Smoky Burgess

Infobox MLB retired
name=Smoky Burgess
position=Catcher
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date|1927|2|6
Caroleen, North Carolina
deathdate=death date and age|1991|9|15|1927|2|6
Asheville, North Carolina
debutdate=April 19
debutyear=by|1949
debutteam=Chicago Cubs
finaldate=October 1
finalyear=by|1967
finalteam=Chicago White Sox
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.295
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=126
stat3label=Run batted in
stat3value=673
teams=
* Chicago Cubs (by|1949, by|1951)
* Philadelphia Phillies (by|1952-by|1955)
* Cincinnati Reds (by|1955-by|1958)
* Pittsburgh Pirates (by|1959-by|1964)
* Chicago White Sox (by|1964-by|1967)
highlights=
* 6x All-Star selection (1954, 1955, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964)
* World Series champion (1960)

Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess (February 6, 1927 - September 15, 1991) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who later in his career became known for his ability as a pinch hitter. In his playing days, he stood 5'8" (173 cm), weighed 188 pounds (85 kg), batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

Born in Caroleen, North Carolina, Burgess was signed as an amateur free agent by the Chicago Cubs in 1944 and broke into the majors in 1949.

By the time he had retired from baseball in 1967, Burgess had played for the Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox. He played in five All-Star games and set the then-record of 145 career pinch-hits. Along with Curt Simmons, he was the last player to formally retire who had played in the major leagues in the 1940s (not counting Minnie Miñoso, who un-retired twice).

Burgess won a World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960, batting .333 in five series games.

Other career statistics include a .295 career batting average with 126 home runs, 673 RBI and a .362 on base percentage. He accumulated 1318 career hits with 230 doubles and 33 triples.

When his playing career ended, Burgess spent many years with the Atlanta Braves as a scout and minor league batting coach. He died at age 64 in Asheville, North Carolina. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1975.

ee also

* Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game
* Chicago White Sox all-time roster

External links

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/B/Burgess_Smoky.stm Baseball Library] - profile and chronology
*baseball-reference|id=b/burgesm01
* [http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Burgess.Smokey.Obit.html The Deadball Era]