Doug Taitt
Encyclopedia
Douglas John Taitt [Poco] (August 3, 1902 - December 12, 1970) was a right fielder
in Major League Baseball
and a player/manager
in the Minor leagues
. Listed at 6' 0", 176 lb., Taitt batted left-handed
and threw right-handed.
A native of Bay City, Michigan
, Taitt spent 23 years in baseball (1925–1947), including four major league seasons between and . He entered the majors in 1928 with the Boston Red Sox
, playing for them through the 1929 midseason before joining the Chicago White Sox
(1919) and Philadelphia Phillies
(1931–1932). His most productive season came in his rookie
year for Boston, when he posted career-numbers in games (143), hits
(144), doubles
(28), triples
, stolen base
s (13) and on-base percentage (.350), while hitting a .299 average
with 51 runs
scored and 61 runs batted in, also career-highs. Inexplicably, he faded after that and was relegated to a backup role.
In a four-season career, Taitt was a .263 hitter (217-for-824) with three home run
s and 95 RBI in 258 games, including 81 runs, 43 doubles, 16 triples and 13 stolen bases. In 228 outfield appearances (58 at left field) he posted a collective .975 fielding percentage
(12 errors
in 479 chances).
Following his brief stint in major leagues Taitt resumed his career in the minors. In 1931 led the Southern Association in hits (194), home runs (17) and triples (19), and also led the league with a .355 average in 1935 and with 20 home runs and 132 RBI a year later, collecting 2,150 hits in his minor league career. He later managed from 1938 through 1947, leading the Monroe White Sox of the Cotton States League
to three division titles (1939–1941) and two league championships (1938, 1940).
Taitt died at the age of 68 in Portland, Oregon
.
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
and a player/manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in the Minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. Listed at 6' 0", 176 lb., Taitt batted left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
and threw right-handed.
A native of Bay City, Michigan
Bay City, Michigan
Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and is the principal city of the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North...
, Taitt spent 23 years in baseball (1925–1947), including four major league seasons between and . He entered the majors in 1928 with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, playing for them through the 1929 midseason before joining the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1919) and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1931–1932). His most productive season came in his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
year for Boston, when he posted career-numbers in games (143), hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(144), doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(28), triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s (13) and on-base percentage (.350), while hitting a .299 average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with 51 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
scored and 61 runs batted in, also career-highs. Inexplicably, he faded after that and was relegated to a backup role.
In a four-season career, Taitt was a .263 hitter (217-for-824) with three home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 95 RBI in 258 games, including 81 runs, 43 doubles, 16 triples and 13 stolen bases. In 228 outfield appearances (58 at left field) he posted a collective .975 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(12 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 479 chances).
Following his brief stint in major leagues Taitt resumed his career in the minors. In 1931 led the Southern Association in hits (194), home runs (17) and triples (19), and also led the league with a .355 average in 1935 and with 20 home runs and 132 RBI a year later, collecting 2,150 hits in his minor league career. He later managed from 1938 through 1947, leading the Monroe White Sox of the Cotton States League
Cotton States League
The Cotton States League name was used five different times in baseball history. The first Cotton States League ran from 1902 through 1908 as a class D league. After the league shut down, another Cotton States League was reformulated in 1910, with three of the six '08 members returning for the new...
to three division titles (1939–1941) and two league championships (1938, 1940).
Taitt died at the age of 68 in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.