RetroSimba

(Updated April 17, 2022)

As both a pitcher and as a coach, Dyar Miller displayed patience and determination in achieving his goals.

Miller was a Cardinals minor-league coach or instructor for 19 seasons _ from 1985-86 and from 1995-2011.

After all those years of service, he got his first chance to be a Cardinals big-league coach in 2012.

When Derek Lilliquist was promoted from St. Louis bullpen coach to pitching coach Jan. 6, 2012, replacing Dave Duncan, who resigned to tend to his ailing wife, Miller was promoted from Cardinals minor-league pitching coordinator to St. Louis bullpen coach.

“It’s always nice to reward people, but this is not a gift,” farm director John Vuch told Cardinals Magazine. “Dyar has earned the opportunity. We’ve got a lot of people who have been in the organization for a long time, but you don’t put a guy in that role just because he’s been here for a long time. You do it because he’s the best fit and has something to offer.”

Miller’s final years as a professional player were with the Cardinals’ Class AAA Louisville team from 1982-84. Louisville’s manager in 1983 and 1984 was Jim Fregosi, who had managed Miller with the big-league Angels in 1978 and 1979.

After retiring as a player, Miller coached in the Cardinals’ system at Class AA Arkansas (1985) under manager Jim Riggleman and at Louisville (1986) under Fregosi.

“I always liked his mental and physical toughness,” Fregosi told Cardinals Magazine.

In June 1986, Fregosi left Louisville to replace Tony La Russa as manager of the White Sox. In 1987, Fregosi hired Miller as Chicago’s bullpen coach. Miller was bullpen coach for the White Sox again in 1988 and also served most of that season as the interim replacement for ailing pitching coach Don Rowe.

After Fregosi was fired following the 1988 season, Miller coached in the Tigers’ system (1989-90) and the Indians’ system (1991-94) before returning to the Cardinals’ organization as pitching coach at Louisville (1995-96) under manager Joe Pettini.

From 1997-2000, Miller was the Cardinals’ roving minor-league pitching instructor. He was pitching coach for the Cardinals’ Class AAA Memphis club from 2001-2007, then Cardinals minor-league pitching coordinator from 2008-2011.

He spent the 2012 season as bullpen coach of the big-league Cardinals under manager Mike Matheny and then was replaced by Blaise Ilsley.

Miller joined the Astros’ organization as a minor-league coach in 2013.

As a player, Miller persevered to reach the major leagues as much as he did as a coach.

A graduate of Utah State with a bachelor of science degree as a history major, Miller went unchosen in the amateur draft and signed with the Phillies as a catcher in July 1968. After four games and seven at-bats with Class A Huron, managed by Dallas Green, Miller was released by the Phillies.

Undaunted, he transformed himself into a pitcher and was signed by the Orioles in 1969. Miller, a right-hander, spent six seasons in the Orioles’ system, mostly as a starting pitcher.

In 1975, nearing his 29th birthday, Miller went to spring training with the Orioles, figuring it likely was his last chance to make the big-league roster. Rising to the challenge, Miller posted the best ERA among Orioles pitchers in spring exhibition games. So it was crushing when Baltimore manager Earl Weaver informed him he was being sent to Class AAA Rochester to open the 1975 season.

Weaver told Miller the Orioles had tried to trade him to a major-league club rather than return him to the minors, but there weren’t any takers.

“He had earned a chance to pitch in the big leagues, but we couldn’t find anybody who’d give him a shot,” Weaver told The Sporting News.

Angered and hurt, Miller lashed out at Weaver. “I was burning,” he recalled to Cardinals Magazine. Weaver told The Sporting News he understood Miller’s response and didn’t hold it against him.

“It brought tears to my eyes. It really did,” Weaver said. “I felt sorry for the guy. To be honest with you, I didn’t know if he’d ever get another chance to do what he had done.”

Miller reported to Rochester and was converted to a reliever. Relying on a slider he learned while playing winter baseball in Mexico, he excelled in the role, posting a 5-0 record, 2.20 ERA and seven saves in 19 games. In June, he was called up to the Orioles. After taking the loss in his big-league debut against the Athletics (the Orioles’ catcher that night: Dave Duncan) Boxscore, Miller enjoyed a stellar rookie season for Baltimore, compiling a 6-3 record, 2.72 ERA and eight saves.

Miller pitched in the big leagues from 1975-81 for the Orioles, Angels, Blue Jays and Mets, finishing with a 23-17 record, 3.23 ERA and 22 saves in 251 games.