Bob Milliken

Robert Fogle Milliken
(Bobo)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.
• High School Cameron (WV) High School
• Debut April 22, 1953
• Final Game July 29, 1954
• Born August 25, 1926 in Majorsville, WV USA
• Died January 3, 2007 in Clearwater, FL USA

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Biographical Information

Bob Milliken pitched two seasons in the major leagues. In 1953, he was a welcome addition to the Brooklyn Dodgers pitching staff as he went 8-4 in 37 appearances (10 as a starter) with an ERA of 3.37. It was the year that the Dodgers won 105 games. Johnny Podres was also a rookie on the team that year and went 9-4. In the 1953 World Series, Milliken pitched 2 innings against the New York Yankees without giving up a run. In 1954, Milliken again had a winning record, going 5-2 in 24 appearances of which 3 were starts. His ERA was 4.02 in a league where the average ERA was 4.07. Despite a .684 winning percentage in the big leagues, he was dispatched to the minors after the 1954 season, where he remained for the rest of his professional career.

Milliken retired after the 1962 season and was a batting practice pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1963 and 1964, and a Cardinal coach from 1965 to 1970 and again in 1976.

He is given credit in the SABR biography of Jim Willoughby for straightening out Willoughby's delivery in 1975, serving as a pitching instructor when Willoughby was with the Tulsa Oilers.

One source (Baseball Library) says he had arm troubles in 1950 and 1954, and that he was in the military in 1951-1952.

His main teammates were Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Roy Campanella, Jim Gilliam, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Carl Furillo and Carl Erskine.

Related Sites

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