Former MLB pitcher headlines the Ray Miller family breakfast

If Ray Miller from Kidron has met you, he probably remembers where you met, what year it was and possibly even what day. If there’s a chance you might be related, he’ll figure it out and let you know — and he has a story about each person he’s encountered in his life.

Miller enjoys getting people together, and for over 10 years, he has organized a yearly family breakfast.

“We started in the basement of Kidron Town and Country,” Miller said. “I wanted to get the men from my family together. Eighteen of us met, and J. Augspurger was the speaker.”

Over the years Eldon King, Dan Bartlowiak, Dan Hostetler and Andy Miller have all served as speakers.

This year Miller combined his love of baseball, his passion for helping others and his extensive network of connections to invite Perci Garner, a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians in 2016, to speak at the March 22 event at Salem Mennonite Church in Kidron. The event has grown to support Salem youth mission trips.

Garner shared his story of growing up in Dover and his journey to the major leagues. A three-sport athlete in high school, Garner originally pursued football in college.

“There were 86 scholarships for football and 11 for baseball, so I played the numbers,” he said.

He earned a football scholarship to Ball State, where he played quarterback, but when that didn’t go well, he switched to baseball. Garner shared how he eventually played for the Indians and how he grew in his faith and gave his life to Christ.

“If we are worth dying for, then Jesus is worth living for,” Garner said. “Obviously, there are times in my life when I fail, but that’s just how it’s going to be.”

He also recounted the nerves of stepping onto a Major League Baseball field for the first time.

“If you’ve ever been to Progressive Field in the bullpen, then you know there are a lot of stairs you have to go up to start warming up,” he said. “My heart was beating really hard from the stairs. When I went down, my only focus was to not show I was out of shape. I couldn’t feel my legs, so I had to intentionally pick them up so I didn’t fall. I didn’t want to end up on ‘SportsCenter’ for the wrong reasons. And it was a long run out to the mound. I realized how bright the lights were — even though it was 10 o’clock at night.”

During his time with the Indians in 2016, Garner appeared in eight games, compiling a 4.82 ERA with 12 strikeouts across 9 1/3 innings pitched.

“The Indians in 2016 were a great group of guys — great teammates, great coaching staff and a great training staff,” Garner said. “It was a great, big family, and I was proud to be a part of it.”

Garner now serves as executive director of the Rainbow Connection in Tuscarawas County, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit health charity that supports disabled and disadvantaged residents in the county, along with the organizations and schools that serve them. The Rainbow Connection, founded by New Philadelphia Rotarians, is celebrating its 75th year.

Miller gives personal invitations to the yearly breakfast, with the meal prepared by Salem youth and some of Miller’s sisters and relatives. Bartlowiak, Dave Daniels and John Weyrauch led music, ending once again with “I Saw the Light.”

“At the end of the day, if we keep our minds and our tongues focused toward positive things and lifting people up, we’ll all be in a better place,” Garner said.