Cyclone Miller

Joseph Miller

• Bats Unknown, Throws Left
• Height 5' 9½", Weight 165 lb.

• Debut July 11, 1884
• Final Game October 14, 1886
• Born September 24, 1859 in Springfield, MA USA
• Died October 13, 1916 in New London, CT USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Cyclone Miller seems to have been the first major leaguer called "Cyclone", which is of some interest because Denton "Cy" Young got the name "Cy" when it was shortened from the nickname "Cyclone". Miller threw a lot of strikeouts in his two years in the majors.

Miller was in the majors in 1884 in both the National League and in the Union Association. He recorded 13 strikeouts in 9 innings in the UA. He also umpired one game in the NL that season.

In 1886 he was in yet a third league, the American Association, and was fourth in that league in strikeouts per nine innings. His ERA was seventh-best in the league. After the season was over he was selected to be one of the players representing the American Association on a trip to Cuba to play a series of games against a team of players from the National League.

He also played for three minor league teams during 1886-1888.

One site has some text about him and a drawing of him. The site says he played for at least five different teams in 1884, and that opponent Boston protested a game because it claimed Miller was still under contract to Worcester. The site also says when he was pressed into service as an umpire on July 31st, he seemed biased against the home team and had to be escorted off the field by police. In October 1884 he and Sandy Nava were loaned to a military team for whom they played several weeks.

Related Sites

• Cyclone Miller at the SABR Bio Project