Justin Miller (baseball, born 1977)
A hard-throwing relief pitcher whose distinctive arm tattoos led to a permanent change in Major League Baseball's uniform rules.
1977–2013 (age 36)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 27·Generation X
Biography
Justin Miller prompted MLB to institute the "Justin Miller rule" in 2007, mandating pitchers with elaborate tattoos wear long sleeves. An eight-year MLB journey took him across five teams: the Blue Jays, Marlins, Giants, and Dodgers. A right-handed reliever with a powerful fastball, he often worked in high-leverage situations. His most lasting impact, however, came not from a specific pitch but from his appearance. Umpires and opponents argued his tattoo-covered arms could distract batters. This unique footnote in baseball history ensures his name is remembered long after his playing days. He also pitched for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Justin was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Justin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Justin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2013Died at 36
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Pitched in 281 Major League games over eight seasons as a reliable relief pitcher.
- His distinctive appearance directly prompted MLB to create a rule requiring pitchers with arm tattoos to wear long sleeves.
- Recorded a career-best 3.65 ERA over 61 appearances for the Florida Marlins in 2008.
Did You Know?
The official MLB rule is listed under Section 1.11 (c), often colloquially called the 'Justin Miller rule.'
He struck out slugger Barry Bonds twice in three career meetings.
After his MLB career, he played for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
“I played the game hard, and I'm proud of what we changed.”
