Bobby Taylor (Canadian football)

For other people named Robert Taylor, see Robert Taylor (disambiguation).
Bobby Taylor
Born:(1939-03-05)March 5, 1939
Barrow-in-Furness, England
Died:August 20, 2023(2023-08-20) (aged 84)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)WR
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career history
As player
1961–1965Calgary Stampeders
1966–1970Toronto Argonauts
1971Hamilton Tiger-Cats
1971–1973Edmonton Eskimos
1974Toronto Argonauts
CFL East All-Star1969

Robert Taylor (March 5, 1939 – August 20, 2023) was a Canadian Football League receiver who played for the Calgary Stampeders, Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Edmonton Eskimos. He attended Clarkson University from 1961 to 1962.

In his fourteen-year career Taylor caught 521 receptions for a total of 8,203 yards and 50 touchdowns. His 56 catches led the CFL in 1968.[1][2][3]

He was Toronto's nominee for Most Outstanding Canadian player in 1968[4] and 1969.[5]

Taylor played minor league hockey, as well, from 1962 to 1970 in the EHL, WHL, AHL, and CPHL.[6]

From 1975 until his death in 2023, he owned the Black Bull Tavern, a popular bar on Toronto's Queen Street West.[7] In 2024, Janine Bartels, Taylor's granddaughter, announced that the tavern would close permanently on April 3, 2024 after nearly 200 years in business; it opened in 1833.[8][9]

He died from cancer at his home in Toronto, on August 20, 2023, at the age of 84.[10][11][12]

References

  1. ^ Hawthorn, Tom (2023-09-04). "Notorious athlete Bobby Taylor was a fighter on the ice and on the gridiron". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  2. ^ "The interview: Bobby Taylor, former CFLer and pro hockey tough guy". The Globe and Mail. 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  3. ^ Toronto Star, Tuesday 5 November 1968, page 11.
  4. ^ Toronto Star, Tuesday 5 November 1968, page 11.
  5. ^ Toronto Star, Tuesday 21 October 1969, page 16.
  6. ^ "Bob Taylor Stats and Profile". hockeydb.com.
  7. ^ Chow, Sheldon. ""I've worked at the Black Bull Tavern for 40 years—and I plan to stay until the very end"". Toronto Life. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  8. ^ Arsenych, Alex (29 March 2024). "This historical tavern in Toronto is closing after nearly 200 years". CTV News Toronto. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  9. ^ Sahebzada, Asma; Wilson, Jermaine (2024-03-29). "Queen Street's Black Bull Tavern, one of Toronto's oldest bars, says its doors are closing next week". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  10. ^ "The Argonauts are saddened to learn of the passing of Bobby Taylor". Toronto Argonauts Football Club on Facebook. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Robert Taylor". Necro Canada. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Remembering the life of BOBBY TAYLOR". obituaries.thestar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-30.


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