This is my last letter, but the reaction to my previous ones was surprising to say the least. I heard from a friend and teammate I haven’t seen in over 40 years.

In ’61 with the sponsorship of Harrison Parker with the assistance of Rudy Rabitsch, the team filled its vacancies with college players, mostly from Georgia Southern University (GSU) except for Mr. Cluch.

During the spring of ’62, these guys would win the NAIA national title, the first college team from Georgia to win a national championship.

In ’63, Millen had its finest hour. This team was the best athletic team ever in this part of Georgia. They would not lose until they played three time national champs Detroit Pepsi Cola in the semi-pro world series in Louisville. But Millen was not the same team that won the regionals. It had lost most of the heart of its team. With prior commitments, it lost Skeeter Griffin, GSU’s greatest second baseman, to teach; Bill Griffin, two time All American, to the Yankees; All American Pierce Blanchard and Tommy Howland, GSU’s greatest defensive catcher.

If this ’63 team stayed together with a couple of players from ’60 with the ’64 team, they may have become a national champ. Millen didn’t have large companies or corporations for sponsors, but Harrison got a lot of bang for the buck.

My wife was a registrar at GSU, so she and I saw many college games. Of all the teams we played and the college teams I saw, none were in Pepsi Cola’s class. They were great.

Millen’s list of outstanding players is long. Three were expros, college All Americans, college Hall of Famers that dot halls at GSU, Florida State, Valdosta State, Brewton Parker and other gifted players.

A couple of weeks ago, it was good to see a local young team having some success. Keep it up guys and maybe lightening will strike again.

Thanks, Butch Joiner

Millen