Question: What do Ted Williams (1939-1960), Albert Belle (1989-2000), and Hercules Burnett (1888-1895) all have in common?
One answer could be that all three were all-hit, no-field outfielders throughout their respective careers. Surprisingly, Hercules Burnett's career 1131 OPS (On Base plus Slugging) ranks him ahead of Ted Williams (1116, 2nd all time) and Albert Belle (938, 27th all time). Think about what that means. And as bad as Ted Williams and Albert Belle were in the outfield-neither can compare with the abysmal outfield career of Hercules Burnett. Burnett routinely erred one of four balls that came his way for a .750 career fielding percentage. To be fair, he played the brand of pre-1900 ball where fielders did not wear gloves. It is also quite possible that he was unfairly attributed one or more errors in those days before stat keeping became an exact science.
Nonetheless, history books tell the story: you don't want Hercules patrolling your outfield! Williams managed a .974 fielding percentage throughout his career, Belle .976. And both were Canseco-esque when it came to defense-which helps illustrate exactly how bad a .750 fielding percentage truly is. (Jose Canseco is probably best known for allowing a fly ball to bounce off of his head and over the rightfield wall in a game-turning an easy out into a homerun-and even he had a career mark of .971.)
While all of the above information is true, I have unfairly exaggerated the career of Hercules Burnett. He played in just six games and batted just 21 times. Ever. But let me explain.
Hercules Burnett began his career with the Louisville Colonels of the American Association in 1888. The Colonels were not a good team. In fact, the year Hercules made his debut, 1888, the team finished in 2nd to last place, 44 games out of first. The next season they finished 66 ½ games out of first! When the American Association folded in 1891, the Louisville Colonels joined the National League-and in 1899 merged with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Whatever was going on in Louisville it was not working-and it made sense for them to try out some fresh young talent.
On June 2, 1888, a 22-year old named Hercules Burnett was given his big break. The Colonels may have been down a few players on this day-or maybe they knew they were out of the race and wanted to give a young kid a chance. That part is not clear, but on June 2, 1888, the Colonels sent Burnett to man the outfield where he managed to successfully catch two of three balls that came his way. Mercifully he was allowed to stay in for the entire game and bat. He did little with this opportunity, going 0-4 with one walk, one stolen base, and one run scored. Not terrible-but what he didn't know at the time was his next at-bat wouldn't be for seven long years.
What did he do during these seven years? Now that he had entered his name in the history books (albeit almost illegibly) was his desire satisfied? Was he injured or blacklisted? Maybe he started a family and needed a regular income? Maybe he wanted so bad to play again that it consumed his very mind, obsessed him, until he made it happen again. Maybe his nephew asked him why he quit-or why he never hit a homerun?
We will probably never know what happened-but in 1895, Louisville, still the Colonels but now in the National League, gave Hercules Burnett another chance. The Colonels tolerated three more errors in four games from Burnett, before placing him at first base for what would turn out to be his final game. It was on September 29, 1895, that Hercules Burnett finally plays up to his name and turns his career around. In a 13-8 win over Cleveland, Hercules collects a single, triple, and a homerun, steals a base, and scores three runs. He also plays a flawless first base-nine putouts and no errors! At age 30, his career was over.
Hercules Burnett's career line:
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
6 21 7 7 0 1 2 3 3 .333 .417 .714
So, what do Ted Williams, Albert Belle, and Hercules Burnett have in common?
Answer: Each homered in his final major league at-bat.
Hercules Burnett (September 29, 1895)
Ted Williams (September 28, 1960)
Albert Belle (September 1, 2000)
» John B. Stetson is currently an unemployed baseball historian.
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Copyright © 2001 by John B. Stetson. Posted January 30, 2002.
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