John Milner was a pure fastball hitter with lightning quick wrists.
It was hard, if not impossible, to sneak a heater past "The Hammer".
A slim, but sinewy left handed hitter with surprising pop for his size, John Milner developed and refined a reputation as a reliable pinch hitter that thrived in pressure situations during his tenure with the Bucs.
A steady if not spectacular left fielder and reasonably adept around the first base bag, Milner, a quiet, professional hitter, was known (and is remembered) primarily for his offense.
Originally signed by the New York Mets; Milner came to the Pirates in 1977 as part of a four team deal that also netted Bert Blyleven for the Black n' Gold.
Milner's most memorable characteristic was his unique batting stance.
He stood extremely close to the plate with his legs straight and his feet very close together. Then, to minimize to apparent size of the strike zone, he bent from the waist at a 45 degree angle with hisbat held motionless at arm's length from his chest, pointing straight up into the sky.
If the opposing pitcher was taking too much time between pitches, Milner would waver his bat ever so slightly, in a menacing, cobra-like fashion.
I remember Milner for his dramatic pinch-hit, grand-slam homer off Tug McGraw to beat the Phillies on a hot Summer Sunday in August of
1979.
Milner was a strong contributor to the Pirates Championship run with
16 homers and 60 RBI in limited use.
He was shipped to Montreal before the 1981 trading deadline for veteran Willie Montanez. Released by the Expos in July of the next season, Milner signed on with the Bucs for the remainder of the 1982 campaign.
He went to camp with Pittsburgh in 1983 but failed to make the team out of Bradenton and retired following his release.
Sadly, Milner passed away on January 4, 2000 following a long illness; just one week after his 51st birthday.
» Kevin Stiffler, a full time fan of all thing baseball and football. I tend to see the detail in a moment.
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Copyright © 2003 by GANGBUSTER RECORDS. Posted December 23, 2003.
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