Britt Burns

Robert Britt Burns

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 5", Weight 218 lb.
• High School Huffman High School
• Debut August 5, 1978
• Final Game September 30, 1985
• Born June 8, 1959 in Houston, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Britt Burns played parts of eight years in the majors with the Chicago White Sox. Injuries derailed his playing career well before he reached 30.

Following a high school career where he once struck out 18 in one game, Burns was selected by the White Sox in the third round of the 1978 amateur draft. He was called up by the team that August and made two big league starts as a 19 year old. Following more seasoning in the minors, he won 15 games and had a 2.84 ERA in his first full big league season in 1980 and was named Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year.

After going 10-6 with a 2.64 ERA and throwing 30 consecutive scoreless innings in 1981, Burns appeared to be on track to be the ace of the Chicago pitching staff. His numbers declined somewhat over the next two seasons as he was plagued with injuries, but the Sox still won their division in 1983. He got the start in Game Four of that year's American League Championship Series against the Baltimore Orioles and pitched nine scoreless innings before giving up a home run to Tito Landrum in the top of the 10th inning to get the loss.

Burns struggled in 1984, winning only 4 games, accumulating an ERA of 5.00 and getting yanked from the Sox rotation. In 1985 he came back strong, winning 18 games. That offseason he was traded to the New York Yankees for Joe Cowley and Ron Hassey, upsetting White Sox fans. As fate would have it, he never played another game after developing a chronic hip condition and retired at the age of 26. He made two unsuccessful comeback attempts in the early 1990s.

In recent years, Burns has held the following positions (all are as Pitching Coach unless otherwise noted):

• 1993 GCL Marlins
• 1994-1995 Brevard County Manatees
• 1996-1997 Portland Sea Dogs
• 1998-2000 Florida Marlins Minor League Pitching Coordinator
• 2001 Calgary Cannons
• 2002 Toledo Mud Hens
• 2003 Erie SeaWolves
• 2004-2006 Lakeland Tigers
• 2007 Toledo Mud Hens
• 2008-2009 Houston Astros Minor League Pitching Coordinator
• 2012 Sugar Land Skeeters
• 2013-2015 Birmingham Barons

Miscellaneous

Since 1920, only three pitchers have had at least 18 wins in their final season: Britt Burns, Mike Mussina, and Sandy Koufax.

Notable Achievements

• 1980 Topps All-Star Rookie Team
• AL All-Star (1981)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 2 (1980 & 1985)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1980 & 1985)