Bob Milliken

Infobox MLB retired
name = Bob Milliken
bgcolor1 =
textcolor1 =
bgcolor2 =
textcolor2 =


width =200px
caption ="Topps" baseball card, 1953 Series #221
position = Pitcher
birthdate = birth date|1926|8|25
deathdate = death date and age|2007|1|3|1926|8|25
bats =Right
throws = Right
debutdate =April 22
debutyear =1953
debutteam =Brooklyn Dodgers
finaldate =July 29
finalyear =1954
finalteam =Brooklyn Dodgers
stat1label = Win-Loss
stat1value =13-6
stat2label =ERA
stat2value =3.59
stat3label =Strikeouts
stat3value =90
teams =
*Brooklyn Dodgers (1953-1954)
highlights =
*1953 World Series
hofdate =
hofvote =
hofmethod =

Robert Fogle Milliken (August 25, 1926 - January 4, 2007) was a reliever and spot starter in Major League Baseball who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1953-54). Milliken batted and threw right handed. He was born in Majorsville, West Virginia.

Milliken pitched in the minor leagues with Fort Worth (1948-49) and Montreal (1950) before joining the military from 1951-52. After being discharged, he helped the Brooklyn Dodgers to clinch the 1953 National League pennant with a 8-4 mark, 65 strikeouts, 117 innings, and a 3.37 ERA in 37 appearances, including 10 starts. He faced the New York Yankees in the World Series of that year and pitched two innings of shutout relief. In 1954 he went 5-2 with two saves in 24 games, three as a starter, as he recorded a 4.02 ERA in a league where the pitchers averaged 4.07. After that, he suffered arm problems and did not return to the major leagues.

From 1955-56 Milliken divided his playing time between Fort Worth and Montreal. Following his playing retirement, he returned to the majors as a pitching coach with the St. Louis Cardinals (1965-70, 1976). He is given credit in the "SABR" biography of Jim Willoughby for straightening out his delivery in 1975, while serving as a pitching instructor when Willoughby was with the Tulsa Oilers. Later, he served as scout.

In 61 major league appearances, Milliken posted a 13-6 record with a 3.59 ERA, four saves, and 90 strikeouts in 180⅓ innings, including 13 starts and three complete games.

Milliken died in Clearwater, Florida, at the age of 80. According to his obituary, he had spent 58 years in baseball.

External links

* [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=millibo01 Baseball Almanac]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/millibo01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.historicbaseball.com/players/m/milliken_bob.html Historic Baseball]