Burkett batted over .400 three times, a feat duplicated only by Ty Cobb and Rogers
Hornsby. A lefthanded line-drive hitter and clever bunter, his ability to foul pitches
off was one of the reasons for the introduction of the rule making foul balls strikes.
He said he owed his success to "that old confeedence," but his speed helped him leg
out many hits. He scored more than 100 runs in nine different seasons, twice topping
the NL.
The 5'8" 155-lb Burkett starred in the outfield for the Cleveland Spiders
during the 1890s and was one
of the players switched to St. Louis in 1899 when the
Cleveland franchise was stripped.
Called "The Crab" because of his caustic barbs
and constant complaining, he insulted rivals, fans, and teammates with equal venom.
He was particularly sensitive to suggestions that he and Jack Glasscock, whom he
resembled, were father and son, and would fight anyone who said so.
After leaving
the ML, Burkett owned and managed the Worcester club of the New England League, 1906-13,
making regular appearances in the outfield until he was 45. He later managed other
minor league clubs and coached several college teams. In 1921, he coached for John
McGraw's New York Giants, still as salty and bitter-tongued as ever. When the Giants
won the WS, McGraw had to dig into his own pocket for a bonus for "The Crab"; the
players refused to vote him a share.
(JK)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»July 8, 1900: For the 4th time in his career, St. Louis star Jesse Burkett hits two inside-the-park homers in a game. It is all the scoring St. Louis can muster as Brooklyn wins, 8–2.
»October 20, 1901: Seven Cardinals, including the three top hitters-Jesse Burkett, Emmet Heidrick, and Bobby Wallace-and half the pitching staff, jump to the new St. Louis AL team.
»April 26, 1902: In his ML debut, Cleveland's Addie Joss hurls a one-hitter against the Browns to win 3-0. The only hit is a scratch single by Jesse Burkett.
»January 16, 1905: It seems simple enough on paper; the Red Sox buy OF George Stone from Washington. The Browns reclaim Frank Huelsman from the Senators, where he had been on loan, and send him along with OF Jesse Burkett to Boston for Stone. Boston then sends Huelsman back to Washington in payment for George Stone. This is Huelsman's 4th trade in eight months and his playing for four American League teams in one season will not be matched until Paul Lehner does it in 1951.
»May 1, 1906:
The Boston Pilgrims drop an 8-0 decision to the Highlanders, the first of franchise record 19 losses in a row. OF Jesse Burkett is released by the Pilgrims to manage the Worcester team, which he owns. Burkett will be voted in to the Hall of Fame in 1946 by the Vet's committee.
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