St. Louis Browns OF Ward Miller was born on July 5, 1884 in Mount Carroll, Illinois. He is the only MLB player in history to be from the small town in the northwest corner of the state. He would enjoy a 15-year professional baseball career, that would be forever be honored by citizens and community he would impact.
Ward Miller began playi
St. Louis Browns OF Ward Miller was born on July 5, 1884 in Mount Carroll, Illinois. He is the only MLB player in history to be from the small town in the northwest corner of the state. He would enjoy a 15-year professional baseball career, that would be forever be honored by citizens and community he would impact.
Ward Miller began playing baseball with in the semipro and company leagues of northern Illinois in 1904. He would play for teams in Rock Island, Fort. Dodge, and the local shoe factory team in Dixon, Illinois. He would also play football for the Dixon Athletic Football Club, where he earned his two colorful nicknames of "Windy" (for his speed) and "Grumpy" (for his rough personality).
Miller's first season of professional baseball came in 1906 when he signed with the Waterloo Microbes of the Iowa League. He would later go on to play for the Madison Senators (1907) and Wausau Lumberjacks (1908), before making the opening day roster with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1909. Miller would bat just .143 in 15 games with the Pirates, and they quickly traded him to the Cincinnati Reds where he spent the next two seasons. Over the next few seasons he would spend time with the Montreal Royals of the Eastern League (1911), before returning to the Majors with Chicago Cubs (1912-13).
After playing the backup role for most of his career, Miller was looking for more opportunities when he jumped to the St. Louis Terriers of the Federal Baseball League in 1914. Over the next two seasons, Ward Miller would become one of the best hitters in the "outlawed" league. In his first season, he would finish in the top ten in hits (164), runs (80), RBIs (81), and WAR (3.0). He would play next to future Browns' legend Jack Tobin in one of the best outfields in the league. In the two seasons with the Terriers, Miller would enjoy career statistics with a .301 average, 282 hits in 275 games, 113 RBIs, and a 5.3 WAR.
With the collapse of the FBL in 1916, Miller was one of 11 Terrier players that were signed by the St. Louis Browns. He became the Browns' primary right fielder in 1916, and would prove to be a reliable piece of the St. Louis offense. He would never reach the same production as his two years with the Terriers, but he would record a .266 average in 146 games in his first season. The 1917 campaign was off to a slow start, and Miller was deligated to a pinch hitter role. With a career low .207 average, he would be sent to the Omaha Rourkes of the Western League along with RHP Jim Park. Records show that he would never play for Omaha, but later spend the next three seasons in the minors. He spent time with the Salt late City Bees (1918), and the Kansas City Blues (1919-20).
In his eight seasons of Major League Baseball, Ward Miller had 623 hits in 769 games, driving in 225 runs, with a .278 average and a respectable 9.3 WAR.
However it is his life after baseball that is most celebrated. Ward Miller would return to Lee County Illinois, where he served as the Sherriff for two terms, along with the deputy sherrif and county tresurer for a term each. Throughout the 1930s, he promoted the development of youth sports throughout his community. He served as the president of the Rock River Valley Little League, and was a member of the National Softball Association rules committee. His impact was remembered in 2011, when the city of Dixon unveiled a memorial marker to Ward Miller for his contributions. This historical marker proves that he was more than a baseball player. He was an individual that left his mark on the community, and they will forever show their appreciation.
HEADLINE
"BROWNS' SUNDRA HURLS COMPLETE GAME WHILE ADDING HIS BAT IN WIN"
FEATURED GAME
1942 - After losing the first game of the double header to the Chicago White Sox, 14-2, the Browns' bats came alive in a 13-2 thumping in game two. The Browns had a total of 16 hits, with every player in the lineup contributing to the win. White Sox pitc
HEADLINE
"BROWNS' SUNDRA HURLS COMPLETE GAME WHILE ADDING HIS BAT IN WIN"
FEATURED GAME
1942 - After losing the first game of the double header to the Chicago White Sox, 14-2, the Browns' bats came alive in a 13-2 thumping in game two. The Browns had a total of 16 hits, with every player in the lineup contributing to the win. White Sox pitching gave up home runs to CF Wally Judnich (2-for-4, two runs, two RBIs, two walks), RF Mike Chartak (2-for-4, two runs, three RBIs, walk), and RHP Steve Sundra (3-for-4, two runs, two RBIs). Sundra would also drive a triple, double, and a sacrifice hit in the game, as well as pitching a complete game. He would only allow two runs on six hits to the White Sox batters. 2B Don Getteridge would go 2-for-6 with two RBIs and a stolen base, while 1B George McQuinn would go 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI to close out the scoring for the Browns .
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on July 4
24 Wins, 26 Losses (.480)
1902-09: 3-4
1910-19: 7-3
1920-29: 6-2
1930-39: 1-7
1940-49: 7-6
1950-53: 0-4
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 4
Splits: 4
Swept: 4
TRANSACTIONS
There were no transactions made on this day
DEBUTS
1917 - The Browns would debut two rookie pitchers in the same game. RHP "Speed" Martin (born Elwood Good Martin) would start the game vs the Cleveland Indians, giving up seven hits, three runs, and a walk in just three innings. RHP Vince Molyneaux would enter the game in the fourth inning, scattering two hits, four walks, while striking out four, and only giving up a run in his five innings. Browns lost 5-3 to the Indians
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS
1880 - RF Pinky Swander (1903-04)
1886 - 2B Bill Kenworthy (1917)
The 1918 St. Louis Browns did not look like the the team that finished the 1917 season. They were missing several key players that had either joined the service, or reserves during the first year of American involvment in World War I. This was a situation that every team felt, however the Browns lacked the depth that others had and their
The 1918 St. Louis Browns did not look like the the team that finished the 1917 season. They were missing several key players that had either joined the service, or reserves during the first year of American involvment in World War I. This was a situation that every team felt, however the Browns lacked the depth that others had and their stars were missed with every game.
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