| Lew Burdette | |
|---|---|
 Burdette in 1954 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1926-11-22)November 22, 1926 Nitro, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| Died: February 6, 2007(2007-02-06) (aged 80) Winter Garden, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 26, 1950, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 16, 1967, for the California Angels | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 203–144 |
| Earned run average | 3.66 |
| Strikeouts | 1,074 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Selva Lewis Burdette, Jr. (November 22, 1926 – February 6, 2007) was an American right-handedstarting pitcher inMajor League Baseball who played primarily for theBoston / Milwaukee Braves.[1] The team's top right-hander during its years in Milwaukee, he was theMost Valuable Player of the1957 World Series, leading the franchise to its first championship in 43 years, and the only title in Milwaukee history.[2] An outstandingcontrol pitcher, his career average of 1.84walks per nineinnings pitched places him behind onlyRobin Roberts (1.73),Greg Maddux (1.80),Carl Hubbell, (1.82) andJuan Marichal (1.82) among pitchers with at least 3,000 innings since 1920.
Born inNitro, West Virginia, Burdette was signed by theNew York Yankees in1947, and after making two relief appearances for the team in September1950, he was traded to the Braves in August1951 for four-time 20-game winnerJohnny Sain.[3] Along with left-handerWarren Spahn and right-handerBob Buhl, he gave the Braves one of the best starting rotations in the majors during the 1950s,winning 15 or more games eight times between1953 and1961. Burdette ledNational League pitchers inearned run average in1956.[4] When Milwaukee won the 1957 World Series against theYankees, Burdette became the first pitcher in 37 years to win threecomplete games in a series, and the first sinceChristy Mathewson in1905 to pitch twoshutouts (Games 5 and 7), starting Game 7 after Games 1 and 4 starter Warren Spahn was stricken by the flu.[5][6] In the1958 Series, however, theYankees defeated Burdette twice in three starts. The final setback came in Game 7, which he again started on only two days' rest, a decision for which manager Fred Haney was widely criticized.[7] In addition to winning 20 games in1958 and tying Spahn for the National League lead with 21 victories in1959, Burdette won 19 in1956 and1960, 18 in 1961, and 17 in1957.[1][8]
Burdette was the winning pitcher on May 26,1959 when thePittsburgh Pirates'Harvey Haddix pitched aperfect game against the Braves for 12 innings, only tolose in the 13th.[9] Burdette threw a 1–0 shutout, scattering 12 hits. In the ensuing offseason, he joked, "I'm the greatest pitcher that ever lived. The greatest game that was ever pitched in baseball wasn't good enough to beat me, so I've got to be the greatest!"
On August 18 ofthe following year, facing the minimum 27 batters, Burdetteno-hit thePhiladelphia Phillies 1–0 atMilwaukee County Stadium.[10]Tony González, the only opposing batter to reach base after beinghit by a pitch in the fifth inning, was retired on adouble play. Burdette helped himself by scoring the only run of the game; after doubling to lead off the eighth inning, he scored onBill Bruton's double one batter later. Following up his no-hitter, five days later he pitched his third shutout in a row.[11]
In1963 Burdette was traded to theSt. Louis Cardinals (1963–64), and was later sent to theChicago Cubs (1964–65) and Phillies (1965).[3] Signing with theCalifornia Angels, he pitched exclusively in relief for the team in1966 and1967 before retiring.
In an 18-year career, Burdette posted a 203–144 record with 1,074strikeouts and a 3.66 ERA in 3,067.1 innings, compiling 158 complete games and 33 shutouts.[1] In twoAll-Star games, he allowed only one run in seven innings pitched,[12][13] and in1956 he toppedNational League pitchers with a 2.70earned run average.[1] He was twice a 20-game winner and twice led the National League in shutouts.[1] He also led the National League in wins, earned run average, innings and complete games once each.[1] His totals of wins, games and innings with the Braves ranked behind only Spahn andKid Nichols in franchise history. He won his onlyNL Player of the Month award in August 1958 (7–1, 1.89 ERA, 38 SO); teammate pitcher Joey Jay had won the award the month previous. As a hitter, he compiled a .183batting average (185-for-1,011) with 75 RBI and 12home runs;[1] his first two home runs came in the same 1957 game, and he later had two more two-homer games.[14][15] He also hit a home run in Game 2 of the 1958 World Series, being the first pitcher to do so sinceBucky Walters in 1940.
Burdette was a very fidgety pitcher, constantly scratching himself and fussing with his uniform before pitches. Former managerFred Haney once said, "Burdette would make coffee nervous."[5] Frequently repeated motions such as bringing his fingers to his lips and wiping sweat from his forehead lead to rumors of throwingspitballs.[6][16] After the second game of the 1957 season,Birdie Tebbetts, manager of theCincinnati Reds, called Burdette a "cheating spitballer," prompting Redlegs' GMGabe Paul to lodge an official protest with the National League.[17] NL PresidentWarren Giles responded with a statement clarifying that it was okay for a pitcher to moisten his hands as long as he did not transfer the moisture to the baseball and said, "Until someone—the umpires or someone—presents evidence that Burdette is using the spitter, I'll do nothing about it."[17][18] Burdette himself said, "It's the best pitch I've got—and I don't throw it."[17] The rumors persisted, though:Don Hoak said, "Only once did I ever see water fly off a spitball, and the man who threw me that pitch was Burdette."[18]The Sporting News wrote in 1967, "Perhaps no pitcher has engendered more controversy about the spitter than Lou Burdette."[18]New York TimessportswriterRed Smith wrote, "There should be 3 pitching statistics for Burdette: Wins, Losses, and Relative Humidity." Burdette himself referenced this reputation, saying he retired because "they were starting to hit the dry side of the ball."[19]
Burdette was inducted into theFlorida Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.[20] He died oflung cancer at age 80 inWinter Garden, Florida.[5]
In 1958, a reference to Burdette appeared in an episode ofLeave It to Beaver. The text "Lew Burdette just hit a home run and Milwaukee leads seven to one in the series," appears briefly in a few frames showing a letter from the principal to Beaver's parents.[21] Burdette also released a single in 1958 with two Rockabilly songs "Three Strikes and You're Out" on the A side, and "Mary Lou" on the B side.[22]
Burdette's grandson,Nolan Fontana, is a retired former professional baseball player.[23]
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Major League Player of the Month August 1958 | Succeeded by |
| Achievements | ||
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher August 18, 1960 | Succeeded by |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by | Atlanta Bravespitching coach 1972–1973 | Succeeded by |
