Edward James Milner (May 21, 1955 - November 2, 2015) was an American professional baseball player. He played all or part of nine seasons in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds (1980-86, 1988) and San Francisco Giants (1987), primarily as a center fielder. Milner batted and threw left-handed.

Baseball career

Eddie Milner was drafted out of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio by the Reds in 1976. Milner was part of the disappointing transition of the championship Cincinnati Reds teams of the 1970s. The Reds transitioned from players including Ken Griffey Sr., George Foster, and Ray Knight, taking their chances with players including Milner, Gary Redus, and Clint Hurdle. The team spiraled from competitive to 101 losses in 1982. The only season in team history that the Reds lost 100 or more games. A highlight of his career, in 1986 he had a 20-game hitting streak and belted 15 home runs. Milner, ended his career with the Reds in 1988.

Milner suffered from cocaine addiction during his baseball career. Commissioner Peter Ueberroth suspended him for the entire 1988 season after he relapsed, but he was reinstated before the All-Star break after completing a drug rehabilitation program. The Reds released him on July 31, ending his major league career.

Career statistics

In a nine-year major league career, Milner played in 804 games, accumulating 607 hits in 2,395 at bats for a .253 career batting average along with 42 home runs, 195 runs batted in and an on-base percentage of .333. Along with César Tovar, Milner is regarded as the all-time major league leader in breaking up no-hit attempts with five. On August 2, 1986, Milner collected his team's only hit in a game for fifth time, tying Tovar's major league record (1975).

Eddie's cousin, John Milner, was also a major league player. Eddie Milner died on November 2, 2015.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]