Bob Miller (1949–58 pitcher)

Robert John Miller (born June 16, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan), is an American former professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher who appeared in the Major Leagues 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 pennant.

Miller served in the United States Army during World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations,^[1] then attended the University of Detroit Mercy. He signed with the Phillies in 1948 and, after winning 19 games for the Class B Terre Haute Phillies, was recalled to Philadelphia in September 1949. Miller pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings in relief that year.

The following season, not quite 24, he became a member of the youthful Phillies' pitching staff. He appeared in 35 games, 22 as a starter, and won 11 of 17 decisions with an earned run average 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. He started Game 4 of the 1950 World Series, but faced only four batters and recorded only one out, and took the loss^[2] 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, but regained his effectiveness to post productive seasons for the Phillies from 1953–1957. Altogether, he worked in 261 MLB games, going 42–42, and surrendered 889 hits and 247 bases on balls in 822 innings pitched. He struck out 263.

Coaching at University of Detroit Mercy

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. He would hold this position until 2000, compiling 896 wins over that time period. His 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.

His 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.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference