| Smoky Burgess | |
|---|---|
 Burgess in about 1953 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born:(1927-02-06)February 6, 1927 Caroleen, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| Died: September 15, 1991(1991-09-15) (aged 64) Rutherfordton, North Carolina, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 19, 1949, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 1, 1967, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .295 |
| Home runs | 126 |
| Runs batted in | 673 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess (February 6, 1927 – September 15, 1991)[1] was an American professionalbaseballcatcher,pinch hitter,coach, andscout, who played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) from1949 to1967. Burgess was selected as anAll-Star in six seasons (being on the National League (NL) team for nine All-Star games). He became known, later in his career, for his abilities as an elite pinch hitter, setting the MLB career record for career pinch-hits with 144.[2][3] During his career, he led NL catchers in fielding percentage three times. He stood 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) tall, weighing 245 pounds (111 kg). Burgess battedleft-handed and threwright-handed.[4] A statue of Burgess was unveiled in his hometown on November 9, 2024.
Burgess was born on February 6, 1927, inCaroleen, North Carolina, the son of Lloyd Luther Burgess and Ocie (Lewis) Burgess. Lloyd worked in textiles, and was a standout semi-professional baseball player. Burgess attendedTri-High School in Caroleen, and played baseball under coach Forrest Hunt, who had been a catcher in theNew York Yankees minor league system. Hunt taught Burgess to be an aggressive hitter. He playedAmerican Legion baseball from 1942 to 1944.[5]
When asked why Burgess was her only ball playing child, his mother explained it was because "Forrest couldn’t pick cotton like his brothers!"[6]
Burgess was originally signed by theSt. Louis Cardinals in 1943, but CommissionerKenesaw Mountain Landis voided the deal, deeming Burgess too young.[5] In1944, Burgess was signed as an amateurfree agent by theChicago Cubs.[7]
Burgess played in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) from 1944 to 1948 before playing his first Major League game in 1949.[8] In 1944, he played in 54 games for the Class D Lockport Cubs,batting .325.[9] He spent the majority of the 1945 and 1946 seasons in military service.[5] In1947, he led theClass BTri-State League with a .387batting average with theFayetteville Cubs.[10][11] Burgess followed that by leading (minimum 100 games played) theSouthern Association with a .386 average, in1948 with theDouble-ANashville Volunteers.[12][13] In 1949, he played 19 games for theTriple-ALos Angeles Angels of thePacific Coast League, batting .279 in 43at bats.[14] After playing in 46 games for the Chicago Cubs in 1949, in 1950, he played the season with theTriple-ASpringfield Cubs of theInternational League, where he hit .327 in 88 games.[15]
Burgess made his major league debut at the age of 22 with the Chicago Cubs on April 19,1949. He played in 46 games, batting .268 in 56 at bats for the Cubs that season.[4][16][17] He returned to the Cubs for the 1951 season, starting 49 games at catcher, and batting .251 in 219 at bats.[18]
In early October1951, Burgess was traded along withBob Borkowski to theCincinnati Reds forJohnny Pramesa andBob Usher.[7] On December 10, 1951, the Reds traded Burgess,Connie Ryan andHowie Fox to thePhiladelphia Phillies for catcherAndy Seminick,Eddie Pellagrini,Dick Sisler andNiles Jordan, before the start of the1952 season.[7] With the Phillies, heplatooned alongside the right-handed-hittingStan Lopata.[19] He started 102 games to Lopata's 52 in 1952, and led the team in hitting with a .296 batting average in 371 at bats.[20] In 1953, he started 85 games, and hit .292 in 312 at bats.[21] Burgess had his best season in1954, when he had career-highs with a .368 batting average and .942 OPS (on base plus slugging) in 108 games for the Phillies, again starting 85 games; and earning his firstAll-Star Game selection.[4][22][23]
At the beginning of the1955 season, after playing seven games for the Phillies, Burgess was once again traded for Andy Seminick. The Phillies traded Burgess,Steve Ridzik andStan Palys to the Cincinnati Reds for Seminick,Glen Gorbous andJim Greengrass. In being returned to Cincinnati, Burgess finally got the chance to play every day.[7][19][24] He rose to the occasion, hitting for a .306batting average for the rest of the season along with 20home runs and 77runs batted in (RBI) gaining his second consecutive berth on the National LeagueAll-Star team.[4][25] Burgess started 103 of the 116 games in which he played for the Reds that season, and had a career-high number ofplate appearances in a season for any team on which he ever played (477).[4]
