Talk:Hawk Taylor -- Still A Super Man/@comment-24.40.103.37-20140509053302

Hawk was a dear friend of mine during his tenure at Lambuth College. We spent many hours together, preparing the baseball field, playing racquetball, and just visiting. Interestingly, I knew his wife, Marie, before I knew Hawk. She was a piano teacher at Murray State and I the piano teacher at Lambuth. We exchanged recitals between the two schools before he came to Lambuth. Hawk was a great guy, personable and genuine. I remember him hitting against the Lambuth pitchers and hitting the ball so far over the outfield fence it was remarkable. Working with the catchers, he could throw to second base with an arm like a cannon, just two feet high and two feet on the first base side of second. Wow! We also visited together as family having our children play together, and having fun on the lake with his boat and he trying to teach me to water ski! We also fished together. That went better. After his death, I had his New York Mets autographed picture framed for my baseball gallery which includes an autographed picture of Sandy Koufax off which Hawk hit a homer. How about that! He also hit the first pinch-hit grand slam for the New York Mets and was a gifted athlete. His career was marred by being in the wrong place at the wrong time and subject to many injuries which disrupted his major league career. That he survived many years in the major leagues is testimony to his abilities and skills. Every one knew that. He simply was unfortunant in terms of an outstanding major league career. I really liked Hawk, his lovely and gifted wife, and his family. His name "Hawk" you gotta say, attracted many fans. I was one of them. And, in the all-time team of players with the nickname of of a creature (Goose Goslin, Moose Skowron, etc.) "Hawk" is the catcher! Don Huneycutt,  Professor Of Music Emiritus.