Quote:
Originally Posted by infieldfly
Tough one...
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Yes I didn't think it would be straight forward and I was looking forward to the outcome which was not disappointing.
This is a 1924 image of catcher Zack Taylor with the Brooklyn Robins. He appeared in the Major Leagues for 16 consecutive seasons. This included MVP consideration in 1929.
Taylor's debut in 1920 was highly promising. In 13 at bats he posted a .385 batting average, slugged at .538 and recorded an OPS of .923. In 1921 he reached over 100 at bats but came nowhere near recording the same level of productivity. He appeared in just 7 games in 1922 before earning a starting role as catcher with the 1923 Dodgers as he set a career high in Runs Batted In with 46. This started a sequence of 7 straight years where he was his team's starting receiver. 4 different teams, as in addition to the Robins, it included the Braves, Giants and Cubs.
In 1925 he set his best average in a starting role batting .310 appearing in over 100 games for the first time. In 1926 on joining the Boston Braves he set a career high in games played with 125. After 30 appearances with the 1927 Braves he joined the New York Giants playing an additional 83 games. Back with the Braves in 1928 he matched his career high of games played. 1929 was also split between 2 teams joining the Cubs after starting with the Braves, his contribution deputising for Hartnett earning him MVP consideration. Hall of Famer Gabby Hartnett was reduced to just 25 games in 1929 but he was back to starting duties in 1930.
Taylor stayed in a back-up role with the Cubs through 1933. In 1934 he experienced a brief American League stint with the New York Yankees. with just 4 appearances. His final 1935 season he was back in Brooklyn making 26 appearance with half of them as a starter.