Eddie Burke

Edward D. Burke
(Little Eddie)

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 6", Weight 161 lb.

• Debut April 19, 1890
• Final Game September 19, 1897
• Born October 6, 1866 in Northumberland, PA USA
• Died November 26, 1907 in Utica, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"...as for "Little Eddie" Burke, the idol of the left-field bleacherites, 'nothing could hold him.'" - from an article in the New York Times of April 1, 1895 about the various players on the team, apparently quoting manager George Davis

Eddie Burke played eight years in the big leagues. He was mostly a left fielder, although he also played 172 games in center field and 63 games at second base, along with a few games in right field and at third base.

Burke was born in Northumberland, PA, in central Pennsylvania, north of Harrisburg. He started his pro career in the Pennsylvania State League. After several years in the minors, he became a major league regular as a rookie in 1890. Playing for the Phillies, a team which went 78-53, he had 11 triples and 38 stolen bases (one of the team's big stars, Sliding Billy Hamilton, had 102 steals). Along with Burke and Hamilton, the team's other outfielder was Sam Thompson. Burke was traded near the end of August 1890 to the Pittsburgh Alleghenys for Billy Sunday, an outfielder later to be famous as an evangelist. The next year, Eddie spent his only season in the American Association playing for the Milwaukee Brewers. It was the AA's last year as a major league (and Milwaukee spent part of the season as a minor league team).

Burke was back in the NL in 1892. The Reds tried him and released him in June and the Giants picked him up and made him a regular. He and teammate Buck Ewing tied for the team lead in stolen bases with 42. Burke was with the Giants from 1893-1894, stealing 54 and then 36 bases. His total in 1893 was fourth best in the league, and he also led the league that year in hit-by-pitch with 25. After part of 1895 with the Giants, he came back to the Reds and finished his major league career with them from 1895-1897. In 1896, he had his best batting average at .340, best on the Reds. Former teammate was the manager each year. In 855 total games, Eddie had a solid .280/.352/.378 career batting line, with 747 runs scored and 293 stolen bases.

Burke spent 1898-1899 with St. Paul, and then was in the nascent American League in 1900 (the year it was a minor league) as well as playing in Butte that year. In 1901, he played for Spokane. On April 22, 1902, The St. Paul Globe reported that Springfield was trying to sign him. Burke died in 1907 in Utica.

Notable Achievements

• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 4 (1890, 1893, 1894 & 1896)
• 50 Stolen Bases Seasons: 2 (1893 & 1896)