league average.
Career OBP .258 vs. league average .318 across their career seasons — 18.7% below league average.
Career SLG .319 vs. league average .380 across their career seasons — 16.0% below league average.
Career OPS .578 vs. league average .698 across their career seasons — 17.2% below league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | ML1 | NL | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1958 | ML1 | NL | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .125 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1961 | ML1 | NL | 20 | 26 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11 | .192 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1962 | ML1 | NL | 20 | 47 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | .255 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1963 | ML1 | NL | 16 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .069 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1964 | NYN | NL | 92 | 225 | 20 | 54 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 23 | 0 | 8 | 33 | .240 | .250 (-4%) | .312 (-13%) | .377 (-13%) | .690 (-13%) | -455.7 |
| 1965 | NYN | NL | 25 | 46 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 8 | .152 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1966 | NYN | NL | 53 | 109 | 5 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 19 | .174 | .248 (-30%) | .309 (-34%) | .376 (-27%) | .685 (-30%) | -510.0 |
| 1967 | NYN | NL | 13 | 37 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | .243 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1967 | CAL | AL | 23 | 52 | 5 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 8 | .308 | .242 (+27%) | .306 (+17%) | .357 (+18%) | .663 (+18%) | 0.0 |
| 1969 | KCA | AL | 64 | 89 | 7 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 18 | .270 | .248 (+9%) | .320 (-2%) | .369 (+16%) | .689 (+7%) | 79.1 |
| 1970 | KCA | AL | 57 | 55 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 16 | .164 | .253 (-36%) | .325 (-21%) | .385 (-43%) | .711 (-33%) | -277.3 |
| Career · 12 seasons | 394 | 724 | 56 | 158 | 25 | 0 | 16 | 82 | 0 | 36 | 146 | .218 | — | — | — | — | -1,164 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (394 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 187 | 375 | 30 | 74 | 10 | 41 | .197 |
| Away | 207 | 349 | 26 | 84 | 6 | 41 | .241 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970-09-22 | KCR | CHW | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1970-09-21 | KCR | CHW | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970-09-20 | KCR | MIL | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1970-09-18 | KCR | MIL | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970-09-13 | KCR | OAK | W | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970-09-11 | KCR | OAK | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1970-08-29 | KCR | TEX | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1970-08-25 | KCR | NYY | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970-08-24 | KCR | NYY | W | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970-08-22 | KCR | BOS | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 15 | 6 | 70 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
| C | 131 | 82 | 474 | 65 | 9 | 11 |
| OF | 62 | 46 | 97 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | ML1 | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | ML1 | OF | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | ML1 | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | ML1 | OF | 5 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | ML1 | OF | 11 | 11 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | ML1 | OF | 8 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | NYN | C | 45 | 34 | 182 | 28 | 4 | 5 |
| 1964 | NYN | OF | 16 | 15 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | NYN | 1B | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | NYN | C | 15 | 6 | 46 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 1966 | NYN | 1B | 13 | 4 | 60 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| 1966 | NYN | C | 29 | 16 | 80 | 13 | 0 | 3 |
| 1967 | NYN | C | 12 | 10 | 56 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| 1967 | CAL | C | 19 | 13 | 84 | 10 | 0 | 2 |
| 1969 | KCA | C | 6 | 2 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | KCA | OF | 18 | 7 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1970 | KCA | 1B | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1970 | KCA | C | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 131 |
| First Base | 15 |
| Left Field | 39 |
| Center Field | 3 |
| Right Field | 21 |
Hawk Taylor: the record in brief
According to the bio, Hawk Taylor debuted on June 9, 1957 and played a final game on September 22, 1970. The season rows list, in order, the Milwaukee Braves (1957 to 1963), the New York Mets (1964 through 1967), the California Angels (1967), and the Kansas City Royals (1969 to 1970). Taylor, born on April 3, 1939, in Metropolis, IL, USA, is listed as a catcher and threw and hit right-handed. Taylor's listed size is 6'1" and 187 pounds. Taylor died on June 9, 2012, in Paducah, KY, USA. The given name on file is Robert Dale Taylor.
In 394 games and 724 at bats, Taylor batted .218 with 158 hits, plus 16 home runs and 82 RBI. The on-base percentage is .258 and the slugging percentage .319, for an OPS of .578. Measured against the leagues Taylor played in, the .218 career average compares with a .251 league average over the same seasons, 13.1% below the league. 1964 produced Taylor's most hits, 54 of them for the New York Mets. Even the best average among the busiest seasons, .240 in 1964, did not top the league's .250.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hawk Taylor
- What years did Hawk Taylor play?
- Hawk Taylor played in Major League Baseball from 1957 to 1970.
- Was Hawk Taylor a pitcher?
- No. Hawk Taylor was a position player (Catcher).
- How many home runs did Hawk Taylor hit?
- Hawk Taylor hit 16 career home runs with 158 hits.
- What teams did Hawk Taylor play for?
- Hawk Taylor played for 4 teams: the Milwaukee Braves (1957–1958, 1961–1963), the New York Mets (1964–1967), the California Angels (1967), and the Kansas City Royals (1969–1970).
- What were Hawk Taylor's career stats?
- In 394 games, Hawk Taylor had 158 hits, 16 home runs, 82 RBI, and 56 runs, with a .218 batting average.
- What position did Hawk Taylor play?
- Hawk Taylor played primarily as a catcher, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Hawk Taylor and how much did he weigh?
- Hawk Taylor was listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 187 pounds.
- How many home runs did Hawk Taylor hit each season?
- Hawk Taylor's home runs by season: 0 in 1957, 0 in 1958, 1 in 1961, 0 in 1962, 0 in 1963, 4 in 1964, 4 in 1965, 3 in 1966, 1 in 1967, 3 in 1969, and 0 in 1970. His most in one season was 4, in 1964 and 1965.
- What was Hawk Taylor's career batting average?
- Hawk Taylor batted .218 over his career, with 158 hits in 724 at bats.
- How many RBI did Hawk Taylor have?
- Hawk Taylor drove in 82 runs in his career.
- Is Hawk Taylor in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Hawk Taylor has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.