Baseball to Retire No. 27 Jersey of Fred Taylor Saturday – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 1, 2003
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The first Ohio State baseball jersey will be retired prior to the doubleheader against Michigan Saturday. The school will honor former Buckeye Fred Taylor, who played baseball for Ohio State from 1947-50 and was the program’s first All-American on the baseball field.
Taylor, who wore No. 27 and played first base, is best remembered as the head coach of Ohio State’s golden era of basketball after his teams made four Final Four appearances and won the 1960 NCAA Championship. However, while a student at Ohio State, Taylor played both basketball and baseball. On the diamond, he became the school’s first baseball All-American in 1950. After his junior year, the Pittsburgh Pirates offered him a contract, but he turned it down. After graduation in 1950, Taylor played baseball in the Washington Senators’ farm system for three years.
Director of Athletics Andy Geiger will present the Taylor Family with a framed Taylor jersey in a pre-game ceremony that is scheduled to begin at 3:58 p.m. before team introductions and the National Anthem. Representing the Taylor Family on the field will be Fred Taylor’s wife, Eileen, and three of his four daughters: Janna Roewer, Krista Zimmerman and Nikki Kelley. Taylor’s name will be displayed permanently at Bill Davis Stadium beginning in the 2004 season.
Taylor’s jersey is the first of three that is scheduled to be retired. Pitching great Steve Arlin, who played at Ohio State in 1965 and 1966 will have his jersey retired Saturday, May 10 against Michigan State, while former player and coach Marty Karow (player 1925-27 and coach 1951-75) will have his jersey retired in the 2004 season.
