Taylor batted left-handed, threw right-handed, stood 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg).

Taylor signed with San Francisco in 1962 and played eight years in their farm system, winning the 1964 California League batting title with a .364 average.

Wrote Baseball Digest in its annual rookie scouting report: "Seldom swings at a bad pitch.

Struck out only 25 times in 438 at bats ... Spray hitter with little power but ready to step into a Major League uniform right now.

"[1] The report was prescient: Taylor stayed with the Giants all season, getting into 63 games, with an even 100 plate appearances and 84 official at bats.