He earned the nickname "Mandrake the Magician" for being adept at consistently putting the ball in play and delivering hits through the infield.

[2] The younger Mueller was signed as an amateur free agent out of Christian Brothers College High School by the Giants in 1944.

Mueller played a central, but painful, role in the famous October 3, 1951, playoff game that won the NL pennant for the Giants.

He was replaced by a pinch-runner, Clint Hartung, and carried from the field just before Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World" won the game and the pennant for the Giants.

In 1,245 MLB games played (1,171 as a Giant) Mueller compiled 1,292 hits, including 139 doubles, 37 triples and 65 home runs.