Jesse Burkett
From BR Bullpen
Jesse Cail Burkett (Crab)
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 5' 8", Weight 155 lb.
- Debut April 22, 1890
- Final Game October 7, 1905
- Born December 4, 1868 in Wheeling, WV USA
- Died May 27, 1953 in Worcester, MA USA
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1946
Jesse Burkett was one of the finest hitters of the 1890s and early 1900s, winning three batting titles and hitting .338 in a 16-year major league career.
Burkett began his pro career as a pitcher and split his rookie year in the majors between the outfield and the mound for the 1890 New York Giants. He was 3-10 with a 5.57 ERA in 21 games as a pitcher and hit .309 in 109 games overall. Prior to the next season, he was purchased by the Cleveland Spiders, who moved him to the outfield full-time. He blossomed into a star at the plate, hitting over .300 for 10 straight seasons beginning in 1893. He twice hit over .400 (.409 in 1895 and .410 in 1896), winning batting titles both years. On his Hall of Fame plaque, Burkett is credited for hitting over .400 three times; subsequent research and updated records have lowered his 1899 batting average to .396.
In 1899, Burkett moved on to the St. Louis Cardinals (then known as the Perfectos) and won another batting title with them in 1901, hitting .376. After that year, he jumped to the St. Louis Browns of the new American League, but his average declined in each of his three years with the club. He ended his career with the Boston Americans in 1905.
In addition to his hitting, Burkett was also known for his speed, stealing 389 bases in his career. He also holds a record with 55 lifetime inside-the-park home runs. However, he was a liability in the field, posting a large number of errors in the outfield. His surly disposition also made him unpopular with his teammates, earning him the nickname "The Crab".
After his major league career, he was the owner/manager of the Worcester Busters from 1906 to 1915. He was skipper of the Lowell Grays, Lawrence Barristers, and Hartford Senators in the Eastern League in 1916. He was then the coach at College of the Holy Cross from 1917 to 1920, also managing the Haverhill Climbers of the New England League in 1919. Burkett was a New York Giants coach in 1921 and returned to the minors as manager of the Worcester Panthers in 1923 and 1924. He was skipper of the Lewiston Twins in 1928 and 1929 and ended his managerial career by spending part of the 1933 campaign with the Lowell Lauriers. He also spent time as a Giants scout.
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[edit] Notable Achievements
- 3-time NL Batting Average Leader (1895, 1896 & 1901)
- NL On-Base Percentage Leader (1901)
- 2-time NL At Bats Leader (1896 & 1901)
- 2-time NL Runs Scored Leader (1896 & 1901)
- 3-time NL Hits Leader (1895, 1896 & 1901)
- 2-time NL Total Bases Leader (1896 & 1901)
- 3-times NL Singles Leader (1895, 1896 & 1901)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 9 (1892-1899 & 1901)
- 200 Hits Seasons: 6 (1895, 1896 & 1898-1901)
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1946
[edit] Records Held
- Inside-the-park home runs, career, 55
[edit] Year-by-Year Managerial Record
