Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-04

IRON time to time there have been
stories in different papers as to

TROM time to time there have been
stories in different papers as to
the maj who discovered John
Miller, the Kearny boy who led the
National League second sackers in
fielding and batted A.279 last year. The
letter printed above was sent last year
to Larry Sutton, the scout, by no less
q parsonage thar John Miller himself
n ought to settle beyond doubt who
discovered John Miller so far as his
big leagur 'areer is concerned. 1t was
written jus---yhen Miller began to star
with the Pirates.
I am not going to say with a con-
temporary when / tell you I know
the argument is over but am content
TO let the fans draw their own con-
clusions from what is printed in this
column today;
The following letter received by the
writer this morning is responsible for
what the reader will find written here
today:
To the Sporting Editor of the Evening Star:
| have read In many papers stories
as to the man who discovered John
Dots Miller. The New York Press
last Sunday said Arthur Irwin made
the find, and q local paper last night
said that one of its men unearthed the
boy. The sporting. editor of that paper
says that this is trne; that he knows
it's true, and that when he tells us he
knows, all arguments are settled. Your
paper has said that another ma dis
covered Miller. Will you kindly state
the details of the discovery.
CHARLES BEIsTRAM.
70 South Seventh street.
/ will answer the questions by Civ
ing what is the "real'' baseball history
Of John Miller Since the year 1906. when
he began to blossom in a baseball way
Ask. or write any OF those mentioned
in this story for v~eriication of its de-
tail.
Previous to 1906 he had been playing
about Kearny. where he was fast max
ing a name for himself. His brother
Lew Miller. at that time was consid.
cred one of the best second basemen
in this part of the State. Lew was
sought after. and tina wear was en-
gagged by the management Of the Cald-
we'll Baseball Club, of Caldwell, tn
play second base on SATURDAYS and
holidays. Eddie O'Brien, Of Harrison
wa on the third corner. Henry Har.
rison. the old Princeton twirler, who
is now mayor of Caldwell. and who
will play with that team again this
year, was the leader of the nine and
had as much to DO with Miiler's early
development as anybody. In the mid
die of that season O'Brien got q chance
to play up the state and took it. Lew
Miller suggested his younger brother.
the present famous Dots" for the
place, and John got the job. That was
in 1906. There John played third base
shortstop and pitcher on Saturdays and
holidays until in May. 1908, when he
went away to Easton, then IN the At
lantic League.
The young fellow held his end ur
during the first year he was at Cald-
well. During 'he next year he de-
veloped into a star by his fielding and
batting, often driving the ball into ths
yard of the Monomonock Inn. Lev
didn't play in Caldwell that. year. The
writer was the Caldwell catcher that
wear and had to stop John Miller
benders when he pitched and to throw
to Dots to get daring base-runners
at second when John was playing
shortstop. n
In the meantime John had been play
ing Just as good ball on SUNDAYS 70,
the Pathways, in Kearny. where hf
first started the game as he was fo'
the Caldwell team. He took his turr
at shortstop and pitching n did al
in a promising way. batting like q
fend.
During the 1907 season l had occa
sion to meet Larry Sutton very fire.
ouently in the STAR office, where boil
of us were employed. and I told him o.
the fine game this boy was putting u
in Caldwell but the stories fell On un-
willing ears, because nobody believed