John Miller (millejo04)

John Allen Miller

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 195 lb.
• High School Rosemead High School
• Debut September 11, 1966
• Final Game September 27, 1969
• Born March 14, 1944 in Alhambra, CA USA
• Died April 23, 2023 in Laguna Beach, CA USA

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Biographical Information

"Miller is the kind of guy I'd want on my team. He'll fight you with everything he has." - a U.S. coach, quoted in a Sports Illustrated article here

John Miller is one of only two players to have homered in their first and last big-league at-bats (Paul Gillespie is the other). What further distinguishes Miller's feat is that his bookending homers were the only two of his career. He hit his first home run off Lee Stange of the Boston Red Sox on September 11, 1966 while a member of the New York Yankees. His other homer came against Jim Merritt of the Cincinnati Reds on September 23, 1969, while Miller was playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Miller also played eight seasons in the minors. He was at Spokane from 1967-69.

He is not to be confused with another John Miller who also played in the majors in the 1960s but was a pitcher.

Miller was a successful home run hitter during his years in Japan but apparently had a temper and his style did not get along with the Japanese style. Source: Sports Illustrated article.