Johnny Miljus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Johnny Miljus
Pitcher
Born: June 30, 1895
Died: February 11, 1976 (aged 80)
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
October 2, 1915
for the Pittsburgh Rebels
Final game
September 25, 1929
for the Cleveland Indians
Career statistics
Pitching record     29-26
Earned run average     3.92
Strikeouts     166
Teams
Career highlights and awards
  • 1927 National League Pennant

John Kenneth (Johnny) Miljus (Serbian Cyrillic Џон Кенет Миљуш or Serbian Latin Džon Kenet Miljuš) (June 30, 1895 - February 11, 1976) nicknamed Big Serb and Jovo, was Serbian-American baseball player who pitched in Major League Baseball between 1915 and 1929. Miljus batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Served in the United States Army during World War I, in France, as part of the 320th Infantry. Miljus' wartime bunkmate was Joe Harris. Ironically, the two of them would later be reunited as members of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Miljus was wounded in action and was to be sent home. He left the hospital to rejoin his unit.

After toiling in the minors, this lanky 6'1" 178 pounder spent six seasons in the major leagues as a pitcher. Miljus reached the majors in 1915 with the Pittsburgh Rebels of the outlaw Federal League, spending one year with them before moving to the Brooklyn Robins (NL, 1920-21), Pittsburgh Pirates (NL, 1927-28) and Cleveland Indians (AL, 1929). More than a dependable pitcher, he filled several roles coming out from the bullpen as a closer or a middle reliever, and as an occasional starter as well. Unfortunately, Miljus is probably best remembered as the pitcher who served a ninth-inning wild pitch that escaped Pirates' catcher Johnny Gooch and allowed the New York Yankees to sweep the 1927 World Series. In Game Four, after striking out Lou Gehrig and Bob Meusel, and with two strikes on Tony Lazzeri, the next Miljus' pitch rolled far enough away for Earle Combs to score the winning run.

In a seven-season career, Miljus posted a 29-26 record with 166 strikeouts and a 3.92 ERA in 457 ⅓ innings pitched, including 45 starts, 15 complete games, two shutouts, and five saves.

Miljus died in Fort Harrison, Montana, at the age of 80.

As of 2006, Miljus has one of the lowest ERA (3.92) of any major league pitcher coming out of University of Pittsburgh with more than 100 innings, behind Bob Malloy (3.26), Doc Medich (3.77) and Steve Swetonic (3.81).

[edit] External links

This biographical article relating to a 1920s baseball pitcher is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.