Bob Miller (pitcher, born 1926) explained

Bob Miller
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:16 June 1926
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Death Place:West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, U.S.
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 16
Debutyear:1949
Debutteam:Philadelphia Phillies
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:August 10
Finalyear:1958
Finalteam:Philadelphia Phillies
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:42–42
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:3.96
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:263
Teams:

Robert John Miller (June 16, 1926 – November 27, 2020) was an American professional baseball right-handed pitcher, who appeared in Major League Baseball (MLB) from to, for the Philadelphia Phillies. Miller was a member of the 1950 "Whiz Kids", only the second Phillies team to win a National League (NL) pennant.[1]

Early life

Miller attended St. Mary of Redford High School then served in the United States Army during World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations,[2] then attended the University of Detroit Mercy.

Professional career

Miller signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1948 and, after winning 19 games for the Class B Terre Haute Phillies, was recalled to the big league team, in September 1949. That season, his major league statistics included 2 scoreless innings pitched, all in relief.

The following campaign, at not quite 24 years of age, Miller became a member of the youthful ("Whiz Kids") Phillies' pitching staff. He appeared in 35 games, 22 as a starter, and won 11 of 17 decisions with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.57, in 174 innings pitched. Although not as celebrated as fellow young pitchers Robin Roberts and Curt Simmons, Miller ranked third on the staff in innings pitched and fourth in victories. He hurled seven complete games and notched two shutouts.

Miller started Game 4 of the 1950 World Series, but faced only four batters and recorded only one out, and took the loss[3] in a 5–2 New York Yankees victory that cemented a four-game sweep for the Bombers.

Miller spent parts of 1951 and 1952 in minor league baseball. Altogether, he worked in 261 MLB games, going 42–42, and surrendered 889 hits and 247 bases on balls in 822 innings pitched. Miller struck out 263. Defensively, in 205 total chances, he committed only two errors for a career .990 fielding percentage. Miller‘s only two miscues came in consecutive appearances in 1954, on August 15 in a starting role against the Pittsburgh Pirates and on August 19 in a relief appearance against the New York Giants.[4]

Coaching and later life

Following a stint as the university's assistant baseball coach, Miller assumed head coaching duties for the Titans baseball team in 1965, becoming the program's fourth head coach.[1] He would hold this position until 2000, compiling 896 wins over that time period. Miller’s 36-year tenure would lead to a 1979 induction into the Titans Sports Hall of Fame and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.[1]

Miller’s baseball coaching legacy extended to his sons Pat and Bob. Pat Miller serves as an assistant coach at Walled Lake Central High School in Walled Lake, Michigan, and Bob Miller, Jr., coaches varsity baseball at Redford Union High School in Redford, Michigan. Miller Sr. died on November 27, 2020, at the age of 94.[5] [6] [7]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Titans Mourn The Loss Of Former Player, Coach Bob Miller. November 28, 2020. Detroit Mercy Titans. detroittitans.com. November 29, 2020.
  2. Web site: Baseball in Wartime - Those Who Served A to Z. Bedingfield. Gary. Baseball in Wartime. baseballinwartime.com. May 18, 2016.
  3. Web site: Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Yankees 5, Philadelphia Phillies 2. October 7, 1950. Retrosheet. retrosheet.org. May 18, 2016.
  4. Web site: Bob Miller Career Statistics at Retrosheet. retrosheet.org. December 13, 2023.
  5. Web site: Bob Miller, longtime Detroit coach, member of 1950 Phillies 'Whiz Kids,' dies at 94. November 28, 2020. Paul. Tony. The Detroit News. detroitnews.com. November 28, 2020.
  6. Web site: Bob Miller, 2nd-to-last 1950 Phillies Whiz Kid, dies at 94. November 28, 2020. Rappa. Matt. That Ball's Outta Here. thatballsouttahere.com. November 28, 2020.
  7. Web site: Whiz Kid Bob Miller Passes Away at 94. November 28, 2020. Albertson. Matt. Sports Talk Philly. sportstalkphilly.com. November 28, 2020.