October 9, 2002

Each member of the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame's Class of 2003 has his or her shining moment in time.

But for John Miles, the big moment comes every morning.

"If the sun is shining and I can open my eyes, it's a great thing," said Miles, who at 80 is the senior member of the class, which will be inducted Feb. 7, 2003, in ceremonies at the Alamodome.

The perpetually pleasant Miles played in the Negro Leagues in the 1940s, integrated the South Texas League in the 1950s and tutored hundreds of young ballplayers during a lifetime in baseball.

"And if I could run, I'd still be playing today," he said Tuesday, following the announcement of the group at the Alamodome. "Now I just play golf instead."

Miles was with the Chicago American Giants when Major League Baseball was integrated in 1947. But he still played with and against some of the best of the blackball stars in his four seasons in the Negro Leagues, including Satchel Paige and Larry Doby, both members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.