Johnny Lazor, Taylor native and Red Sox player, has died

Originally published in the Voice of the Valley, January 1, 2003

By Barbara Nilson

Johnny Lazor, of Taylor, the only local boy to make it to major league baseball, died December 9, 2002 at the age of 90. A memorial service was held December 13 at St. Anthony’s Church in Renton.

In a 1994 interview, Lazor said, “I’m the only boy from the Valley that made it to the Big Leagues and I’m proud of it.” He played for the Boston Red Sox from 1942 to 1946 and earned a World Series ring in 1946, but the road to the big league was not an easy one.

Lazor was born in Taylor in 1912 to Veronica and Michael Lazor who had emigrated from Czechoslovakia. He was the second of four children who grew up on a 20-acre farm in Hobart, on S.E. 208th.

Read Full Post »