Britt Burns
Encyclopedia
Robert Britt Burns is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
from 1978 until 1985, pitching for the Chicago White Sox
compiling a career mark of 70 wins and 60 losses with a 3.66 ERA
.
Burns pitched for Huffman High School in Birmingham, Alabama
from 1975 to 1977. When he graduated, he held the state record for career victories with 35 against only 2 losses (a record that stood for over 12 years), and as of 2008, still holds the single season record for lowest earned run average after posting a 0.00 in 1977. He was discovered by Chicago Tribune
book critic Bob Cromie while pitching in Birmingham
in 1978. He made his debut later that season at the age of 19. Burns did not become as full time major leaguer until 1980 when he won 15 games. In 1983 he helped the White Sox into the ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles
, pitching 9 1/3 innings before surrendering a home run to Tito Landrum
in the fourth and final game of the series.
1985 would prove to be a bittersweet year for Burns as he won 18 games for Chicago, but was traded on December 12 with Glen Braxton and Mike Soper to the New York Yankees
for Ron Hassey
and Joe Cowley. A chronic, degenerative hip condition, however, put Burns' career on hold before he could ever pitch for New York. After years of rehab, he attempted a comeback in 1990, making four unsuccessful minor-league starts before finally retiring as a player.
Burns is currently the minor league pitching coordinator for his hometown Houston Astros
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
from 1978 until 1985, pitching for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
compiling a career mark of 70 wins and 60 losses with a 3.66 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
Burns pitched for Huffman High School in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
from 1975 to 1977. When he graduated, he held the state record for career victories with 35 against only 2 losses (a record that stood for over 12 years), and as of 2008, still holds the single season record for lowest earned run average after posting a 0.00 in 1977. He was discovered by Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
book critic Bob Cromie while pitching in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
in 1978. He made his debut later that season at the age of 19. Burns did not become as full time major leaguer until 1980 when he won 15 games. In 1983 he helped the White Sox into the ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, pitching 9 1/3 innings before surrendering a home run to Tito Landrum
Tito Landrum
Terry Lee Landrum , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1980-1988....
in the fourth and final game of the series.
1985 would prove to be a bittersweet year for Burns as he won 18 games for Chicago, but was traded on December 12 with Glen Braxton and Mike Soper to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Ron Hassey
Ron Hassey
Ronald William Hassey is a retired Major League Baseball catcher. Hassey began his career with the Cleveland Indians after the Indians drafted him in the 18th round of the 1976 MLB amateur draft...
and Joe Cowley. A chronic, degenerative hip condition, however, put Burns' career on hold before he could ever pitch for New York. After years of rehab, he attempted a comeback in 1990, making four unsuccessful minor-league starts before finally retiring as a player.
Burns is currently the minor league pitching coordinator for his hometown Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.