On July 29,1955, Burgess hit three home runs and had nine runs batted in during a game against thePittsburgh Pirates, including agrand slam home run. Roberto Clemente caught a fourth long drive that Burgess hit at the right field screen atCrosley Field.[26][27] He began the1956 season as the Reds' starting catcher, but when the team faltered early in the season, RedsmanagerBirdie Tebbetts decided to shake things up, and replaced Burgess with a younger man,Ed Bailey.[28] Burgess started 53 games in 1956, with a .275 batting average, 12 home runs and 39runs batted in (RBI). Burgess said his most memorable career pinch hit came on the last day of the 1956 season, when Tebbetts asked him to hit a home run to tie the Red's all-time team home run record in a season. Burgess successfully hit a home run against theChicago Cubs'Sad Sam Jones; the only time in his career Burgess ever went to bat with the intention of hitting a home run.[29]
In 1957, Burgess started 42 games for the Reds, batting .283 in 205 at bats. He hit 14 home runs with 39 RBIs.[30] In 1958, he started 53 games for the Reds, batting .283 for a second consecutive season. He had six home runs and 31 RBIs in 251 at bats.[31] Among Burgess's Reds teammates from 1957 to 1958 wasJerry Lynch, who like Burgess would become one of Major League Baseball's greatest pinch hitters.[32][33]
In1959, Burgess was traded along withHarvey Haddix andDon Hoak to the Pittsburgh Pirates forFrank Thomas,Whammy Douglas,Jim Pendleton andJohn Powers.[7] He played for the Pirates from 1959 through September 12, 1964, when his contract rights were sold to theChicago White Sox.[7][34] As a Pirate he was named to the National League All-Star team in four seasons (1959 to 1961, 1964).[4]
In 1959, Burgess started 95 games for the Pirates. He hit .297, with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs in 377 at bats.[35] He was the Pirates catcher on May 26,1959 whenHaddix took a perfect game into the 13th inning against theMilwaukee Braves, before losing the game.[36][37] He was selected to both All-Star games in 1959.[38][39] He had five hits in six at bats in an August 6, 1959 game against theSt. Louis Cardinals, with a home run, two doubles and six RBIs.[40][41]
In 1960, Burgess started 86 games for the Pirates, hitting .294, with seven home runs and 39 RBIs in 337 at bats.[42] He was again selected to play in both 1960 All-Star Games.[43][44] Burgess also won aWorld Series with the Pirates in1960, defeating theNew York Yankees. Burgess had a .333 batting average in the seven-game series, starting in Games 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7; four of which the Pirates won.[45][4][46][47][48][49][50]
In 1961, Burgess started 83 games and had a .303 batting average with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs.[51] He was selected to both 1961 NL All-Star Teams, and was named the starting catcher in the July 11 game. He played the entire game, with one hit in four at bats and 13putouts.[52] He also started the July 31 All-Star Game, but was replaced early in the game byJohn Roseboro.[53]The Sporting News selected him as the catcher on its 1961 NL All-Star Team.[54]
In 1962, he started 94 games and had a team-high .328 batting average, above future Hall of Fame right fielderRoberto Clemente's .312 average.[55][56] Burgess also had 13 home runs and 61 RBIs.[55] He felt snubbed by not being selected by his fellow NL players for the 1962 NL All-Star team, even though he was hitting .317 at the time of the voting. Between his rejection as an all-star and the first all-star game that year, he raised his average from .317 to .346.[54]
The Pirates traded forBoston Red Sox catcherJim Pagliaroni before the1963 season, in November 1962.[57] Burgess and Pagliaroni were roommates during spring training that season. Although the 36-year old Burgess was considered the team's number one catcher going into the season, by the end of the year Pagliaroni had started 78 games and Burgess 65.[54][58] Burgess hit .280, with six home runs and 37 RBIs in 264 at bats; and the 26-year old Pagliarioni hit .230, with 11 home runs and 26 RBIs in 252 at bats.[54][58] The Pirates also had traded forManny Mota in early April and for Jerry Lynch in late May that season, giving the team three of the top pinch hitters in Major League history.[59][60] As of early 2000, Mota was the all-time leader in career pinch hits (150), Burgess was second (145) and Lynch was sixth (116).[61] As of April 2025, Mota was third, Burgess fourth and Lynch 11th all-time in career pinch hits.[62]
Burgess played the majority of the 1964 season with the Pirates. He started 40 games to Pagliaroni's 95, hitting .246, with two home runs and 17 RBIs in 171 at bats.[62] Burgess was selected to the 1964 NL All-Star Team as a reserve catcher.[63] His contract rights were sold to theChicago White Sox on September 12.[7][34]
In late1964, Burgess was acquired by theChicago White Sox, who were in the middle of a heatedpennant race.[7] In his first plate appearance with the White Sox, on September 15 against theDetroit Tigers, he hit a game-tying home run off pitcherDave Wickersham. The White Sox eventually won the game, moving them to within one game of first place in the American League pennant race.[64][65][66] That was his only hit in seven pinch hit appearances for the White Sox in 1964, along with twobases on balls.[67]
