Charley Taylor

From BR Bullpen

Charles L. Taylor

Bats Right, Throws Right

School Eastern Kentucky University

Born December 22, 1947

Charley Taylor has been a long-time minor league pitching coach. A pitcher before he became a coach, he was picked by the Houston Astros in the 24th round of the 1969 amateur draft.

He spent his first professional season with the Williamsport Astros (7-2, 2.64). He was two innings shy of qualifying for the leader board in ERA in the New York-Penn League; he would have ranked sixth. In 1970, Charley wa 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA for the Cocoa Astros, pitching shutouts in two of his five starts. He struck out 44 in 43 innings but allowed 45 hits.

Returning to Cocoa in 1971, Taylor went 4-1 with a 1.18 ERA, 5 walks and 36 K in 38 innings. He completed five of six starts, including two shutouts. He presumably was injured because he did not pitch any more that season, nor in 1972. In 1973, he pitched 33 games for the Columbus Astros, saving 13 and going 4-1 with a 2.21 ERA, not showing much rust. Making it to AAA with the 1974 Denver Bears, he was 6-6 with four saves and a 4.40 ERA in 43 games, including two starts. He gave up 106 hits in 92 innings in the thin air and only struck out 37 but walked only 25, showing fine control. Denver's team ERA was 4.78. Dropped back down to Columbus in 1975, he was 3-1 with one save and a 3.75 ERA before retiring as a player.

Taylor worked in the Cincinnati Reds front office from 1977 to 1981, and he has been a pitching coach in the Astros chain since then.