In 1991, there was no prospect with more potential than Brien Taylor, who was drafted #1 overall by the New York Yankees. While being “advised” by Scott Boras, Taylor was signed for $1.55 million dollars. With that money, he bought himself a new Ford Mustang and a house. Today, almost twenty years later, Brien still drives that car and lives in that house (link).
On one fateful night Brien made the mistake of getting involved in a fight which left him with a torn labrum. Taylor’s once dominant fastball that topped off at 98 MPH would never be the same and he spent the next few years in the Yankees organization until finally being released in 1998. He attempted a comeback with the Cleveland Indians in 2000 but never made it past Single-A.
Brien is only the second #1 draft pick that didn’t make the Majors.
All I have to say is wow. I did’nt know he had fallen that hard. It’s a shame.
Great post … you inspired me to post my own reminiscence of Brien Taylor.
I remember being in 8th grade reading and re-reading my Baseball Americas in ’92 when he got drafted.
Truly a sad story.
Ain’t karma a bitch sometimes?
Brien and I are both from Eastern NC.
I never saw him play, but heard about his amazing arm and took pride in him pulled for him to make it.
I knew he came from very humble beginnings and hoped he would be able to make a better life for himself and his family.
Then I hurt about the fight at the flea market.
Dude, it’s cool to keep it real, but #1 draft picks don’t hang arouned flea markets looking for fights.
I too was from eastern NC, living in a military base growing up. After hearing about Brien Taylor, I was obsessed with collecting his cards when they first came out since he was from the same state as me, plus he was a Yankee
I spent many years after 1992 searching for the Topps Gold Autograph of his and was lucky to have a few sent my way at no charge from old BMB members. They aren’t worth much, but it’s a collection of mine that brings a smile to my face because that was my first attempt at a player collector, even if it was a bust.
As for the fight, I believe it was at a bar defending his brother.
His 1992 Topps card was the card to get back then. My understanding was that Topps had an exclusive contract with him so I’m surprised to see that Upper Deck card you showed. There are a lot of high drafted guys who never make it for one reason or another. I’m sorry to hear it was injury, and even worse, non-baseball injury that laid Brien low.
Topps made a set with a auto of him in it.
“Brien is only the second #1 draft pick that didn’t make the Majors.”
I swear, you come up with some of the most interesting stats and facts sometimes.
Who was the other #1 DP that didn’t make it? I can’t find it anywhere for some reason…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Chilcott
Injuries killed his career, too.
Well, I am from Beaufort, NC, and saw Brien and his mom on the Sixty Minutes special after he had received the signing bonus. I had collected all of his cards, and met him one Christmas in Beaufort, NC to have him autograph all of his cards and a baseball for me. I really thought he was going to make it big. I became known in my county for looking for the Brien Taylor cards at every card collecting show and store in the MD/DC/VA area. Craziness!
How crazy I was just talking to my fiance about a Brien Taylor gold card I got back then that was so cool we tore threw many of packs but I had one well I don’t feel as bad now that it got thrown out along with my harmen killebrew and roger clemons rookie cards not about the money that definitly sucks for him at least he still has the house and car