James Virgil “Coddle Creek” Taylor (1910 – 1970)

    Growing up on a farm along Coddle Creek in western Cabarrus County, “Coddle Creek” Taylor developed his pitching skills by knocking out knotholes inside the family’s barn. Winnie Taylor Watkins often traveled with her husband. For Hank Utley’s book, she recalled, “The fights were usually between the players or the players and the umpires, and before you knew it several hundred fans would be on the field fighting….That’s when the players would quit fighting, grab their bats, and form a circle around the umpires.” Taylor turned down offers from colleges and professional teams in order to remain in Cabarrus County. His baseball career ended with World War II, but Taylor continued to be involved with the game by coaching the Kannapolis American Legion team.