Sibling filmmakers Drew and Matthew Taylor's documentary short serves up a spirited portrait of a remarkable man: their father, Ron Taylor, a Canadian who spent 11 seasons as a Major League Baseball pitcher in the U.S. and then went on to become a physician. Now sporting white hair, the senior Taylor barely looks like the Gary Cooper-esque fellow who played for the Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, and the St. Louis Cardinals, where he was a crucial factor in the Cards' upset victory over the New York Yankees in the 1964 World Series. Oh, yeah: there was also the “Miracle Mets,” the once-luckless New York team whose Cinderella story ended with a 1969 World Series win. All told, Taylor did not allow a single hit in seven innings during his four World Series appearances as a relief pitcher. Combining interviews of Taylor and numerous players together with archival footage and stills, Dr. Baseball describes how Taylor, for a time, had an unusual deal with MLB teams—playing only during the summers so that he could pursue his education. The arrangement paid off: after going on a USO tour in Vietnam, Taylor decided to attend medical school at the age of 35. The straight-A student was easily accepted, and Taylor went on to become the team doctor for the Toronto Blue Jays (informally lending a hand on the field by pitching during batting practices). Extras include a filmmaker interview, and film festival Q&As. A delightful and inspiring look at an unusual sports figure, this is highly recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)
Ron Taylor: Dr. Baseball
(2015) 20 min. DVD: $12.95. First Run Features (avail. from most distributors). Volume 31, Issue 3
Ron Taylor: Dr. Baseball
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