Miller was born in 1876 in Greenville, Indiana. He started his professional baseball career in 1896.[2]
in 1901, Miller started 36 games for the Detroit Tigers in their first season in the new American League, and finished with a record of 23–13. In 1901, he also had 35 complete games (still an American League rookie record),[3] 3 shutouts, 79 strikeouts, and a 2.95 ERA–89 points below the league average.
Miller could not duplicate the success of his rookie season, losing 20 games in 1902, and never again having a winning record.[1] Miller jumped mid-season in 1902 to the New York Giants to play for newly signed Giants' manager John McGraw. Miller was 1–8 for McGraw and the Giants in the last half of 1902 and pitched in 1915 games for New York in 1903. In 1904, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in his final major league season.[1]
In 1904, Miller sprained his wrist in a carriage accident. He was riding with 14 Pirates players when the rear wheel suddenly collapsed. Several players, including Miller and Kitty Bransfield, were injured when the frightened horses bolted and dragged the carriage on its side.[4]
After the 1904 season, Miller returned to the minor leagues. In 1906, he pitched for the Des Moines Champions of the Western League, where he led the circuit with a 28–15 record.[5] His professional baseball career ended in 1909.[2]
In the spring of 1912, Miller traveled to Virginia to try out unsuccessfully for a minor league club. He did not make the club and was described at the time as "down and out, and penniless."[6] He died of tuberculosis one year later at his home near Corydon, Indiana, at age 36.[6][7]
