TORONTO – Dr. Ron Taylor, an MLB World Series champion pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets who later became team physician for the Toronto Blue Jays, has died. He was 87.

Taylor died Monday in his native Toronto after a lengthy illness, the Mets said in a news release.

The righty reliever pitched 11 seasons in MLB from 1962-72, including his rookie season with the then-Cleveland Indians. Cleveland traded Taylor to St. Louis, where he played two-plus seasons and helped lead the Cardinals to win the 1964 World Series over the New York Yankees, 4-3.

Midway through the 1965 season, Taylor was traded from St. Louis to the Houston Astros, a relatively new expansion franchise which joined MLB in 1962. He played in Houston from 1965-66 before his contract was purchased by the Mets in February of 1967.

Taylor pitched five seasons for the Mets, which also joined MLB in 1962, from 1967-71. In 1969, he led the Mets with 59 games pitched and 13 saves, helping guide New York to its improbable “Miracle Mets” World Series win that year.

After five seasons in New York, Taylor pitched in four games for the San Diego Padres during the 1972 season before retiring. He finished his 11-year career with a 45-43 record, 3.93 ERA and 464 strikeouts in 800 innings pitched across 491 games, 474 of which came in relief.

Following his MLB career, Taylor earned a medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1977 and joined his hometown Blue Jays as a team physician in 1979.

Taylor was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Canada Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. He retired from medicine in 2014.

“The Toronto Blue Jays are saddened to learn of the passing of long-time team doctor and former Major League Baseball player, Ron Taylor,” the team wrote in a statement. “Known to many as Dr. Baseball, the Toronto native won four World Series Championships during his illustrious career, including two with the Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993. His impact on the game, in the community, and on our organization will be remembered forever. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.”