Two Negro League Stars and Baseball Hall-of-Famers with Baltimore Roots -- Leon Day and Ben Taylor -- Are Buried in Arbutus Memorial Park - Entrepreneur Generations

I turned 39 years old today, and spent much of it doing what I love: a little adventure and a short road trip, a listen to an audiobook, and a cemetery walk. The drive -- 40 minutes down I-95 to a stretch massage session to deal with my aching back and hips -- proved fruitful, as my legs feel more limber than they have in years this afternoon. The audiobook -- Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad -- is turning out to be just as good as I'd heard it was. And the cemetery visit, to Arbutus Memorial Park, gave me a chance to learn something about two former Negro League baseball players with Baltimore connections who are buried there.

Arbutus Memorial Park is a medium-sized cemetery with winding hills and a well-manicured landscape. Despite not having too many trees overall, the landscape is dominated by a huge and beautiful weeping willow, which a couple dozen Canadian geese were using for refuge from the mid-90s heat this afternoon.

I visited the cemetery primarily because I wanted to see Leon Day's grave. I've long admired the stories I've heard about him -- his prowess on the mound, his quiet demeanor -- and think it's awesome how Baltimore has honored him with naming foundations, streets, and parks after him. While at the cemetery, I learned of another National Baseball Hall of Famer buried at the cemetery as well.

Memorial for Leon Day and his wife, Geraldine Day.

Leon Day was born on Oct. 30, 1916 (note: getting close to his 100th birthday!), in Virginia but his family moved to Baltimore when he was 6 months old. He grew up on Pierpont Street in southwest Baltimore in the Mount Winans neighborhood, and attended Frederick Douglass high school until the 10th grade, when he dropped out to start playing semi-pro baseball. He went on to star in the Negro Leagues from 1934-1950; he was one of the best right-handed pitchers of his era, right up there with Satchel Paige, and also was a good hitter and versatile fielder, playing every position except catcher.

Different angle of Leon Day memorial.

Leon Day was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995, but, sadly, died 6 days after his election, and before his induction. His widow, Geraldine Day, gave the speech that day, and continues to carry on his legacy, which includes a Leon Day Park in Baltimore and a Leon Day Foundation. Ms. Day, who was twenty-three years younger than her husband, is an avid baseball fan, and sometimes comes to the cemetery and sits near her husband's grave and listens to Orioles games; in May 2016, she threw out the first pitch at Camden Yards, in the annual game they play honoring the Negro Leagues.

Leon Day during his playing days.

Leon Day's memorial reads: "Leon Day, Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Inducted 1995. Member of the Puerto Rican Baseball Hall of Fame, Inducted 1993. An Exceptional Man and a Great Athlete, He was the gentleman of the mound, who graced the baseball field for 22 years. Gracious, humble, and kind, he was a fall of famed in every sense of the word."

Leon Day's Hall of Fame Plaque.

If you want to visit Leon Day's memorial, he's buried in the "U", or "Unity," section of the cemetery.

Leon Day Park in West Baltimore

Buried about 50 yards from Leon Day is Benjamin Harrison Taylor, another Negro League Baseball Star and Hall of Famer. Born on July 1, 1888, Mr. Harrison was the youngest of four Taylor brothers, all of whom played baseball. He was considered to be the best first baseman of his era, and transitioned into being a manager-owner of teams, as well; he founded the Washington Potomocs, a Negro Leagues team that played in Washington DC. Mr. Taylor was player-coach for the Baltimore Black Sox from 1926-1928, and coached the Baltimore Stars in 1933; during that year, he was credited with teaching Buck Leonard how to play first base.

Ben Taylor's headstone, which was erected in 1992 by baseball historian Todd Bolton.

Taylor spent his last years in Baltimore, selling programs at Bugle Field in Baltimore for the Baltimore Elite Giants. He died in 1953 of pneumonia, and was buried in an unmarked grave until 1992, when baseball researcher Todd Bolton led a committee that placed a memorial on his final resting spot. His memorial reads, "A legendary first baseman of Negro League baseball, played & managed over 30 years, a Lifetime .334 batting average. A graceful player, a superb teacher, & a true Gentleman." He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. (Source for much of this information: The Indianapolis ABCs: History of a Premier Team in the Negro Leagues by Paul Debono)

Orientation of Ben Taylor Headstone.

Mr. Taylor's grave was harder to find than Leon Day's, and a nice worker at the cemetery wasn't sure, either. I eventually found it by chance. He is in the "Kenora" section, or Section K, and one of the photographs below should orient you with the weeping willow; the headstone is only around 6 feet from the driveway, so once you know the area, it should be easy to find. 

Ben Taylor during his playing days.

Ben Taylor's Hall of Fame Plaque.

Geese disturbed from their lounging in the shade under the willow tree.

Entrance Gate to Arbutus Memorial Garden

from Epiphany in Baltimore http://ift.tt/2bde5o6 Two Negro League Stars and Baseball Hall-of-Famers with Baltimore Roots -- Leon Day and Ben Taylor -- Are Buried in Arbutus Memorial Park - Entrepreneur Generations

Posted by Entrepreneur Generations

Tweet