Over the next three years, Burgess was used almost exclusively as a pinch hitter, appearing in just 7 games behind theplate.[4] In 1965, he appeared in 80 games, all but five as a pinch hitter. He had 22 hits in 77 at bats, with two home runs and 24 RBIs.[68] In1966, he set a Major League record which still stands for the most games in a season (79) by a non-pitcher who did not score a run.[69] The 39-year old Burgess played in two games as a catcher of the 79 games in which he appeared, batting .313 with 15 RBIs.[70]
The White Sox released Burgess after the 1966 season ended, at Burgess's request as he planned to go home to North Carolina to work in his automobile business. However, general manager Ed Short said at the time if Burgess changed his mind about playing, he would be invited to the White Sox 1967 spring training camp; and if he was interested in coaching, the White Sox would make him a minor league batting instructor.[71]
Burgess did rejoin the White Sox in spring training the following season, and played his final season of Major League Baseball with the White Sox in 1967.[72] At 40-years old, Burgess appeared in 77 games, all as a pinch hitter. He had eight hits in 60 at bats, with 14 bases on balls, two home runs and 11 RBIs.[73] He was hampered during the season by a pulled muscle in his rib cage that affected his swing.[74] Burgess played his final major league game on October 1,1967 at the age of 40.[4][75]
During an 18-year major league career, Burgess played in 1,691games, hitting for a .295 careerbatting average, with 126home runs, 673 RBIs, and a .362on-base percentage. He accumulated 1,318 careerhits, with 230doubles, and 33triples. He walked 477 times while striking out just 270 times.[4] He recorded a career .988fielding percentage.[4] Burgess batted .285 (144-505) with 16 home runs and 147 RBIs as a pinch hitter.[76][77]
His .295 career batting average ranked him 10th among Major League catchers, as of 2009.[78] As of 2024 he is ranked 13th.[79] Burgess led National League catchers in fielding percentage three times, in1953,1960, and1961.[80][81][82] Burgess was a six-timeAll-Star,1954 and 1955 with the Phillies, and 1959 to 1961 and 1964 with the Pirates.[83] From 1959 to 1962, there were two All-Star games a year instead of one,[84] so Burgess played in eight overall All-Star games. Burgess did not play in thefirst 1959 All-Star game (though on the team), but did play in thesecond,[85] played in bothgame 1 andgame 2 in 1960,[86] and played in bothgame 1 andgame 2 in 1961.[87]
In 1973, Burgess was reported as having 144 career pinch hits.[88] In September1979,Manny Mota was said have tied Burgess's all-time career record of 144 pinch hits on August 7, 1979; and then broken Burgess's record with his 145th pinch hit on September 2, 1979.[89][90] In 1982, Burgess was reported as having 145 career pinch hits.[91] At the time of his death in 1991, Burgess's pinch hit total was reported as 145 career pinch hits.[92] TheSociety for American Baseball Research articles on Mota and Burgess indicate Burgess's career pinch hit total is 145 hits, and so Mota actually broke the record on September 29,1979, when he got his next (146th) pinch hit.[93][5][94]Baseball Reference states Burgess had 144 career pinch hits.[77] Burgess and Mota (150 career pinch hits) were later surpassed byLenny Harris (212 pinch hits[95]) andMark Sweeney (175 pinch hits[96]).[5][93]
Along withCurt Simmons, he was the last player to formally retire who had played in the major leagues in the 1940s[citation needed] (not countingMinnie Miñoso, who un-retired twice[97]).
Burgess was inducted into theCincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, in 1975.[98] Burgess was inducted into theNorth Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, in 1978.[99] Burgess was inducted into theRutherford County, North Carolina Hall of Fame, in 2017.[100]
On November 9, 2024, a statue of Burgess completing his left-handed swing was unveiled in his hometown of Forest City.[6]
When his playing career ended, Burgess spent many years with theAtlanta Braves as a scout[101][102][103][104] andminor leaguebatting coach with thePulaski Braves, inPulaski, Virginia.[105] At the time of his death, he was still working for the Braves as a scout.[106]
After retiring as a player, Burgess operated automobile dealership inForest City, North Carolina, Piedmont Carolina Motors, about six miles from his Caroleen, North Carolina birthplace. Burgess had a stomach ulcer for most of his playing career. An operation to treat the ulcer later cost him a baseball coaching job, as it left him weak for a year.[107][103][74]
Burgess died at age 64, inRutherfordton, North Carolina, September 15, 1991, survived by his wife, Margaret and son, Larry, both of Forest City, North Carolina.[1] Margaret never called him Smoky, only Forrest.[6]