Abraham Phillip Miller the real life version of "Crash" Davis belted a home run for his 700th career minor league hit for the Louisville Bats on Saturday.
The undrafted free agent with the cartoon-like fu manchu, has been a professional since he signed with the Reds in 1998. Like Davis the fictitious character in Bull Durham played by Kevin Costner, Miller has become a mentor to young Reds players coming through the system. That is when he isn't baking up the major league catchers. Corky Miller, who made his debut with Cincinnati in 2001, has 95 big league hits too with 11 home runs and 59 RBI.
Miller's blue collar career has been hammered out in 10 seasons with Cincinnati, two tours, Minnesota, Boston, Atlanta and the Chicago White
Corky was born in Yacuipa, California 35 years ago. The tough guy who is as approachable as any player could be was hit with 21 pitches in his first 129 at bats in his first pro season and led all of minor league baseball for the next three seasons by surviving, 31,30 and 31 plunkings.
This spring when some players were complaining about signing autographs Miller told them, "If you don't like signing autographs play worse."
Kevin Costner couldn't have delivered the line any better.
Cincinnati Sports News and Commentary
About Me
- Gary Schatz
- I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992. I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble. I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.
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