Norm Miller – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Norman Calvin Miller finished his Major League Baseball career in 1974 after nearly a decade as an outfielder in the big leagues. Born February 5, 1946, Miller played for two teams, the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves, from 1965 to 1974.

Miller became the first Jewish player to suit up for the Houston Astros when he joined the team in 1965 at just 19 years old. He made his debut in front of family and friends at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

His journey from a Southern California high school graduate to the major leagues happened fast. That quick jump launched a career that would cover parts of 10 seasons.

He collected memorable moments, like his first hit, playing alongside Hall of Famers, and even watching history up close as Hank Aaron chased Babe Ruth’s home run record. Miller piled up 325 hits, 24 home runs, and 159 RBIs, with a .238 batting average. He played the role of a solid contributor during baseball’s golden era in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Early Life and Background

Norman Calvin Miller was born February 5, 1946, in Los Angeles, California. His father’s love for baseball and his family’s Jewish heritage shaped both his character and his career.

He got hooked on the game early, thanks to his dad’s guidance. Miller stood out at Van Nuys High School before signing with the Los Angeles Angels organization.

Childhood and Family

Miller’s baseball story started at home in Los Angeles. His dad put a glove in his crib, and Miller always remembered the smell of that leather glove.

Every night after work, his dad took him and his brother out to play baseball. That daily ritual built the foundation for Miller’s baseball education.

His father worked as a part-time scout for the Los Angeles Angels, so he knew the ins and outs of the game.

Miller called himself “a wild kid, a curious kid, always in some kind of trouble,” but baseball gave him structure and direction. By age eight, it was obvious he had real talent.

His dad’s advice stuck with him: “You will run out every ball, you will respect the game, and you’ll get out of it what you put into it.”

High School Baseball at Van Nuys

Miller attended Van Nuys High School in Los Angeles and developed his skills as a second baseman. Scouts, especially from the Los Angeles Angels, took notice of his play.

The Angels signed Miller straight out of high school in 1964. His father’s connections as a part-time scout probably helped make that happen.

Miller’s high school days showed his determination and over-achieving attitude, even though he wasn’t the biggest guy on the field. He made up for his size with hustle and baseball intelligence.

Signing with the Angels felt like the payoff for all those years of work and his dad’s guidance. For a Los Angeles kid, that local connection made it even sweeter.

Influence of Jewish Heritage

Miller’s Jewish upbringing shaped his identity, though he wasn’t always enthusiastic about traditional religious education. At age eight, his parents tried to arrange Hebrew school tutoring, but Miller was more interested in peeking out the rabbi’s window to watch baseball.

Both parents came from fairly orthodox Jewish backgrounds, but they saw how much baseball meant to their son. Eventually, the rabbi’s wife told them, “this one’s not gonna take to it too well.”

Later, Miller’s Jewish identity became notable when he became the first Jewish player in Houston Astros history. That distinction brought both pride and a few challenges as his career unfolded.

His heritage influenced his humor and toughness. Miller learned to handle clubhouse teasing and antisemitism with wit and determination, never letting discrimination shake his love for the game.

Path to the Major Leagues

Norman Calvin Miller’s journey to Major League Baseball started in 1964 when he signed with the Los Angeles Angels. The Houston Astros picked him up in the first-year player draft. He moved up through Houston’s farm system after some strong minor league seasons.

Signing with Los Angeles Angels

Miller jumped into pro baseball in 1964 after signing with the Los Angeles Angels. He’d been at Van Nuys High and Los Angeles Valley College before Angels scouts took a closer look.

He played his first pro season with the Quad Cities Angels in 1964. Miller made an immediate impact, posting a .301 batting average that year.

That strong debut showed he could handle pro pitching right away. His success with Quad Cities set the stage for the next big change in his career.

Rule 5 Draft to Houston Astros

After just one season with the Angels, Miller’s career took a major turn. The Houston Astros grabbed him in the first-year player draft after the 1964 season.

That move shifted Miller from the Angels to the Astros system. Houston liked his bat and saw real promise in the young outfielder.

The pick paid off for both sides. Houston got a rising talent who’d eventually help at the big-league level.

