Bob Milliken
Encyclopedia
Robert Fogle Milliken was a reliever
and spot starter
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers
(1953
-54
). Milliken batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Majorsville
, West Virginia
.
Milliken pitched in the minor leagues
with Fort Worth
(1948-49) and Montreal
(1950) before joining the military
from 1951-52. After being discharged, he helped the Brooklyn Dodgers to clinch the 1953 National League
pennant with a 8-4 mark, 65 strikeout
s, 117 innings
, and a 3.37 ERA
in 37 appearances, including 10 starts. He faced the New York Yankees
in the World Series
of that year and pitched two innings of shutout
relief. In 1954 he went 5-2 with two saves
in 24 games, three as a starter, as he recorded a 4.02 ERA in a league where the pitchers averaged 4.07. After that, he suffered arm problems and did not return to the major leagues.
From 1955-56 Milliken divided his playing time between Fort Worth and Montreal. Following his playing retirement, he returned to the majors as a bullpen and pitching coach
with the St. Louis Cardinals
(1965-70, 1976). He is given credit in the SABR biography of Jim Willoughby
for straightening out his delivery in 1975, while serving as a pitching instructor when Willoughby was with the Tulsa Oilers. Later, he served as scout
.
In 61 major league appearances, Milliken posted a 13-6 record with a 3.59 ERA, four saves, and 90 strikeouts in 180⅓ innings, including 13 starts and three complete games.
Milliken died in Clearwater, Florida
, at the age of 80. According to his obituary, he had spent 58 years in baseball.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
and spot starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1953
1953 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 14 at Crosley Field: National League, 5-1-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce *College World Series: Michigan...
-54
1954 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* World Series: New York Giants over Cleveland Indians * All-Star Game, July 13 at Municipal Stadium: American League, 11-9-Other champions:* Caribbean World Series: Caguas Creoles [Criollos de Caguas]...
). Milliken batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Majorsville
Marshall County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,519 people, 14,207 households, and 10,101 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 15,814 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
.
Milliken pitched in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
with Fort Worth
Fort Worth Cats
The Fort Worth Cats are a professional baseball team based in Fort Worth, Texas, in the United States. The Cats are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2002 season the Cats...
(1948-49) and Montreal
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
(1950) before joining the military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
from 1951-52. After being discharged, he helped the Brooklyn Dodgers to clinch the 1953 National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
pennant with a 8-4 mark, 65 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s, 117 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
, and a 3.37 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 37 appearances, including 10 starts. He faced the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in the World Series
1953 World Series
The 1953 World Series matched the four-time defending champion New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a rematch of the 1952 Series. The Yankees won in six games for their fifth straight title—a mark which has not been equalled—and their sixteenth overall...
of that year and pitched two innings of shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
relief. In 1954 he went 5-2 with two saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
in 24 games, three as a starter, as he recorded a 4.02 ERA in a league where the pitchers averaged 4.07. After that, he suffered arm problems and did not return to the major leagues.
From 1955-56 Milliken divided his playing time between Fort Worth and Montreal. Following his playing retirement, he returned to the majors as a bullpen and pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1965-70, 1976). He is given credit in the SABR biography of Jim Willoughby
Jim Willoughby
James Arthur Willoughby is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants , Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox...
for straightening out his delivery in 1975, while serving as a pitching instructor when Willoughby was with the Tulsa Oilers. Later, he served as scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
.
In 61 major league appearances, Milliken posted a 13-6 record with a 3.59 ERA, four saves, and 90 strikeouts in 180⅓ innings, including 13 starts and three complete games.
Milliken died in Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
, at the age of 80. According to his obituary, he had spent 58 years in baseball.