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Hank Miller
Henry Miller Baseball.jpg
Pitcher
Born: (1917-07-17)July 17, 1917
Glenolden, Pennsylvania
Died: August 30, 1972(1972-08-30) (aged 55)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
1938, for the Newark Eagles
Last appearance
1948, for the Philadelphia Stars
Teams

Henry Joseph Miller, often called Hank, was a skilled baseball player. He was a pitcher in the Negro Leagues from 1938 to 1948. He played for two important teams: the Newark Eagles and the Philadelphia Stars.

Who Was Hank Miller?

Hank Miller was born on July 17, 1917, in Glenolden, Pennsylvania. He grew up loving baseball. He became known for his pitching skills. A pitcher is the player who throws the baseball from the mound to the batter. This is one of the most important jobs in baseball.

Playing in the Negro Leagues

During Hank Miller's time, baseball in America was segregated. This meant that Black players could not play in the major leagues with white players. Instead, they played in their own professional leagues, known as the Negro Leagues. These leagues were full of incredibly talented players. Many of them were just as good, or even better, than players in the white major leagues.

Miller started his professional career in 1938. He joined the Newark Eagles, a team based in New Jersey. Later that same year, he moved to the Philadelphia Stars. He played for the Stars for most of his career, staying with them until 1948.

All-Star Recognition

Hank Miller was a very good pitcher. His talent was recognized in 1947. He was chosen to play in the East–West All-Star Game. This was a very special event, similar to today's Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It brought together the best players from the eastern and western teams of the Negro Leagues.

In that All-Star Game, Miller showed off his skills. He pitched two innings and did not allow any runs. This is called a "shutout inning." It means no opposing players scored while he was pitching. This was a big achievement for him.

After the Negro Leagues

After his time in the Negro Leagues, Hank Miller continued to play baseball. In 1951, he played minor league baseball. He joined the San Diego Padres. At that time, the Padres were part of the Pacific Coast League. This was a league just below the major leagues.

Hank Miller passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 30, 1972. He was 55 years old. He is remembered as one of the many talented players who played in the Negro Leagues. These players helped pave the way for future generations in baseball.

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