James D. Burns
Encyclopedia
James D. Burns was an American
businessman
, sheriff
, delegate
, and owner
of the Detroit Tigers
in Major League Baseball
.
Born in Springwells, Michigan
, which was located outside Detroit
city limits
, Burns operated a Detroit brick manufacturing plant
. In 1901, he became the first owner and president of the American League
's Detroit Tigers
, which had formally been a member of the Western League
. The team continued to play at Bennett Park except on Sundays, when Detroit's blue law
s forbade the team from playing there; Burns Park in Springwells served as the Tigers' Sunday home ball park. The Tigers had a 74-61 win-loss record after the first season and Burns sold his interest
in the team to Samuel F. Angus
.
Burns was elected sheriff
of Wayne County
and served a four year term. He also served three times as delegate
to the Democratic National Convention
from Michigan
, in 1908, 1912, and 1916. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. James Denis (Jimmy) Burns was born July 28, 1865 in Springwells Township, Wayne County. He was the sixth of eight children born to Peter and Hanorah (O'Callaghan) Burns. He died on January 2, 1928 at Grace Hospital, Detroit. His wife Miss Catherine Elizabeth Walsh of Rives Junction in Jackson County, are both interred in the Walsh Family plot in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Detroit. Jimmy was educated at schools in Springwells and Detroit and later joined his brothers and father in the family brick business. Before he was twenty years old, Jimmy established his reputation as a boxer and wrestler by claiming the state amateur championship as a middleweight in both events. Jim never competed professionally, he was influential in starting two future boxing champions on the road to success. Tommy Ryan,who held the world welterweight title (1884 - 1898) and the world middleweight title (1898–1906). Ontario native Noah Brusso was world heavyweight champion from 1906 to 1908. Noah fought under the name "Tommy Burns" in honor of his friend and sponsor. Jimmy along with co-owner George Stallings purchased the team in 1901 for $ 12,000. The club was sold in 1902 for $ 20,000. Jimmy started the " The Burns and Campbell" sports bar on Michigan Ave and later owned the "Metropole Restaurant and Grill" on Griswold Street. Jimmy's mother and father Peter and Hanorah Burns are buried in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, 8850 Dix Street, Detroit under the family Burns large marker in section B. Jimmy and Catherine had six children but only two survived beyond infancy. Son James Anthony made his mark as a Michigan State Senator, and on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners. Son Francis Leo joined the Congregation of St. Basil priests, and as such helped found Catholic Central High school in Detroit, Michigan. There is a street in Detroit named Honorah street which is named after James Denis mother. This street formed part of the boundary of the original property given to Owen Burns, the grandfather of James D. Burns.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
, sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
, delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
, and owner
Ownership
Ownership is the state or fact of exclusive rights and control over property, which may be an object, land/real estate or intellectual property. Ownership involves multiple rights, collectively referred to as title, which may be separated and held by different parties. The concept of ownership has...
of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in Major League Baseball
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...
.
Born in Springwells, Michigan
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
, which was located outside Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
city limits
City limits
The terms city limits and city boundary refer to the defined boundary or border of a city. The area within the city limits is sometimes called the city proper. The terms town limits/boundary and village limits/boundary mean the same as city limits/boundary, but apply to towns and villages...
, Burns operated a Detroit brick manufacturing plant
Brickworks
A brickworks also known as a brick factory, is a factory for the manufacturing of bricks, from clay or shale. Usually a brickworks is located on a clay bedrock often with a quarry for clay on site....
. In 1901, he became the first owner and president of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
's Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, which had formally been a member of the Western League
Western League (U.S. baseball)
The Western League of Professional Baseball Clubs, simply called the Western League, was a minor league baseball league originally founded on February 11, 1885, and focused in the Midwest....
. The team continued to play at Bennett Park except on Sundays, when Detroit's blue law
Blue law
A blue law is a type of law, typically found in the United States and, formerly, in Canada, designed to enforce religious standards, particularly the observance of Sunday as a day of worship or rest, and a restriction on Sunday shopping...
s forbade the team from playing there; Burns Park in Springwells served as the Tigers' Sunday home ball park. The Tigers had a 74-61 win-loss record after the first season and Burns sold his interest
Interest
Interest is a fee paid by a borrower of assets to the owner as a form of compensation for the use of the assets. It is most commonly the price paid for the use of borrowed money, or money earned by deposited funds....
in the team to Samuel F. Angus
Samuel F. Angus
Samuel F. Angus was the principal owner of the Detroit Tigers of the American League from through . In 1902, Angus purchased the franchise from James D. Burns to become owner. In 1903, Angus sold the Tigers to Bill Yawkey.-References:*...
.
Burns was elected sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
and served a four year term. He also served three times as delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
from Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, in 1908, 1912, and 1916. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. James Denis (Jimmy) Burns was born July 28, 1865 in Springwells Township, Wayne County. He was the sixth of eight children born to Peter and Hanorah (O'Callaghan) Burns. He died on January 2, 1928 at Grace Hospital, Detroit. His wife Miss Catherine Elizabeth Walsh of Rives Junction in Jackson County, are both interred in the Walsh Family plot in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Detroit. Jimmy was educated at schools in Springwells and Detroit and later joined his brothers and father in the family brick business. Before he was twenty years old, Jimmy established his reputation as a boxer and wrestler by claiming the state amateur championship as a middleweight in both events. Jim never competed professionally, he was influential in starting two future boxing champions on the road to success. Tommy Ryan,who held the world welterweight title (1884 - 1898) and the world middleweight title (1898–1906). Ontario native Noah Brusso was world heavyweight champion from 1906 to 1908. Noah fought under the name "Tommy Burns" in honor of his friend and sponsor. Jimmy along with co-owner George Stallings purchased the team in 1901 for $ 12,000. The club was sold in 1902 for $ 20,000. Jimmy started the " The Burns and Campbell" sports bar on Michigan Ave and later owned the "Metropole Restaurant and Grill" on Griswold Street. Jimmy's mother and father Peter and Hanorah Burns are buried in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, 8850 Dix Street, Detroit under the family Burns large marker in section B. Jimmy and Catherine had six children but only two survived beyond infancy. Son James Anthony made his mark as a Michigan State Senator, and on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners. Son Francis Leo joined the Congregation of St. Basil priests, and as such helped found Catholic Central High school in Detroit, Michigan. There is a street in Detroit named Honorah street which is named after James Denis mother. This street formed part of the boundary of the original property given to Owen Burns, the grandfather of James D. Burns.