R. I. P. Former Whiz Kid Bob Miller

(In his honour, an interview with Bob Miller during the Toyota Phillies Alumni Weekend seven years ago. The former Whiz Kids pitcher died on Friday at age 94).

By Larry (Baron) Shenk

Philadelphia Phillies

As is the case with many who have put on a big-league uniform, there are games that they will always remember. Trying to nail it down to one particular game many times is difficult.

For 87-year-old Bob Miller, the right-handed pitcher with the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies Whiz Kids, his game to remember was an easy one.

“My first start in the major leagues,” he said without hesitation. “Eddie Sawyer (manager) came in the locker room at Shibe Park and said, ‘Here’s the ball.’ I was surprised I was starting. Up until then I had relieved twice, four total innings.”

He turned in a complete-game, 2-1 win over the Boston Braves on April 29, 1950.

A hit batter started the game. After one out in the first, Miller was tagged for an unearned run. He settled down and blanked the Braves the rest of the way.

“It got scary in the ninth, a two-out walk, double and another walk loaded the bases. Sawyer let me stay in. Earl Torgeson lined out to Del Ennis in right field. There was no post-game show or pie in the face then, just a lot of high fives and handshakes from my teammates.”

His first big league win began a streak in which he won his next seven decisions, a Phillies rookie record. His first loss came on July 16, second game of the doubleheader, to the St. Louis Cardinals. When the pennant-winning season ended, Miller had an 11-6 record. He started once in the World Series against the New York Yankees and lost the fourth and final game, 5-2.

“Figuring I had a pretty decent rookie year I went in to negotiate a contract for the next season with Bob Carpenter (owner). He offered me a $1,000 raise. Fortunately, later on, he upped it to $4,000,” recalls Miller.

Miller had the distinction of being the pitcher who relieved Robin Roberts when his streak of 28 consecutive complete games ended on July 9, 1953, against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

“Robbie gave up two runs in the eighth inning and I relieved him. I walked one and got two fly balls. We scored two in the eighth and I wound up the winner,” he said.

“We went out to dinner after the game. What a great teammate and leader he was. After our careers ended, we coached against each other. I was at the University of Detroit and Robbie was with University of South Florida in Tampa. We’d go south in the spring to play a bunch of games and many were against USF.”

There was one other outstanding game in Miller’s 10-year career with the Phillies. August 9, 1953, at Wrigley Field, first game of a doubleheader against the Cubs. He not only pitched a six-hit, complete game shutout but went 4-5 as a hitter with two RBIs.

“I loved playing in beautiful Wrigley Field. I had real good stuff that day, a lot of ground balls as my sinker was working. Smokey (Burgess) was my catcher. Every time he got a hit, I did the same. His fifth AB was a home run. I tried to follow but grounded into a double play,” Miller said laughing.

A few years ago, the Cubs, responding to a family inquiry, sent a letter verifying that Miller was the only pitcher in Wrigley Field history to pitch a shutout and get four hits.

A native of Detroit, Miller played sandlot ball with Stan Lopata, another Whiz Kid. Following graduation from high school, Miller enlisted in the Army. After two years in the military, he enrolled at the University of Detroit, where he was scouted by the Phillies. He signed a $2,500 contract late in 1947 and reported to Terre Haute the following season. In 1949, he was 19-9 with the same club when he was promoted to the majors.

His debut came on September 16, 1949, relieving in the eighth inning of a 2-1 loss at Cincinnati. Probably few remembered that game as attendance was 1,185.

Miller spent his entire career with the Phillies, 1949-58, although he did spend part of 1951 and 1952 in the minors (Wilmington Blue-Rocks) while battling a sore arm. He finished his big-league career with a 42-42 record and 3.96 ERA.

“There’s not one day in my life that I’m not thankful for my time with the Phillies,” said Miller, who was one of 50-some Alumni covering five decades during this month’s Alumni Weekend at Citizens Bank Park.

(Note: With Mr. Miller’s passing, Curt Simmons is the lone living member of the 1950 Whiz Kids. Curt is 91).