After brief trials with the Dodgers and Red Sox, Chicago native Miller had a spectacular rookie season with the 1922 Cubs, batting .352 with 78 RBI. He followed with 20 homers, 88 RBI, and a .301 average in 1923. The son of a circus strong man, the 5’9″ 195-lb Miller generally used a 47-oz bat. He entertained fans and teammates with such feats of strength as bending iron bars with his hands and pounding spikes into wood with his fist protected only by a baseball cap. Ironically, his muscle-bound physique handicapped him defensively, and by May 1925 he was gone from the majors.
