Former Dodger Bob Miller Is Killed in Auto Accident

Bob Miller, a former major league pitcher who spent five seasons with the Dodgers, was killed Friday in a car accident in Rancho Bernardo near San Diego. He was 54.

Miller, who had been with the San Francisco Giants since 1981 as a scout, minor league instructor and major league pitching coach, was killed instantly, according to a spokesman for the Giants.

Miller was making a left turn when his car was struck by a car running a red light, a spokesman for the San Diego coroner’s office said. The driver of that car may have experienced a “medical crises” resulting in the accident, the spokesman said.

Miller’s mother, Norma Jean Miller, 83, was a passenger in her son’s car and suffered extensive injuries, the spokesman said. She was in critical condition at Palomar Hospital Friday night.

Miller had a 69-81 record with 52 saves during 17 major league seasons. He pitched for seven teams in addition to the Dodgers, with whom he was 29-33 with 24 saves from 1963 through ’67. He appeared in relief for the Dodgers in the 1965 and ’66 World Series, and was in three World Series games with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971.

Miller had a career earned-run average of 3.37, but his ERA in four of five seasons with the Dodgers was below 3.00.

He managed in the San Diego Padres minor league system in 1976 and was the Toronto Blue Jays’ pitching coach from 1977 through ’79.

Miller lived in Scottsdale and is survived by his wife, Judy, and daughter, Kriskine. His death extends a series of misfortunes that have touched the Dodgers this year, including the death of their former pitcher, Tim Crews, in a spring training boating accident and the recent deaths of Don Drysdale and Roy Campenella.