Former member of 1969 New York Mets passes away at 87

Ron Taylor, former relief pitcher, 1969 Miracle Met, and longtime physician, passed away Monday after a lengthy illness.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio presents Ron Taylor of the 1969 Mets championship team with a key to the city as part of the Mets' 1969 50th Anniversary Celebration before the start of a game against the Braves at Citi Field on Saturday, June 29, 2019. Mets 1969 50th Anniversary Ceremony | Michael Karas/NorthJersey.com

Dr. Ron Taylor, a relief pitcher who helped the New York Mets win the 1969 World Series, died Monday at age 87 following a lengthy illness.

The right-hander wore five uniforms throughout his career, also winning a championship as a member of the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals. Taylor spent five of his 11 seasons in Queens, where he posted a 3.04 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 50 saves over 269 appearances from 1967 to 1971.

We are saddened to learn of the passing of 1969 World Series Champion Ron Taylor.https://t.co/PCgcENtLls

— New York Mets (@Mets) June 16, 2025

During the 1969 regular season, Taylor pitched to a 2.72 ERA and led New York with 59 appearances and 13 saves. He recorded a save in Game 2 of the World Series, retiring Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson with two runners on to preserve a 2-1 victory. The “Miracle Mets” went on to win the next three games to pull off the upset against the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles.

“Ron was the only guy on our staff with postseason experience,” teammate Art Shamsky recalled in a statement released by the Mets. “He had won a championship with the Cardinals in 1964 and brought a winning mentality. We don’t win the title without Ron Taylor.”

Former Met Ron Taylor has passed away at age 87.

Taylor posted a 3.04 ERA over five seasons and 269 games with the Mets.

He pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the 1969 postseason and earned the save in the first World Series victory in franchise history against the Orioles. pic.twitter.com/K06Aah7c6t

— This Day in Mets History (@NYMhistory) June 16, 2025

After his playing days ended, Taylor returned home and enrolled in medical school at the University of Toronto. He received his degree in 1977 and, two years later, returned to baseball as the team physician for the Toronto Blue Jays—a role he served in for over three decades.

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In 1985, Taylor was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. He was part of two additional World Series championships after that, helping the Blue Jays go back-to-back in 1992 and 1993.