The first umpire from California selected to the National Softball Hall of Fame, Miller had a reputation as a no nonsense umpire who applied the rules to all participants equally. Ralph wanted to bring a sense of fairness and control to each game that he umpired. Miller was particularly proficient at controlling difficult situations while maintaining his approachability. His umpiring and leadership skills were second to none. The 33rd umpire overall selected to the Hall of Fame, Miller umpired from 1978 to 2002. During that time, he worked some of the top events in softball, including five ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch National Championships, two Class A championships, one Class B and two ISF events, including the Men’s World Championship in Midland, MI in 1996 and the Women’s Asian Zone Qualifier in Manila in 1997. Although Miller worked more than his share of national championships and quality softball events, he said that his greatest accomplishment was “the umpires I mentored in various clinics, the Oakland Metro Clinics and the Hayward Umpire Association Plate School.” After starting his career in 1978, Ralph served as president of the Mission Valley Umpires’ Association from 1980-84, president of the Hayward Umpires’ Association from 1987-89 and was deputy UIC for the Oakland ASA from 1998-2001. Miller attended two schools, the National School in Stockton, CA in 1985 after a year earlier attending the Region 14 School. Although retired from umpiring, Miller said while he gained a sense of fulfillment as an umpire, there was nothing more fulfilling than the many friends he made while umpiring. “I only regret that I didn’t start umpiring sooner,” said Miller. “I would have loved to have umpired with some the greats of the game, both locally and at a national level.” Miller was born July 11, 1945 and resides in Fremont, CA.
