John George Taylor Spink (October 6, 1888 - December 7, 1962) was the publisher of The Sporting News from 1914 to 1962.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he inherited the newspaper from his father and ran it from April 22, 1914 until his death. During his tenure, Spink expanded the paper's coverage from just baseball to include other sports, particularly boxing and football.
Following his death, the Baseball Writers Association of America inaugurated the J. G. Taylor Spink Award in his honor, awarded annually at the induction ceremonies of the Baseball Hall of Fame; Spink was the first recipient. The annual award is given for meritorious service in baseball coverage in print.
Around the same time, Minor League Baseball likewise instituted a J.G. Taylor Spink Award, for the Topps/Minor League Player of the Year.
Famous quotes containing the word taylor:
“He holds him with his glittering eye—
The Wedding Guest stood still,
And listens like a three years’ child:
The Mariner hath his will.”
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834)