Smoky Burgess from the Chronology

Sep 29, 1979 - The Astros J. R. Richard shuts out the Dodgers 3-0 and fans 11 batters to break his own modern NL record for strikeouts by a righthander. Richard finishes with 313 K's‚ 10 more than in 1978. One of 5 Dodgers hits is a single by Manny Mota‚ his 146th pinch hit‚ breaking the mark of 145 formerly held by Smoky Burgess.

Sep 16, 1962 - Mays celebrates his return to the lineup by cracking a 3-run HR in the 8th inning‚ his 44th of the year‚ to tie the Pirates 4-4. Pittsburgh tops the Giants in the 10th inning when Smoky Burgess hits a 2-run HR.

May 25, 1960 - George Crowe's ML-record 11th pinch-hit HR‚ off Don McMahon‚ gives the Cardinals a 5-3 win over the Braves. Crowe began the season tied with Smoky Burgess and Gus Zernial in career pinch HRs.

May 26, 1959 - In a singular performance‚ Harvey Haddix of the Pirates pitches a perfect game against Milwaukee for 12 innings‚ only to lose in the 13th. Felix Mantilla opens the last inning by reaching base on an error. A sacrifice and an intentional walk to Hank Aaron brings up Joe Adcock‚ who hits one out of the park in right-CF for an apparent 3-0 victory. Aaron pulls a "Merkle‚" leaving the field‚ and Adcock passes him on the basepaths. Both are called out as Mantilla scores. Initially the score is 2-0 as Aaron returns and score; it is later called a 1-0 game. Lew Burdette goes all 13 innings for his 8th win‚ scattering 12 hits. As a consequence of the baserunning in the 13th‚ the Braves leave an NL-record one runner on base. Haddix's gem makes him the 9th pitcher to lose a no-hitter in extra innings; A combined effort of three Reds pitcher‚ on May 26‚ 1956‚ was the last. Making Haddix's effort even more remarkable is the fact that the Braves hitters knew what was coming. In 1993‚ Bob Buhl admitted that the Braves pitchers were stealing the signs from Smoky Burgess‚ who could not crouch down all the way. They would place a towel on the bullpen fence in such a way to signal fastball or breaking ball.

Jan 30, 1959 - The Cincinnati Reds trade C Smoky Burgess‚ P Harvey Haddix and 3B Don Hoak to the Pirates for 3B Frank Thomas‚ RHP Jim Pendleton‚ OF Johnny Powers‚ P Whammy Douglas‚ and cash. The deal will turn out to be one on the worst in Reds history while Hoak, Haddix, and Burgess will each make vital contributions when the Pirates become World Series champions in 1960.

May 8, 1958 - At Wrigley Field‚ the Reds score 8 runs in the 9th inning to overcome an 8-2 deficit and beat the Cubs‚ 10-8. Cincy's last 3 runs come on a homer by Smoky Burgess.

Jul 29, 1955 - Redlegs C Smoky Burgess connects for 3 HRs-one a grand slam-and collects 9 RBIs in a 16-5 pounding of the Pirates. Teammate Bob Thurman also hits a grand slam.

Apr 30, 1955 - The Phillies trade C Smoky Burgess‚ P Steve Ridzik‚ and OF Stan Palys to the Redlegs for OF Jimmy Greengrass‚ C Andy Seminick‚ and OF Glen Gorbous. Then the Phillies buy SS Roy Smalley from the Braves.

Dec 10, 1951 - The Reds trade C Smoky Burgess‚ 2B Connie Ryan and P Howie Fox to the Phillies for C Andy Seminick‚ IF Eddie Pellagrini‚ OF Dick Sisler and P Niles Jordan. The Reds will regret letting the burly catcher go and will reacquire him‚ again exchanging Seminick‚ in 3 years.

Oct 5, 1951 - In a fine pickup‚ the Reds send OF Bobby Usher and C Johnny Pramesa to the Cubs for OF Bob Borkowski and C Smoky Burgess.

May 1, 1951 - At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants collect 5 hits-3 by Alvin Dark-to beat the Cubs‚ 5-3. Dark's big hit is a grand slam in the 6th. He also starts a nifty DP in the 7th when‚ with 2 on and no out‚ Terwilliger lines of Jim Hearn's ankle and the carom is fielded by Dark. With Chicago in the field in the 4th‚ Umpire Frank Dascoli banished the entire bench of Cubs players (11 of them) to the clubhouse‚ apparently for calling him "Rabbit Ears." Later‚ two of the players‚ Bill Serena and Smoky Burgess‚ were recalled for pinch hitting duties.