“FENWAY'S BEST PLAYERS”


 
2003-2005
KEVIN MILLAR

Kevin Millar attended and played college baseball for Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. He led Lamar with 56 hits, 13 home runs, and 50 RBIs, earning All-Sun Belt Conference honors in 1992. The next season, he helped lead the team to the Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament championships, advancing to the NCAA Central Regional Championships in College Station, Texas.

Kevin went undrafted out of college and in 1993, he began his professional career with the Saint Paul Saints of the Northern League. When the MLB players went on strike in 1994, he was one of the replacement players and therefore, he is now barred from membership in the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Kevin had an outstanding career in the minors and was named MVP of the Class AA Eastern League in 1997 as a member of the Portland Sea Dogs.

In September 1998 his contract was purchased by the Florida Marlins and he spent most of the season in the minor leagues with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, where he batted .326

After the 2002 season, the Marlins sold Millar to the Chunichi Dragons of the Japanese Central League. For the transaction to be completed, however, he first had to clear the waivers requested by the Marlins, but the Red Sox blocked the deal with a waiver claim.

In 2003, Millar was officially a member of the Red Sox and enjoyed his best season as a major leaguer posting career-bests of 25 home runs and 96 RBIs. His three-run eighth-inning home run on August 9th was the 10,000th home run hit in the history of Fenway Park, and won the game, again coming from behind the beat the Orioles, 6-4.

Known for his outgoing personality, he received the "Jackie Jensen

Award", presented annually by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America to the player who best embodies the spirit and desire of the former Red Sox outfielder.

Kevin was one of those who helped spark the Red Sox to the 2003 American League Championship Series. Just when they needed some fresh life, he urged his teammates to "Cowboy Up" which became the phrase of the season. He took his own words to heart when he knocked a double off the left field wall, driving home Damian Jackson with another walk-off winning run on August 23rd against Seattle.

When the team clinched the wild card at home in September, Millar and Derek Lowe ran down the block to Boylston Street in their cleats and uniforms and started tending bar at the Baseball Tavern.

In 2004 the team would be led by free spirits, Manny, Millar, and Damon, who dubbed the team “a bunch of idiots”.

Down three games to none in the 2004 ALCS to the Yankees, before Game #4, Kevin told reporters and his teammates "Don't let the Sox win tonight" He would have the lead-off walk in the ninth inning and was replaced by Dave Roberts who had the steal of second which proved to be the turning point in the series.

As a free agent, Millar signed a one-year, contract with the Baltimore Orioles in 2006.