Taylor was born in 1888 in Wamego, Kansas.
Taylor began playing professional baseball for the Ellsworth team in the Central Kansas League. He advanced to the Austin Senators of the Texas League in 1911, appearing in 37 games and compiling a 22-14 record with 311 innings pitched. He helped lead Austin to the 1911 Texas League pennant. The Houston Post picked him for its All-Texas team and noted: "Taylor of Austin is credited by the league batsmen as being the best of them all with the actual possession of the stuff on the ball. He was seldom bumped hard and was almost always a remarkably effective pitcher. Taylor has a varied assortment of curves and excellent control."
After an impressive season in Austin, Taylor was purchased by the Detroit Tigers. He made his major league debut on September 6, 1911. He appeared in three games for Detroit, two as a starter, and compiled a 0-2 record with a 3.79 ERA in 19 innings pitched.

Return to Wiley Taylor Autograph Profile