Athletes - George Burns

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	Athletes - George Burns

George Joseph Burns (November 24, 1889 - August 15, 1966) was a left fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1911 through 1925, Burns played for the New York Giants (1911-21), Cincinnati Reds (1922-24) and Philadelphia Phillies (1925). He batted and threw right handed.

In a 15-season career, Burns was a .287 hitter with 41 home runs and 611 RBI in 1853 games played.

A native of Utica, New York, Burns started his baseball career as a catcher. He reached the New York Giants in the latter half of the 1911 season. Because his strong throwing arm and blazing speed, Giants manager John McGraw converted him into an outfielder.

Burns became a regular in 1913 and soon mastered the intricacies of playing the Polo Grounds's sundrenched left field. His teammates called him the "greatest 'sunfielder' in the history of the game". While with the Giants, Burns established a major league record, which has since been bettered, for most consecutive games played by an outfielder (1,356). He also led the National League in runs and walks five times and twice in stolen bases, and hit for the cycle in 1920.

After playing in the 1921 World Series, Burns was sent to the Cincinnati Reds in the same trade that brought third baseman Heinie Groh to the Giants. In 1922 for the Reds, Burns set a NL record with his 28th steal of home, surpassing the old mark held by Honus Wagner.

Burns ended his major league career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1925. He collected 2,077 hits with a .366 on base percentage and a significant 1.54 walk-to-strikeout ratio (872-for-565). His 383 stolen bases ranks him 76th in the all-time list.

In 1927 Burns became a player-coach of Williamsport in the New York-Penn League, and returned to the Giants in 1937 as a coach. He later worked for a tannery.

Burns died in Gloversville, New York, at age of 76.

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