George Burpo

George Harvie Burpo

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.
• Debut June 9, 1946
• Final Game July 3, 1946
• Born June 19, 1922 in Jenkins, KY USA
• Died December 20, 2015 in Tucson, AZ USA

BR page

Biographical Information

George Burpo drew plenty of attention because he was both fast and wild. A Kentucky native, he began his pro career at age 17 with the Muskogee Reds in 1939. His minor league career was a mixed bag: he once struck out 18 players in a game, but in another he walked 12 guys. With the Tucson Cowboys, he pitched a minor-league no-hitter. Burpo missed three years serving in the Navy during World War II but was back in 1946. He pitched two games with the Cincinnati Reds that summer; in 2 1/3 innings of work, he walked 5 batters, including Hall of Famer Stan Musial. He continued to pitch in the minor leagues through 1948, when injuries ended his career.

Related Sites

• Baseball in Wartime: George Burpo
• Burpo's Field of Dreams settled in Tucson
• George Burpo obituary