Charles I. Taylor

(1875-1922) Section 53, Lot 555

Decorated with baseball bats and balls, his headstone describes him as a “Pioneer in Professional Baseball,” fitting for one of whom it was said, “He fought for baseball. He lived for baseball. He died for baseball.”

Taylor was best known as a manager, turning the Indianapolis ABCs into a championship team before helping start the Negro National League in 1920, serving as its vice president. As manager, Taylor tried to mentor his players as well as win ball games. Once, while particularly upset with a series of bad calls by one umpire, he walked out of the dugout and up to the umpire saying, “Sir, if I were a cursing man I would surely curse you now,” before walking back to the dugout.