Pete Milne
Encyclopedia
William James "Pete" Milne was a professional baseball
player. He played parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball
, from 1948 until 1950, for the New York Giants
, primarily as an outfielder
. He also had a lengthy career in minor league baseball
, playing professionally from 1943 until 1956.
in 1943, and played in their organization that season, for the Batavia Clippers. He spent 1943 as a first baseman
, playing 69 games and batting
.332. Milne missed the next two seasons due to World War II, coming back in 1946 with the Wilkes-Barre Barons
. He also played part of 1946 with the unaffiliated Charleston Rebels. After splitting the 1947 season between the Barons and the Spartanburg Peaches, he was drafted out of the Cleveland farm system by the New York Giants in the minor league draft.
, one of New York's top farm clubs, Milne made his major league debut on September 15. He played in 12 games down the stretch for the Giants, batting .222 in 27 at bat
s.
Milne opened the 1949 season with the Giants, playing in 31 games and batting .241 with one home run
(an inside-the-park grand slam) before being sent back down to Jersey City. He spent most of his time as a pinch hitter
that season, playing just one game in the field.
Milne was back at Jersey City in 1950, splitting most of the season between the minor league Giants and the Minneapolis Millers
. He got one more late season chance, getting one hit in four at bats as a pinch hitter to finish his major league career.
of the Pacific Coast League
. In 1955, he moved on to the PCL's Sacramento Solons
, and then in 1956 returned to the Indians' organization for one last go-round. After batting just .220 for the Mobile Bears
, Milne retired.
on April 27, 1949, Milne came into the game as a pinch hitter
against Pat McGlothin
with the bases loaded. Milne proceeded to hit an inside-the-park
grand slam
, which gave the Giants an 11-8 lead. That wound up being the final score of the game.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He played parts of three seasons 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...
, from 1948 until 1950, for the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, primarily as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. He also had a lengthy career in minor league baseball
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...
, playing professionally from 1943 until 1956.
Starting out with Cleveland
Milne was originally signed by the Cleveland IndiansCleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in 1943, and played in their organization that season, for the Batavia Clippers. He spent 1943 as a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, playing 69 games and batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.332. Milne missed the next two seasons due to World War II, coming back in 1946 with the Wilkes-Barre Barons
Wilkes-Barre Barons (baseball)
The Wilkes-Barre Barons were a minor league team that existed on and off from 1888 to 1955. They began in the Central League in 1888, but the league disbanded after that season. Their next incarnation came about in 1905, when they began playing in the New York State League. They played in that...
. He also played part of 1946 with the unaffiliated Charleston Rebels. After splitting the 1947 season between the Barons and the Spartanburg Peaches, he was drafted out of the Cleveland farm system by the New York Giants in the minor league draft.
Three years in the major leagues
After playing most of 1948 for the Jersey City GiantsJersey City Giants
The Jersey City Giants was the name of a high-level American minor league baseball franchise that played in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the top farm system affiliate of the New York Giants from 1937 through 1950. The Jersey City club played in the International League...
, one of New York's top farm clubs, Milne made his major league debut on September 15. He played in 12 games down the stretch for the Giants, batting .222 in 27 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s.
Milne opened the 1949 season with the Giants, playing in 31 games and batting .241 with one home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
(an inside-the-park grand slam) before being sent back down to Jersey City. He spent most of his time as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
that season, playing just one game in the field.
Milne was back at Jersey City in 1950, splitting most of the season between the minor league Giants and the Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
. He got one more late season chance, getting one hit in four at bats as a pinch hitter to finish his major league career.
Back to the minor leagues
Milne was back in Minneapolis in 1951. He played 131 games for the Millers, batting an even .300, but did not get another call to the majors. He left the Giants organization after the season, playing the next three seasons with the Oakland OaksOakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. In 1955, he moved on to the PCL's Sacramento Solons
Sacramento Solons
The Sacramento Solons were a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Pacific Coast League during several periods . The current Sacramento River Cats began play in 2000...
, and then in 1956 returned to the Indians' organization for one last go-round. After batting just .220 for the Mobile Bears
Mobile Bears
The Mobile Bears were an American minor league baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama. The franchise was a member of the old Southern Association, a high-level circuit that folded after the 1961 season. Mobile joined the SA in 1908 as the Sea Gulls, but changed its name to the Bears in 1918, and...
, Milne retired.
A memorable home run
Milne hit just one home run in his career, but it was quite memorable. In the 7th inning of a game against the Brooklyn DodgersLos 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...
on April 27, 1949, Milne came into the game as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
against Pat McGlothin
Pat McGlothin
Ezra Mac "Pat" McGlothin was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in 8 games during the 1949 and 1950 seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was born in Coalfield, Tennessee.-External links:...
with the bases loaded. Milne proceeded to hit an inside-the-park
Inside-the-park home run
In baseball parlance, an inside-the-park home run, "leg home run", or "quadruple", is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the ball out of play.-Discussion:...
grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
, which gave the Giants an 11-8 lead. That wound up being the final score of the game.