Dots Miller

John Barney Miller

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11½", Weight 170 lb.

• Debut April 16, 1909
• Final Game September 27, 1921
• Born September 9, 1886 in Kearny, NJ USA
• Died September 5, 1923 in Saranac Lake, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Infielder Dots Miller played in the majors for a dozen years. As a rookie with the 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates, he led National League second basemen in fielding as his club won the World Series. He served as a Marine during World War I. After his big league career ended, he became manager of the San Francisco Seals in 1922 and led the team to the Pacific Coast League pennant. The next year, with the Seals again in first place, he fell ill with tuberculosis and died on September 5th.

Miller earned the nickname "Dots" after Honus Wagner was asked by reporters in spring training, "Who is the new player?" Wagner responded "That's Miller", but due to his heavy accent, the reporter, Jack Lennox, heard "Dot's Miller". The name took awhile to receive regular usage, as the Pittsburgh newspapers often carried stories of Jack Miller, the Pirates' infielder.

Miller was the uncle of Jack Tighe, who managed the Detroit Tigers in the 1950s.

Notable Achievement

• Won a World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1909

Related Sites

• Dots Miller at the SABR Bio Project
• Find-A-Grave Memorial for Dots Miller