Bob Miller
Pitcher
Born: (1926-06-16)June 16, 1926
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died: November 27, 2020(2020-11-27) (aged 94)
West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 16, 1949, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
August 10, 1958, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Win–loss record42–42
Earned run average3.96
Strikeouts263
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 1949 to 1958, 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 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 22⁄3 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

References

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