<\/a>Kevin Millar<\/strong><\/span> is an independent league baseball success story \u2013 going from an undrafted college ball player suiting up with the independent league St. Paul Saints to the starting third baseman for the curse-breaking 2004 World Series Champion Red Sox \u2013 and back again (to put a long ball exclamation point on his playing career).<\/p>\n

Sasturday night (June 24), the independent American Association St. Paul Saints were celebrating their 25^{th<\/sup> anniversary (the franchise began in 1993 as a member of the independent Northern League). That year also marked: the franchise\u2019s first-ever league championship; the beginning of its reputation for box office success (driven by out-of-the-box promotions and positive on-field results); and Kevin Millar\u2019s first professional season.<\/p>\n}

Saturday evening, many of the same factors that shaped the first Saints’ season again came into play.\u00a0 The Saints were in first place and they were celebrating their 25^{th<\/sup> anniversary with a game against the second-place (and defending champion) Winnipeg Goldeyes and a Kevin Millar\/Bill Murray (co-owner) bobblehead giveaway.\u00a0 In addition, the 45-yerar-old Millar \u2013 perhaps the Saints most visible success story and now co-host of the MLB Network show Intentional Talk \u2013 was back in uniform under a one-game contract. \u00a0As with most Saints promotions, this one went just fine. \u00a0The salt-and-pepper bearded Millar \u2013 facing live pitching for the first time in seven years \u2013 smacked a two-run home run to deep left in the bottom of the second inning. Earning a standing ovation in what was most likely his final professional at bat. Unless, of course, the Saints bring him back for their fiftieth anniversary.<\/p>\n}

The big fly, of course, made big news – from the Twin Cities Media to ESPN. \u00a0Who am I not to jump on the bandwagon. \u00a0So, this post will take a look not only at how Millar went from the Saints to the (World) Series and back again – but how he got to the Saints in the first place.<\/p>\n