Philip Andrew Saylor arrived January 2, 1871 to John Ware and Lucinda (Shafer) Saylor when the family of four lived in West Alexandria, Ohio. After spending years as a carpenter, John ran a farm and his two sons worked that farm well into their teens. Philip attended the local schools and graduated from West Alexandria High School in 1888. He then attended classes at Ohio Wesleyan and Buchtel College in Akron. After graduating he worked in the canning business. After some time he chose to study law and earned his law degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1905. Soon after he passed the bar and partnered with James Gilmore, which lasted until Gilmore’s death in 1914. He later joined the law firm of Saylor and Bittle; he would work there the rest of his life.

At some point, Saylor picked up the game of baseball. He played in college; he’s listed as the shortstop and change pitcher for Buchtel in the spring of 1891 – though he hadn’t transferred from Ohio Wesleyan yet. What is more impressive about Saylor playing shortstop is that he was left handed. After the college baseball season ended, Saylor was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in early July – he met the team when the Phillies headed to Cleveland.

Saylor’s only opportunity to pitch came in Pittsburgh on July 11, 1891. The Pirates swatted around John Thornton over six innings, so Harry Wright gave Saylor the ball for the last three. Saylor got eight straight outs, but Jake Beckley reached on a single and Frank Shugart the drove one to left for a home run before the last out of the ninth inning could be made. Saylor’s career line includes no decisions, three innings and a 6.00 ERA. (Baseball Reference says Saylor didn’t strike out any batters, but the Philadephia Times box score gives Saylor credit for a strikeout.) Saylor did get a couple of future Hall of Famer managers out – Ned Hanlon failed to reach base and Connie Mack was thrown out trying to steal second on the rookie battery after being hit by a pitch. Unfortunately the Phillies’ hitters were shut out easily that day – including Saylor, who failed to get a hit in his only plate appearance.

Saylor married Bertha Huggins in 1899; they had a daughter, Martha, soon after.

A lifelong Democrat, Saylor was next elected the prosecuting attorney for Preble County, and later he served in the state assembly. Along the way, he became a Mason and joined other social and political organizations. And, he taught school in Twin, Ohio for a period of time. He was the Mayor of West Alexander from 1902 to 1905.

Following a long illness Saylor died at his home in West Alexander, Ohio on July 23, 1937; he was 66. His soul is likely practicing law in the next world, but his earthly remains lie in Fairview Cemetery of his hometown.

Notes:

Baseball-Reference.com
Findagrave.com

R. E. Lowry, “History of Preble County, Ohio: Her People, Industries, and Institutions” (1915)

“In College Corridors,” Akron Beacon Journal, March 7, 1891: 2.
“The Phillies Westward Bound,” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 3, 1891: 3.
“National League,” Philadelphia Times, July 12, 1891: 14.
“Phillies Whitewashed,” Pittsburgh Press, July 12, 1891: 6.
“Buchtel College Notes,” Akron Beacon Journal, April 29, 1893: 3.
“Philip Saylor, 66, Dies in West Alex,” Dayton Herald, July 23, 1937: 19.