Team History

1969: The team got off to a rocky start, losing their first five games of the season. The Millers first win came in game six against fellow expansion club, the Greeley Gophers when Dick Drago threw a messy 8 hit shutout. Drago finished the season 9-14, with a 3.09 ERA and two saves. One of the few bright spots. Team officials had Drago sign a ball used in the game. It now sits, lonely, in the team's trophy case in owner/gm/manager James Taglia's office. Oddly enough, Gary Peters followed Drago's shutout the next day with an 8 hit shutout of his own. Peters went on to lose 22 games that year, including 10 consecutive at one point. The team would manage just two more shutouts the rest of the season.

The '69 Millers sported an inaugural record of 43 wins and 119 losses. The team batted only .217 and had an earned run average of 4.71. The teams stars were first round draft pick Al Oliver, who hit .286 with a team high 26 homers and 77 RBI, and Horace Clarke who managed 55 stolen bases while playing in every game. Youngster Oscar Gamble managed to hit .137 in only 73 at bats with two homers and 22 strike outs.

1970: The Millers showed some improvement in their second season. Several trades brought such players as Manny Mota (.317, 22 SB), Johnny Briggs (.285, 11 HR, 56 RBI), Norm Cash (.284, 6 Hr, 21 RBI), and Orlando Cepeda (.280,15 HR, 61 RBI). Mota led the team with a .317 batting average with Paul Schaal not far behind at .312.

Horace Clarke again played in every game but slumped badly slipping to .252 with only 23 stolen bases. It was a tough year as well for Al Oliver who hit only .254 with 13 homers, half of his total from last season. The bright spot? Bob Bailey, his 29 homers (a new team record), and his 77 RBI (tied for best ever). Dick Drago again led the team on the mound winning 9 and losing 17, with an era of 3.91. The ageless Tony Cloninger paced the team with 10 wins while toiling in 91 games, all in relief.

The team ERA rose to 5.02 as the team managed to improve its win total by only 10 to a stunning 53-109 mark.

1971: Big things are expected from the Millers this season. Pitcher Vida Blue was selected in the first round of the draft (3rd overall) and is expected to lead the pitching staff despite his rookie status. Catcher Earl Williams (another rookie) was drafted in the second round to take over for aging backstop Johnny Edwards. The senior player on the team, Edwards has managed to hit only .209 and .217 with a total of 7 homers in two seasons. While it is Edwards' belief that he has one more decent year left in his aging legs, the Millers management thinks his days may be numbered

Added in trades this year are fan favorite and backup catcher George "Baron von" Mitterwald, who is on his third team in three seasons, utility man Jerry Kenney, and center fielder Ted Uhlaender

Then came the big trade that hopefully turns this team into a contender...Second year man Bert Blyleven and seldom used outfielder Willie Crawford were sent to Death Valley in exchange for Henry Aaron, Mickey Lolich, and Marty Pattin.

Aaron is the USRL all time home run leader with 492 and counting and a lifetime .296 average, he's getting old and slowing down but can still drive the ball out of the park. He hit .279 with 41 homers and 114 RBI last year. Henry is the all time leader in many categories in the USRL including HR, RBI (1382), hits (2124), total bases (4033), doubles (357), at bats (7164), and plate appearances (7967).

Lolich has had back to back great seasons going 20-10 in '69 and 17-9 in '70. He is 90-98 lifetime with a 3.78 ERA.

Pattin had a historic season last year winning 26 games. He is 29-8 in his career with an ERA around 3.50

Another big trade was hatched with the Melbourne Beach Mets, sending Willie Montanez south in exchange for veteran Wes Parker, slick fielding shortstop Bud Harrelson, and utility man Doug Griffin