Dusty Miller

Dakin Evans “Dusty” Miller (1877-1950) was born in Malvern, Iowa just two months after the nation celebrated its centennial. After graduating from Malvern H.S. he played baseball for local town teams before getting his professional start in 1899 with Kansas City, playing for a Western League team for $1,200 a year. After a stop in Denver, and then back to Kansas City, he was signed by the Chicago Orphans (future Cubs) in 1902. Noted for being an outstanding defensive outfielder with a strong arm, he debuted with Chicago on April 17, being listed as the club’s fourth outfielder. His strong defensive skills didn’t outweigh his anemic offensive production. After hitting only .246 with no home runs, he played his last game on July 22, 1902. After leaving baseball, he lived for a while in Kansas City, and eventually retired to California. In 2018 his hometown honored his legacy by naming a new Little League baseball field in Malvern after him.