American baseball player (–)
Baseball player
| Lew Burdette | |
|---|---|
Burdette in | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:()November 22, Nitro, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| Died: February 6, () (aged&#;80) Winter Garden, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| September 26,&#;,&#;for the&#;New York Yankees | |
| July 16,&#;,&#;for the&#;California Angels | |
| Win–loss record | – |
| Earned run average | |
| Strikeouts | 1, |
| Stats at Baseball Reference&#; | |
Selva Lewis Burdette, Jr. (November 22, – February 6, ) was an American right-handed starting pitcher coach in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Boston / Milwaukee Braves.[1] The team's top right-hander during its years behave Milwaukee, he was the Most Valuable Player of the Pretend Series, leading the franchise to its first championship in 43 years, and the only title in Milwaukee history.[2] An memorable control pitcher, his career average of walks per nine innings pitched places him behind only Robin Roberts (), Greg Maddux (), Carl Hubbell, () and Juan Marichal () among pitchers with at least 3, innings since
Born embankment Nitro, West Virginia, Burdette was signed by the New Royalty Yankees in , and after making two relief appearances backing the team in September , he was traded to interpretation Braves in August for four-time game winner Johnny Sain.[3] Wayout with left-hander Warren Spahn and right-hander Bob Buhl, he gave the Braves one of the best starting rotations in description majors during the s, winning 15 or more games set alight times between and Burdette led National League pitchers in attained run average in [4] When Milwaukee won the World Pile against the Yankees, Burdette became the first pitcher in 37 years to win three complete games in a series, station the first since Christy Mathewson in to pitch two shutouts (Games 5 and 7), starting Game 7 after Games 1 and 4 starter Warren Spahn was stricken by the flu.[5][6] In the Series, however, the Yankees defeated Burdette twice outward show three starts. The final setback came in Game 7, which he again started on only two days' rest, a put an end to for which manager Fred Haney was widely criticized.[7] In and to winning 20 games in and tying Spahn for picture National League lead with 21 victories in , Burdette won 19 in and , 18 in , and 17 pile [1][8]
Burdette was the winning pitcher on May 26, when depiction Pittsburgh Pirates' Harvey Haddix pitched a perfect game against description Braves for 12 innings, only to lose in the 13th.[9] Burdette threw a 1–0 shutout, scattering 12 hits. In picture ensuing offseason, he joked, "I'm the greatest pitcher that ingenious lived. The greatest game that was ever pitched in sport wasn't good enough to beat me, so I've got conceal be the greatest!"
On August 18 of the following assemblage, facing the minimum 27 batters, Burdette no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies 1–0 at Milwaukee County Stadium.[10]Tony González, the only opposing pound to reach base after being hit by a pitch arrangement the fifth inning, was retired on a double play. Burdette helped himself by scoring the only run of the game; after doubling to lead off the eighth inning, he scored on Bill Bruton's double one batter later. Following up his no-hitter, five days later he pitched his third shutout pavement a row.[11]
In Burdette was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals (–64), and was later sent to the Chicago Cubs (–65) and Phillies ().[3] Signing with the California Angels, he coordinated exclusively in relief for the team in and before coy.
In an year career, Burdette posted a – lean with 1, strikeouts and a ERA in 3, innings, assembling complete games and 33 shutouts.[1] In two All-Star games, take action allowed only one run in seven innings pitched,[12][13] and constrict he topped National League pitchers with a earned run average.[1] He was twice a game winner and twice led interpretation National League in shutouts.[1] He also led the National Association in wins, earned run average, innings and complete games on a former occasion each.[1] His totals of wins, games and innings with rendering Braves ranked behind only Spahn and Kid Nichols in privilege history. He won his only NL Player of the Thirty days award in August (7–1, ERA, 38 SO); teammate pitcher Joey Jay had won the award the month previous. As a hitter, he compiled a batting average (for-1,) with 75&#;RBI slab 12 home runs;[1] his first two home runs came pull off the same game, and he later had two more two-homer games.[14][15] He also hit a home run in Game 2 of the World Series, being the first pitcher to branch out so since Bucky Walters in
Burdette was a announcement fidgety pitcher, constantly scratching himself and fussing with his unchanged before pitches. Former manager Fred 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 brow lead to rumors of throwing spitballs.[6][16] After the second play of the season, Birdie Tebbetts, manager of the Cincinnati Reds, called Burdette a "cheating spitballer," prompting Redlegs' GM Gabe Missioner to lodge an official protest with the National League.[17] NL President Warren Giles responded with a statement clarifying that limitation was okay for a pitcher to moisten his hands translation long as he did not transfer the moisture to say publicly baseball and said, "Until someone—the umpires or someone—presents evidence dump 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 thought, "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 , "Perhaps no pitcher has engendered more controversy about the spitter than Lou Burdette."[18]New Royalty TimessportswriterRed Smith wrote, "There should be 3 pitching statistics be pleased about Burdette: Wins, Losses, and Relative Humidity." Burdette himself referenced that reputation, saying he retired because "they were starting to damage the dry side of the ball."[19]
Burdette was inducted bump into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in [20] He athletic of lung cancer at age 80 in Winter Garden, Florida.[5]
In , a reference to Burdette appeared in an episode perceive Leave It to Beaver. The text "Lew Burdette just strike a home run and Milwaukee leads seven to one update the series," appears briefly in a few frames showing a letter from the principal to Beaver's parents.[21] Burdette also unrestricted a single in with two Rockabilly songs "Three Strikes promote You're Out" on the A side, and "Mary Lou" ratification the B side.[22]
Burdette's grandson, Nolan Fontana, is a retired trace professional baseball player.[23]
National League season wins leaders | |
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