1991 Profile: Wade Taylor

"Acquired from the Seattle organization in December 1987, Wade is an aggressive, hard-working talent who made enormous strides toward the big leagues in 1990. He split the season between Columbus and Albany-Colonie with a combined record of 12-8 with a 2.51 ERA. He threw three shutouts in only 14 Columbus starts for the International League lead.
Wade possesses excellent control and likes to challenge hitters. In college, he also played shortstop."

-The New York Yankees Official 1991 Yearbook

"Wade split time between AA Albany and AAA Columbus in 1990. Overall, he was 12-8 with five complete games, three shutouts and a 2.51 ERA over 26 games (all starts). He allowed 162 hits and 48 walks while fanning 101 batters over 183.0 innings and averaged 2.4 walks per nine innings. He had played winter ball in for Magallanes in the Venezuelan League where he was 1-3 with a 2.25 ERA over five starts.
Named to the Eastern League All-Star team, Taylor began the season with Albany, and over 12 starts was 6-4 with a 2.88 ERA. He allowed 18 walks over 84.1 innings, an average of 1.92 per nine innings.
Taylor was promoted to Columbus in June and continued his strong pitching. Over 14 starts he posted a 6-4 record with a 2.19 ERA. In the final month of the season (August), he started six games and was 3-1 with two complete-game shutouts and a 1.07 ERA. Taylor started a game in the playoffs for the Clippers and did not get a decision.
He signed a contract for the 1991 season.
Taylor was drafted by the Blue Jays and Dodgers in 1986 but signed with the Mariners as a free agent on June 30, 1987. He was 3-5 with a 4.47 ERA with Bellingham, and in December was traded with pitchers Lee Guetterman and Clay Parker to the Yankees in exchange for pitcher Steve Trout and outfielder Henry Cotto. In 1988 Taylor was 4-11 with a 3.45 ERA over 24 games (17 GS) for Class-A Ft. Lauderdale Yankees.
In 1989, he was 9-8 with a 3.34 ERA for Prince William and posted career highs in virtually every statistical category. He was named to the Carolina League All-Star team.
Wade has an Associate degree in business from Jefferson Davis State Junior College in Brentwood, Alabama. He was an All-State shortstop (1985) and pitcher (1986) at Jefferson Davis. He played Little League ball in Houston, TX and Mobile, AL and Babe Ruth ball in Mobile.
Wade enjoys fishing and reading non-fiction and is a fan of Clint Eastwood and Chevy Chase."

-1991 New York Yankees Information Guide