Eddie Milner, American Baseball player, Died at 60

  Sports

Edward James Milner was born on May 21, 1955, and died on November 2, 2015.

He was an American professional baseball player.

Edward played all or part of nine seasons in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds (1980 to 1986, 1988) and San Francisco Giants (1987), primarily as a center fielder. Milner batted and threw left-handed.

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 Edward, Gary Redus, and Clint Hurdle.

The team spiraled from competitive to years of 100 losses.

Edward, fast runner and with limited offense skills ended his career with the Giants.

A highlight of his career, in 1986 he had a 20-game hitting streak and belted 15 home runs.

Edward 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.

In a nine-year major league career, Edward 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, Edward collected his team’s only hit in a game for the fifth time, tying Tovar’s major league record (1975).

Edward’s cousin, John Milner, was also a major league player.

Edward Milner passed away at age 60 on November 2, 2015.