Athletes - Lew Burdette

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	Athletes - Lew Burdette

Lew Burdette, born Selva Lewis Burdette, Jr. (November 22, 1926 in Nitro, West Virginia), is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the New York Yankees (1950), Boston & Milwaukee Braves (1951-63), St. Louis Cardinals (1963-64), Chicago Cubs (1964-65), Philadelphia Phillies (1965) and California Angels (1966-67). He batted and threw right handed.

Arguably, Burdette was the best right handed pitcher in Milwaukee Braves history. Along with future Hall of Famer left-handed Warren Spahn and hard worker Bob Buhl, Burdette gave the Braves one of the best starting rotations in the majors during the 1950s.

Besides winning 20 games in 1958 and 21 in 1959, Burdette won 19 in 1956 and 1960, 18 in 1961, and 17 in 1957. In two All-Star games, he allowed only one run in seven innings pitched, and in 1956, he topped the league pitchers with a 2.70 ERA.

When Milwaukee won the 1957 World Series against the Yankees, Burdette became the first pitcher in 37 years to win three complete games in a Series, including two shutouts in four days. He was given the World Series MVP Award.

Facing the minimum 27 batters, Burdette pitched a 1–0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies. Tony González, the only opposite batter to reach base after a hit by pitch in the fifth inning, was retired on a double play. Burdette helped himself scoring the only run of the game (August 18, 1960). Following up his no-hitter, he pitched his third shutout in a row.

Burdette was a competent hitter as well. He compiled a .183 batting average with 75 RBI and 12 home runs, including three two-homer games.

In a 18-year career, Burdette posted a 203-144 record with 1074 strikeouts and a 3.66 ERA in 3067.1 innings. He compiled 158 complete games and 33 shutouts.

Burdette also cut a record in the 1950's entitled "Three Strikes and Then You're Out".

Highlights

Twice All-Star (1957, 1959)
World Series MVP (1957)
Third in Cy Young Award vote (1958)
Led league in wins (1959)
Led league in ERA (1956)
Led league in games started (1959)
Led league in complete games (1960)
Twice led league in shutouts (1956, 1959)
5-time Top 4 in wins (1956-58, 1960-61)

Fact

Burdette was the winning pitcher when Pirates' Harvey Haddix
pitched a perfect game against the Braves for 12 innings, only to lose in the 13th. Burdette threw a 1-0 shutout, scattering 12 hits (May 26, 1959).

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Lew Burdette ]

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