The brakeman was the person who would walk the length of a train atop the cars while the train was in motion and turn the brake wheel on each car to apply the train's brakes. That's the role Brakeman Jack Taylor (1898-1903, 1906-7) had on the Cubs pitching staff early in his career—he would put the brakes on Cubs losing streaks.

After his first stint with the Cubs, he was traded to St. Louis for one of the greatest Cubs players of all-time…3 finger Brown….because the Cubs owner James Hart was convinced that Taylor had fixed an exhibition game against the White Sox. Although Taylor came back to the Cubs in 1906 (under a new owner), and pitched for the winningest team of all-time (1906 Cubs), and the 1907 champs, they never really trusted him again and wouldn't let him pitch in either World Series—just in case.

Taylor is most remembered for a record that will never be broken. From June 20, 1901 until August 9, 1906, The Brakeman threw 187 consecutive complete games, along with 15 additional relief appearances without being removed from a game—giving him 202 straight appearances without being removed. This stretch included occasions where he pitched both ends of a double header, an 18 inning game, and two 14 inning games. He was 34 when he retired just before the Cubs last World Series Championship season.