Minor League Development

Miller started his time in the Astros system with the Amarillo Sonics in 1965. He put together another strong season, hitting .289 with 20 home runs in Amarillo.

He really boosted his power numbers from his first year. Those 20 homers showed Miller could drive the ball, and that earned him a call-up to the majors in September 1965.

He split time between the Oklahoma City 89ers and Houston from 1966 through 1968. That stretch let him refine his skills and get some big-league experience. By 1969, he was ready to become a full-time major leaguer.

Major League Career Highlights

Norm Miller’s nine-season career ran from 1965 to 1974. He started as a teenager with the Houston Astros and finished with a short stint on the Atlanta Braves.

He played at historic spots like the Astrodome, brought energy as a utility player, and even created his own “Secret Weapon” persona to fire up teammates.

Debut with Houston Astros

Miller broke into the majors on September 11, 1965, at just 19, with the Houston Astros. He got a hit in his first at-bat against the Los Angeles Dodgers, kicking off his big-league journey.

The Los Angeles Angels originally signed him in 1964, but Houston picked him in the first-year player draft after he hit .301 for Quad Cities. Miller spent most of 1965 with Amarillo, batting .289 with 20 home runs before getting called up that September.

He was there for the opening of the Houston Astrodome in April 1965. Miller saw baseball history firsthand as the sport’s first domed stadium opened its doors.

Notable Games and Moments

Miller’s career had its share of colorful moments. He was there for the first-ever game at the Astrodome, an exhibition against the Yankees on April 9, 1965, when Mickey Mantle hit the stadium’s first home run.

His best season came in 1969, when he played in 119 games for Houston. That year marked his peak, since he usually filled in as a backup outfielder and pinch-hitter. Miller set career highs across the board that season.

He made a name for himself in the dugout too, calling himself “The Secret Weapon.” He’d wear a cape and paint lightning bolts on his shoes to pump up his teammates. That playful energy became his trademark.

Playing Style and Strengths

Miller played as a hard-hustling outfielder who squeezed every bit of talent from his 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame. He batted left and threw right. His dad’s words always echoed: “You will run out every ball, you will respect the game, and you’ll get out of it what you put into it.”

Here’s what his career stats looked like:

• Batting Average: .238
• Home Runs: 24
• RBIs: 159
• Games Played: 540

Miller’s aggressive style—like running into walls at full speed—eventually helped bring his career to a close. But that fearless approach made him valuable as a pinch-hitter and defensive sub. He knew his role and played it well, once saying his goal was to “be the best pinch-hitter you can be.”

Transition to Atlanta Braves

Miller’s last big-league season came in 1974 with the Atlanta Braves. He played in 42 games, batting .171 with seven hits in 41 at-bats. That was a big drop from his Houston days.

His final game was September 16, 1974, against the San Francisco Giants. Miller went 0-for-1 in his last at-bat, ending his career at just 28. After that, he later returned to baseball in the Astros’ front office.

Joining the Braves gave Miller the chance to play alongside Henry Aaron as Aaron chased Babe Ruth’s home run record. That put him right in the middle of one of baseball’s biggest moments.

Career Statistics and Achievements

Norm Miller put together modest but respectable numbers in his nine Major League seasons. He finished with a .238 batting average, 24 home runs, and 159 RBIs in 540 games. One of his most memorable moments came during a famous marathon game in 1968.

Key Batting Stats

Miller’s .238 batting average reflected the tough offensive environment of baseball’s “dead ball” era in the late 1960s. He racked up 325 hits in 540 games with the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves.

His power numbers stayed modest. Miller hit 24 home runs in his career, never reaching double digits in a single season. Most of his 159 RBIs came during his better years with Houston in the late ’60s and early ’70s.

As a left-handed hitter, he showed patience at the plate early on. In 1965 with Amarillo, he led the Texas League with 89 walks and posted a .406 on-base percentage.

A back injury forced Miller to retire at 28. That injury cut his career short and kept him from reaching his full potential.

Fielding Contributions

Miller mostly played right field, but he spent some time in left and even a little at second base. At 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, he had decent size for an outfielder.

His fielding stats weren’t flashy, but they held up for his era. He threw right-handed, even though he batted left, which wasn’t unusual for outfielders then.

