Dr. Ron Wesley Taylor (1937–2025)
- Professional Athlete • Physician • Engineer
- Class of 1957
Dr. Ron Taylor was a truly unique individual whose life followed two extraordinary and distinct paths. While a student at NT, his prowess on the pitcher’s mound for the Leaside Baseball Association attracted the attention of the Cleveland Indians. He graduated in 1957 with a rare arrangement: he would play professional baseball in the summers while pursuing an Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Toronto in the off-seasons.
Despite graduating 5th in his engineering class in 1961 with 17 corporate job offers, Taylor followed his heart to the Major Leagues. His 11-season MLB career was highlighted by two World Series championships: first with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964, and later with the famous 1969 “Miracle Mets,” where he played a crucial role as a relief pitcher.
During a USO goodwill tour to Vietnam, Taylor was inspired to make a dramatic career pivot. At age 30, following his baseball retirement, he returned to U of T to tackle a grueling pre-med schedule. He graduated from medicine in 1977, the oldest student in his class. He eventually combined his two passions by serving as the Toronto Blue Jays team physician for 35 years. A member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, and the Order of Ontario, Ron is remembered as a quiet man with a dry wit and an awe-inspiring legacy of success.