Milliken, former pitcher, Majorsville native, dies

The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register

Friday, January 5, 2007

Bob Milliken, a Majorsville, W.Va., native who pitched two seasons in the major leagues for the Brooklyn Dodgers, died Thursday in Florida, The Intelligencer has learned.

He was 80.

“It was really a shocker,” said his cousin, Slim Lehart of Viola, on Thursday. “His daughter-in-law called this morning.”

Born Aug. 25, 1926, Milliken played his high school baseball at Cameron High School and spent more than 58 years around the game, most recently as a scout, and had numerous World Series rings.

He made his major league debut April 22, 1953 and his last game was July 29, 1954. His career was cut short by an arm injury, though he finished with a 13-6 record and an ERA of 4.02 in 180 innings. In 1953, he pitched two scoreless innings in the World Series for the Dodgers.

Milliken never forgot where he came from and was known to come back to the area each fall to hunt deer with family members.

Lehart noted Milliken returned to the area in November for an annual reunion at Dry Ridge Community Building.

“He seemed in good health. He looked good, didn’t seem to have problems getting around,” Lehart said. “And he was hunting.”

Lehart said Milliken is survived by wife Martha and children Brian and Beth.

Lehart said Milliken had been experiencing health problems recently but had been released from the hospital when he suffered cardiac arrest and died.