The Houston Astros first signed Miller as a second baseman out of high school. After the 1964 Rule 5 draft, he moved to the outfield, where he spent the bulk of his career.

Famous 1968 24-Inning Game

Miller had his biggest career moment on April 15, 1968, when he scored the winning run in a wild 24-inning game between the Houston Astros and the New York Mets.

The Astros finally won 1-0 after six hours and six minutes. That’s a lot of baseball.

Bob Aspromonte stepped up and hit a ground ball with the bases loaded. Mets shortstop Al Weis let it slip through his legs for an error, and Miller dashed home from third to score the only run.

That ended one of the longest games in baseball history.

People still talk about this game. It really showed how much grit both teams had as they battled through all those innings.

Miller’s role in that marathon is what most folks remember about him. Even now, the 24-inning game pops up in conversations about the most remarkable regular season games.

Injuries and Retirement in 1974

Norm Miller wrapped up his career with the Atlanta Braves, but injuries held him back that final year. He decided to step away from Major League Baseball at just 29, his career cut short by nagging injuries.

Back Injury and Impact

Miller struggled through the 1974 season with a stubborn back injury that just wouldn’t let up. He played only 42 games for the Atlanta Braves, way down from his career-high of 119 in 1969.

His back issues messed with his stance and swing. Miller couldn’t get comfortable at the plate and ended up batting just .171 in his last year.

He missed big chunks of the season because of the injury. In the end, he managed only seven hits in 41 at-bats, which really shows how much the injury affected him.

Key Statistics from 1974:

• Games played: 42
• Batting average: .171
• Hits: 7
• At-bats: 41

Final Season Assessment

Miller retired after realizing his back just wouldn’t let him play like he used to. Even though he was still pretty young for a ballplayer, the grind of the Major Leagues had become too much.

He’d never been a full-time starter, and that tough 1974 season convinced him it was time to call it quits.

Miller wrapped up his 10-year career with a .238 batting average in 540 games. He played his last game during the 1974 season, closing out a journey that started with the Houston Astros back in 1965.

The Atlanta Braves released him after the season. He decided not to chase any more opportunities and officially retired from professional baseball.

Life After Baseball

After leaving baseball in 1974, Miller jumped into marketing and advertising for about thirty years. He kept in touch with the Houston Astros during that time. Later, he wrote a memoir and got involved in sports media.

Astros Front Office and Business Ventures

Miller spent three decades working in marketing and advertising after he retired as a player. He even worked in the Houston Astros front office under owner Drayton McLane for a while.

Things went sideways when McLane asked him to sign a document promising to act with “the highest of Christian principles.” Miller thought that didn’t belong at work, so he quit on the spot.

“I worked for Drayton for a year, and he asked me to sign a document that we would perform with the highest of Christian principles,” Miller said. “I don’t think that belongs in the workplace, so I walked out.”

He didn’t hold a grudge about it. Miller kept following the Astros and never hesitated to share his thoughts about the team’s moves.

Memoir and Published Works

Miller wrote a memoir called “To all my fans … from Norm Who?” and took on everything himself—writing, producing, and marketing. The book helped him reconnect with old teammates and fans from all over.

Self-publishing turned into a real passion project for Miller. He found out he actually loved writing. Readers reached out and told him they enjoyed his baseball stories and insights.

“When you are doing something you enjoy, I love to write, it is fun,” Miller said about the book project. “I’ve been able to reconnect with people all over the country that I haven’t seen in years.”

He didn’t stop there. Miller went on to write screenplays and pitch TV concepts, attacking those projects with the same boldness he brought to the field.

Role in Sports Radio

Honestly, there isn’t a ton of detailed info out there about Miller’s sports radio career. Still, his time in the media world added another layer to everything else he was doing.

You could tell his background as a former major leaguer gave him a certain weight when he talked sports. People just tend to listen a little closer to someone who’s been there.

Miller didn’t hold back with his opinions about baseball, and that boldness made him a good fit for sports media. He kept coaching youth baseball too, juggling it with his media gigs.

Through his media work, he found a way to stick close to the game he loved. Sharing his years of baseball experience with new listeners probably felt pretty rewarding.