Taylor Continues Virginia’s Recent World Series PedigreeTaylor Continues Virginia’s Recent World Series Pedigree

Taylor Continues Virginia’s Recent World Series Pedigree

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia Baseball Hall of Famer Chris Taylor and the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the National League Pennant on Saturday night, locking up their third trip to the World Series in four years. The Cavaliers are the only college baseball program in the country to be represented in the last five World Series.

Virginia Cavaliers in the World Series All-Time

 WS Year  Player (UVA Years)  Team
 2020  Chris Taylor (2010-12)  Los Angeles Dodgers
 2019  Ryan Zimmerman (2003-o5)  Washington Nationals
 2019  Sean Doolittle (2005-07)  Washington Nationals
 2018  Chris Taylor (2010-12)  Los Angeles Dodgers
 2017  Chris Taylor (2010-12)  Los Angels Dodgers
 2017  Derek Fisher (2012-14)  Houston Astros
 2016  Brandon Guyer (2005-07)  Cleveland Indians
 2014  Javier Lopez (1996-98)  San Francisco Giants
 2012  Javier Lopez (1996-98)  San Francisco Giants
 2010  Javier Lopez (1996-98)  San Francisco Giants
 2007  Javier Lopez (1996-98)  Boston Red Sox
 1988  Ricky Horton (1978-80)  Los Angeles Dodgers
 1987  Ricky Horton (1978-80)  St. Louis Cardinals
 1985  Ricky Horton (1978-80)  St. Louis Cardinals
 1915  Eppa Rixey (1912-14)  Philadelphia Phillies

Bold indicates World Series Champion 

Virginia has been represented in 13 World Series by eight different former Cavaliers. Taylor is looking to become the sixth former Virginia baseball player to win a World Series.

a7a77fc8-taylor-nlcsLos Angeles Dodgers center fielder Chris Taylor #3 hits a single home run in the 6th inning. The Dodgers hosted the Chicago Cubs in the first game of the National League Championship series at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles, CA 10/14/2017 (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Going into the 2020 World Series, Taylor has appeared in 45 career postseason games, the most of any former Virginia baseball player and was named the 2017 NLCS co-MVP. In those games, he’s played five different positions (2B, SS, LF, CF, RF) in the field. Taylor played in 56 regular season games for the Dodgers this season and among batters, had the team’s third-highest Wins Above Replacement (1.5) behind Mookie Betts (3.0) and Cory Seager (1.9).

Taylor was inducted into the UVA Baseball Hall of Fame in January of 2020 after a standout, three-year career in Charlottesville. Taylor etched his name in UVA lore with a walk-off single in the 2011 Super Regional against UC Irvine to send the Cavaliers to their second College World Series in three seasons.