Stu Miller served in the US Navy right after high school Armed with an arsenal of slow and slower junk pitches, the 5 ft 11.5 inch, 165 pound, right-handed Stu Miller baffled and disrupted the timing of some of the best baseball hitters in the world. He pitched in over 704 major league games spanning 16 seasons during the 1950s and 1960s, pitched in an All Star Game and in a World Series. Stu Miller pitched a 1-0 shutout against the Cubs on August 12 1952 in his major league debut with the St Louis Cardinals and finished his first season with a solid 6-3 record with a stingy 2.05 ERA, completing 6 of 12 starts. After two so-so seasons, 1953-1954, he was sent to the minors by Redbirds’ manager Eddie Stanky. On May 11 1956 Stu Miller was traded to the Phillies in a 5-player deal, then on Oct 11 of the same year traded to the New York Giants for veteran pitcher Jim Hearn. Prior to the next season opener, the Giants moved to San Francisco and the 29-year old Stu Miller went along. His accomplishments in San Francisco included leading the National League with a 2.47 ERA in their first season, 1959, in the Bay City. In 1961 All-Star Game Stu Miller picked up the win in relief and at season end won The Sporting News Fireman of the Year Award. Pitching only in relief, 63 games, his stats that season were resounding – led the majors in relief wins, a 14-5 record, and led the NL with 17 saves, a 2.66 ERA. In 1962 with the Giants he pitched in his only World Series – one hit, no runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief. On December 15 1962 he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in a six-player deal. In his first season, 1963, with the Orioles, Stu Miller led the AL with 27 saves and won his second Fireman of the Year Award. Still pitching with Baltimore on April 30 1967 he relieved starter Steve Barber and combined they tossed a no-hitter versus Detroit, but lost the game 2-1. Barber walked 10 and two errors by the Orioles led to the two runs. Baseball History |