A tale of 2 Bob Millers

[frankhardy]

As you may or may not know, a big part of my collection is Cardinals autographs on regular Topps cards. I have two 3 inch albums slammed full. My latest count has me at 1,519 different Cardinals autographs on regular Topps cards with more to be added shortly.

When it comes to a 1959, 1960, and 1961 Topps Bob Miller card with autographs, things get complicated real quickly.

For starters, did you know that there were 3 Bob Millers playing in the majors in the 1950's? Even though the youngest Cardinals Bob Miller and the Tiger's Bob Miller did not overlap due to the latter Miller's military service, it still makes things a bit confusing. But to make matters very confusing for me as a Cardinals autograph collector, 2 of those Bob Millers were affiliated with the Cardinals. To make things a little easier to grasp, the Tiger's Bob Miller exits stage right and will not be heard from again in this post.

Bob Miller (born 1926; died 2020) played for the Phillies from 1949 to 1958. He is pictured on a 1959 Topps card with the Cardinals after being sold to the Cardinals. The Bob Miller pictured from the 1960 and 1961 Topps cards was born in 1939 and died in 1993. The following is from sabr.org.

In February 1958, Miller (b. 1926; d. 2020) and his family narrowly escaped serious injury when they were involved in a three-car accident while driving to spring training in Clearwater. Once the season started, Miller never got on track, possibly due to lingering effects from his broken wrist. On August 12, with a 1-1 record in 17 games, he was assigned to the Triple-A Miami Marlins, where he pitched in only three games.

In what turned out to be his final season in professional baseball, Miller was sold to the St Louis Cardinals in February of 1959 on a conditional basis. Former teammate Solly Hemus, then with the Cardinals, suggested to general manager Bing Devine that he should give the veteran moundsman a trial. But after a few weeks in spring training, the Cardinals sent him back to the Phillies, who optioned him to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. After appearing in eight games he was released. Signing with the Montreal Royals, he pitched in six games, then was released on July 1, and retired from Organized Baseball. Miller’s career major-league pitching mark was 42-42 with a 3.96 earned-run average and 15 saves.

This is the reason he is pictured on a 1959 Topps card as a Cardinals player (although airburshed), even though he never played for the Cardinals.

Bob Miller (born 1939 and died 1993) played for the Cardinals from 1957 - 1961 and is pictured on 1960 and 1961 Topps cards. So.... you have a 1959 Topps Bob Miller that is a different Bob Miller than the 1960 and 1961 Topps Bob MIller.

Since that is so confusing and complicated, I researched to make sure that the Bob Miller born in 1926 didn't sign the 1961 Topps card of the Bob MIller that was born in 1939, especially since the 1939 Miller died in 1993.

At first, back in 2019, I thought I had the correct 1961. After I acquired it, I did more research and discovered that I did not have the correct version. The 1961 card that I posted was signed by Mr Miller (b. 1926; d. 2020) and not by the pictured Mr Miller (b. 1939; d. 1993). The two Mr Millers kind of even look alike. One could see how easy it would be to not realize the mix-up. Not only do they kind of look alike, but their signatures are very similar. But I have figured out how to tell the difference.

I am going to post signatures below to illustrate the difference.

First of all, here is the wrong signature on the 1961 card.



Here is the correct signature on the 1961 card.



The first thing you might notice is the size difference. However, that is not the telltale sign because his signature on his 1959 card is much bigger, as seen below.



In the above picture, you have a correct 1959 and a correct 1960. The 1959 player is the one born in 1926 (d. 2020) and the 1960 player was born in 1939 (d. 1993).

Below those 2 cards you have an incorrect 1961 on the left and a correct 1961 on the right.

There are a couple of telltale signs. First of all with the 1960 and correct 1961 autographs, the "e" and "r" in Miller are rushed and not defined. With the 1959 and the incorrect 1961, the "e" and the "r" are very defined. Notice the slant on the "M" in Miller are identical in the 1959 and the incorrect 1961.

There are 2 more telltale signs. The dot above the "i" in Miller are circles on the 1960 and the correct 1961, while dots in the 1959 and the incorrect 1961. Another sign is in the 1960 and the correct 1961, the last "b" in Bob and the "M" in Miller run together. In the other 2 the first and last name are separated.

So, that's the long and the short of it. I now have the correct 1961.

[ALR-bishop]

Shane- You should send them all to PSA for authentication and see what happens 😎

[ALR-bishop]

My effort to "clarify" things

[ALBB]

and then theres the confusing story of the other Bob Millers...both played for the early 60s Mets...I think at the same time...two Bob Millers on the same pitching staff

Also recall Miller as a tough to find 62 T high #..short print

[frankhardy]

Originally Posted by ALBB

and then theres the confusing story of the other Bob Millers...both played for the early 60s Mets...I think at the same time...two Bob Millers on the same pitching staff

Also recall Miller as a tough to find 62 T high #..short print

Ok....so I didn't realize that. I just looked it up and one of the Cardinals Millers (b 1939; d 1993) was one of the Millers on the Mets in 1962. The Tigers' Miller that I referred to was the other Miller on the Mets in 1962. He went served in the military in 1957 and didn't come back to MLB until 1962.

[frankhardy]

Al,

The article you posted indicated that Topps got the wrong Miller on the front. In theory, the card COULD HAVE been intended for the Miller born in 1939, because he pitched for the Cardinals in 1957 and in 1959. And he probably would have been the better choice because the Miller born in 1926 never pitched for the Cardinals. However, Topps anticipated him pitching for the Cardinals in 1959. He did not because he got let go and never pitched in MLB again.

To add to the confusion, the 1959 Topps card has the wrong birth year. He was born June 16, 1926, but the card says June 16, 1927.

[ALR-bishop]

See if you can get one of them to autograph their card with "Sherman"

[frankhardy]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

See if you can get one of them to autograph their card with "Sherman"

Well....that might be a problem. They are both no longer with us!

That would be cool, though!

[rats60]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

See if you can get one of them to autograph their card with "Sherman"

Casey Stengel called the right handed Bob Miller Nelson. I wonder if he signed any autos noting that.

[akleinb611]

Actually, I'm the guy who wrote the SCD article about the many Millers. If the OP is correct, and Phildelphia Bob was tentatively sold to the Cardinals in 1959, then I retract what I said about Topps getting things wrong. They may have meant that Miller to be who he was supposed to be.

They still messed up all the Bob Smiths from that time period, though...

Alan Kleinberger

[judsonhamlin]

Trying to figure out who the players are in the 60 and 61 shots - 12 looks like Gene Green as opposed to Bill White who wore 12 starting in ‘59, but 57 has me confused. If it’s a ‘58 spring photo, maybe Gibson?

[philliesfan]

I always knew there were 3 bob Miller's in baseball during that time. I tried writing to them for autographs. Not sure if I got the correct cards signed.

Thanks,
Bob Miller.........really that's my name.

[ALBB]

but are you right handed or left handed ?

[philliesfan]

I am a Righty......and sucked at baseball. I could never hit anything above about 50 mph. Slow pitch softball I could hit a mile though, but so could most people.
Bob

[G1911]

I knew about the 2 Bob Miller's, but I never before realized just how similar they looked even. Fun post