1976 Topps #517 - John Milner

• John  Milner played in the majors from 1971-1982. Milner was drafted by the New York Mets in 1968. John played in the  minors from 1968-1971. He got a brief look by the Mets in 1971 and batted .167 in 18 AB.
• Milner was third in NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Jon Matlack and Dave Rader in 1972. Milner batted .238 with 17 HR and 38 RBI. In 1973 John spent most of his time at 1B and played some in LF as well. He batted .239 with 23 HR and 72 RBI during the regular season. John batted .176 in the NLCS and .296 in the World Series.
• Milner was the starting first baseman in 1974 and batted .252 with 20 HR and 63 RBI in 137 games. John struggled in 1975 and didn't get as much playing time. Milner batted .191 with 7 HR in 91 games in '75.
• John had a much better year in 1976, batting .271 with 15 HR and 78 RBI. Milner batted .255 with 12 HR and 57 RBI in 1977. After the 1977 season Milner was involved in a complicated 4-way trade. He ended up with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• For the next two years Milner and Bill Robinson formed an effective combination in left field for the Pirates. In 1978 Milner batted .271 with 6 HR and 38 RBI in 295 AB. Milner batted .276 with 16 HR and 60 RBI in 326 AB. John was hitless in nine at bats in the NLCS and was 3 for 9 in the World Series.
• John spent some time at 1B in 1980 as well as LF. He batted .244 with 8 HR and 34 RBI in 1980. Milner was mostly relegated to pinch hitting duties for the Pirates in 1981. John was batting .237 with 2 HR in 59 AB when he was traded to the  Montreal Expos for Willie Montanez on August 20. Milner batted .237 with 3 HR in 76 AB for the Expos to finish the 1981 season. Milner made two pinch hitting appearances in the NLDS (1 for 2) and was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter in the NLCS.
• Milner didn't do much for the Expos in 1982 (.107 in 28 AB) and was released on July 6. John signed with the Pirates on July 29 and batted .240 in 25 AB. Milner was released during spring training in 1983 and retired.
• Milner testified during the Pittsburgh drug trials in 1985. John testified that he once bought cocaine in a bathroom stall in Three Rivers Stadium during a game in 1980 and that he had received amphetamines from Willie Mays and Willie Stargell.
• John died of lung cancer at the age of 50 in East Point, Georgia in 2000.
• Liked to face: Dave Giusti (.538 in 13 AB); Paul Moskau (.474 in 19 AB); Don Gullett (.450 in 20 AB)
• Hated to face: Larry Demery (.000 in 11 AB); Claude Osteen (.056 in 18 AB); Alan Foster (.091 in 22 AB)