Henry Miller

Henry Joseph Miller
(Hank)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut 1938
• Final Game 1948
• Born July 17, 1917 in Glenolden, PA USA
• Died August 30, 1972 in Philadelphia, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Henry Miller was a Negro League pitcher for 13 years and a minor league hurler for one.

Unlike many Negro League players, Miller spent his entire career with one team, the Philadelphia Stars. He debuted in 1938, going 3-1 and followed with seasons of 1-1 (1939 and 1-3 (1940). He had no decisions for three years, then went 5-2 in 1944 and was 5th in the Negro National League with 41 strikeouts. Hank went 0-2 in 1945 and 0-1 in 1946.

The year he turned 30, Miller had his best year, going 9-3 for the 1947 Stars. He tied Joe Black and Bill Byrd for 5th in the NNL in wins. In the first 1947 East-West Game, he relieved Luis Tiant Sr. and tossed two shutout innings for the East (2 H, K, BB) before Johnny Wright relieved him in the 8th. The East lost, 5-2, despite his efforts. game two was another good show in a losing cause, as Miller tossed a shutout 9th after relieving Black but the East lost, 8-2. Miller was the lone East hurler to work shutout ball.

In 1948, Miller tried out (along with Pat Scantlebury and another player) for the Cleveland Indians.

The right-hander was 0-1 for Cienfuegos in the 1948-1949 Cuban Winter League, with 25 hits and 18 walks in a sad 14 1/3 innings. He had a 6-3, 3.00 record in 1949 then ended his long run with Philly a year later. He spent most of 1950, though, in the Mexican League, going 8-11 for the Torreon Cotton Dealers with 136 walks and 147 hits allowed in 190 innings. Miller wrapped up in 1951 with the San Diego Padres, surrendering 16 hits, 15 runs and 7 walks in 9 innings.

Notable Achievements

• NNL All-Star (1947)
• NNL Games Pitched Leader (1948)

Sources

• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
• The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway
• Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History by Jorge Figueredo
• Black Baseball's National Showcase by Larry Lester
• The Mexican League: Comprehensive Player Statistics by Pedro Treto Cisneros

Related Sites

• BR Minors page