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May 24, 2009

George Bremer: Miles will never be replaced

I didn’t talk to John Miles the last time I had the chance. It was the Nick Muller Memorial Baseball Tournament, and he looked busy.

I had several errands I was attending to, as well. But they all seem rather trivial now.

I told myself then I should go over and say hello. I hadn’t seen him in the seven years since my wife and I left Anderson during our first tenure and moved to Florida.

But there would be plenty of time to talk to him in the summer, I thought. Plenty of time to talk baseball as Anderson Hockett made another run at the American Legion state title.

Instead, there will be no Hockett games this year.

And I’ll never get the chance to talk to Miles again.

Miles died Wednesday after a brief illness.

He’d been working as hard as ever. Scouting local players for the Atlanta Braves as well as his own Hockett roster. Looking for ways to raise a little extra cash to make sure he could play in all the tournaments he wanted to attend.

There was a golf outing planned as a fundraiser. Business was proceeding as usual.

Then, about three weeks ago, Miles was admitted to Saint John’s Medical Center. And the upcoming season became the least of everyone’s worries.

I’ll miss the talks with Miles the most.

I’ve always been a student of baseball history, and he was a living, breathing encyclopedia. Especially when it came to the local game.

I’d meet him behind the concession stand ostensibly for an interview about a player feature or to preview an upcoming game. And we’d end up talking for an hour about former players, or how Ball State’s team was doing, or which local players might be selected in the MLB draft.

Miles was an adept storyteller. Invariably, the tales would turn to Jermaine Allensworth — the former Madison Heights star who was the engine for Miles’ first great Hockett teams.

Allensworth went on to play at Purdue and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round in 1993. He played four major league seasons with the Pirates, Kansas City Royals and New York Mets.

But Miles seemed most proud of the man Allensworth had become.

When I reached him Saturday at his home in Bloomington, Ill., Allensworth hadn’t heard of Miles’ passing. His voice carried genuine sorrow, and it was plain the respect between the two men was mutual.

Some day, I hope, Anderson Hockett will return. It’s a great opportunity for many young players to be seen by pro and college scouts, and it’s an invaluable piece of the community.

But there will never be another John Miles.

His knowledge of the game and compassion for his players is irreplaceable.

Countless former players told me Saturday that Miles made the American Legion program feel like a family.

That family lost its patriarch Friday.

And I’d give just about anything to talk with him one last time.

Contact George Bremer: 640-4831, george.bremer@heraldbulletin.com

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