Otto Miller
Lowell Otto Miller (June 1, 1889 – March 29, 1962) was a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1910 through 1922 for Brooklyn teams the Superbas (1910, 1913), Dodgers (1911–1912) and Robins (1914–1922). Nicknamed "Moonie", Miller batted and threw right-handed, and was listed at 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) and 196 pounds (89 kg).
| Otto Miller | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Miller (right) and teammate Sherry Smith, with the Brooklyn Robins in 1916 | |||
| Catcher | |||
| Born: June 1, 1889 Minden, Nebraska | |||
| Died: March 29, 1962 (aged 72) Brooklyn, New York | |||
| |||
| MLB debut | |||
| July 16, 1910, for the Brooklyn Superbas | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| September 4, 1922, for the Brooklyn Robins | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .245 | ||
| Home runs | 5 | ||
| Runs batted in | 231 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Career
In a 13-season career, Miller was a .245 hitter (695-for-2836) with five home runs and 231 RBIs in 927 games played, including 229 runs, 97 doubles, 33 triples, and 40 stolen bases. In eight postseason games, he went 3-for-22 for a .136 average.
As a catcher, he collected 3870 outs with 1053 assists and committed 135 errors in 5058 chances for a .973 fielding percentage.
His best season was 1920, when he posted a career-high .289 average and led National League catchers with .986 fielding percentage.
Miller was also a participant in a historical play in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the 1920 World Series. He was tagged by Cleveland Indians second baseman Bill Wambsganss for the third out in the only unassisted triple play in World Series history.[1]
After his playing career ended, Miller managed the Atlanta Crackers in 1923 and was a coach for the Dodgers and Boston Red Sox.
Miller died in Brooklyn at the age of 72, when he fell from a hospital window after cataract surgery.[2]
Bill Wambsganss (top left, in white) tags out Miller to complete an unassisted triple play in Game 5 of the 1920 World Series_play_victims%252C_Kilduff%252C_Mitchell_%2526_Miller_of_the_Brooklyn_B.B._Club_LCCN89712599.jpg.webp)
Bill Wambsganss, and his unassisted triple play victims: Pete Kilduff, Clarence Mitchell and Miller.jpg.webp)
Miller's 1912 baseball card
Postseason appearances
References
- "Cleveland Indians 8, Brooklyn Robins 1". Retrosheet. October 10, 1920. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
- "The Dodgers' Otto Miller Dies in Fall". Daily News. New York City. March 30, 1962. p. 5. Retrieved June 24, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Otto Miller at Find a Grave