Forever to be remembered as one of two Bob Millers on the 1962 Mets (they even roomed
together), this Bob Miller was distinguished by his nickname R.B., which stood for
Righty Bob. Used mostly as a starter that year, he pitched better than his 4.89 ERA
would indicate, but lost lots of close games. On the next-to-last day of the season,
he could have made the record books; he was 0-12, and only one pitcher had ever lost
as many as 13 games without a win. But that afternoon, Miller beat the Cubs 2-1.
The half-dozen sportswriters who followed the Mets that year had always crowded around
his locker after his tough losses and no-decisions to get his reaction, but that
day there was only one sportswriter on hand, and he was so busy covering for four
papers that he didn't make it to the clubhouse.
Miller had his greatest success
after being traded to the Dodgers following the 1962 season. Converted to relief,
he posted good ERA and led the NL in appearances in 1964 (74). After a 2-9 record
in 1967, he was traded to the Twins. From 1970 through 1973, he played on seven teams,
and in each of three of those four years, he played for three teams. He returned
to the Mets at the end of '73 and finished his career with them in 1974.
(SH)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»September 22, 1969:
The Twins clinch the AL West when Bob Miller beats Kansas City 4–3.
»June 23, 1971:
The Padres' Bob Miller wins a pair from Houston, relieving in the 9th and pitching four innings in the opener, and then pitching two more innings in the nitecap. The Pads win 3–2 and 4–3.
»April 4, 1998:
The Twins' Mike Morgan hurls the first seven innings of Minnesota's 3–2 loss to KC. In doing so, he ties a modern major league mark, shared by Bob Miller and Ken Brett, by appearing in a game with his 10th team. In the game, Minnesota OF Otis Nixon has his jaw broken while sliding into 2B when he is kicked in the face by Royals SS Felix Martinez.
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