Willie Mueller

Willard Lawrence Mueller Jr. (/ˈmɪlər/; born August 30, 1956) is an American former Major League Baseball Pitcher, actor, and baseball coach. He spent his entire baseball career with the Milwaukee Brewers organization (1978–1981).

Mueller was born in West Bend, Wisconsin. Mueller attended West Bend West High School where he starred as a prep pitcher.

Mueller was an undrafted free agent signed after the June 1974 Major League Baseball Draft. Mueller made his major league debut four years later, at twenty one years old against the Boston Red Sox. Mueller's final appearance was September 20, 1981 against the Baltimore Orioles.

After Mueller's baseball career, he played the role of the Duke, in the 1989 blockbuster Major League (film). Mueller's role of the Duke was known as a menacing relief pitcher for the New York Yankees. The role of the Duke has even gotten a cult status following. On a March 2, 2011 interview with the Today show, Charlie Sheen stated that, "the Duke is winning at life" when discussing a installment of Major League.

Mueller is currently the pitching coach at Concordia University Wisconsin.

Mueller resides in his home town of West Bend, Wisconsin. He has two children, Lindsey and Daniel. His daughter Lindsey was a volleyball player at Division 1 Binghamton University. His son Daniel is currently a pitcher and shortstop for Concordia University Wisconsin. Mueller is also the uncle of former San Francisco Giants third baseman Ryan Rohlinger who was also a division 3 All American baseball player at Concordia University Wisconsin. Another nephew, Mike Mueller, pitched professionally in the Atlanta Braves system.

Mueller remains quite close to former teammates, Jim Gantner, Robin Yount, and Jerry Augustine.