Ex-baseball star Duncan dies of stroke
By Mark McDermott -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PST Monday, January 5, 2004
Taylor Duncan just wanted to play baseball. His
energy and love for the game rubbed off on everyone. He touched the hearts
of those he knew and gained the respect of those he played against.
Saturday, the Grant High School star from
1969 through 1971 and former No. 1 draft pick of the Atlanta Braves died
at age 50 from a stroke in Asheville, N.C.
His friends and teammates called him "Dunc."
And wherever Duncan would go in high school, his lifelong friend Leon
Lee was sure to be no more than a bat's length away.
As 16-year-old sophomores in 1969, they helped
lead Grant to the No. 1 ranking in the state, then used their youthful
talents to pace the "Comeback Kids" of Haggin-Grant to the American Legion
state tournament that summer.
They were inseparable. However, professional
baseball would send them their separate ways.
Duncan signed with Atlanta and eventually
made the major leagues with St. Louis in 1977 and Oakland in 1978. He
hit .260 in 331 at-bats. Lee played in Japan and hit .308 with 268 homers
during a 10-year career.
"A lot of people in Sacramento cared about
Taylor," Lee said by phone from Asheville. "It's a shocker. I'm having
trouble with it. He was so full of energy."
Lee and his wife, Pam, were driving from Sacramento
to Atlanta to visit their daughter. They had planned to drop in on Duncan,
who had suffered from heart trouble in the past year.
"Something told me something was wrong. I
told Pam we'd better get there soon," Lee said. "I wish I'd gotten there
in time."
Duncan, an infielder, was one of the most
outstanding players to set foot on a Sacramento sandlot. One major-league
scout compared him to eventual Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan.
"I really believe Duncan could have been as
good as Joe Morgan," Atlanta scout Bill Wight said in a 1999 interview.
"He had great range and was a big offensive player."
However, in his first minor-league season,
Duncan broke his ankle sliding into second base and never reached his
potential.
"I don't think Duncan ever realized how good
he really was," Lee said. "Duncan made coming to the ballpark fun and
the players around him better."
Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m.
Wednesday in Asheville. Memorial services in Sacramento are pending.
