 Selva Lewis Burdette Jr. was born in Nitro, WV in November of 1926. Lew graduated from Nitro High School and joined the Armed Forces in 1944 at the age of 17. After his military service, Lew attended the University of Richmond in 1946 and was eventually signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1947. After a few seasons in the minor leagues, Burdette made his major league debut in September, 1950. After appearing in only 2 games for the Yankees in the fall of 1950, Burdette was traded to the Boston Braves for Johnny Sain. It was in Boston and later Milwaukee where Lew Burdette would gel into a legitmate super star. Beginning in 1953, Burdette put together a string of 10 consecutive double digit win seasons including 2 seasons with 20 or more wins. Burdette helped the Braves win consecutive National League Pennants in 1957 and 1958. He was the World Series MVP in 1957 when he pitched and won 3 complete games vs the New York Yankees posting a 0.67 ERA, allowing only 2 earned runs in 27 innings over the 3 game stretch. His fortune changed in the 1958 World Series as he lost 2 of 3 starts vs the Yankees and gave up 14 runs in 22 innings. Despite his misfortune in the 1958 World Series, Burdette continued to be an ace for the Braves winning 21, 19 and 18 games over the next 3 seasons. Burdettes numbers slipped in 1962 to only 10 wins. In June of 1963, Burdette was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Gene Oliver and Bob Sadowski. Burdette won only 4 games and lost over over the next season with the Cardinals. In June of 1964, Burdette was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Glen Hobbie. Burdette won 9 games and lost 9 games the Cubs in the 1964 season. In May of 1965, Burdette was sold to the Philadelphia Phillies. Burdette won 3 and lost 3 for the Phillies in 1965 and was released at the end of the season. He sigend with the California Angels in 1965 and spent his final two seasons in Southern California. Burdette went a surprising 7-2 for the Angels in 1966 as a relief pitcher. He appeared in only 19 games for the Angels in 1967, his final big league season.
Lew Burdette was a two time All Star and 1957 World Series MVP. He pitched for 18 seasons in major league baseball posting 203 wins and 144 losses. He had a career ERA of 3.66 and was arguably one of the best pitchers of his era. After Burdette's baseball career was over, he became a public relations specialist for an Athens, GA cable television company. Burdette also cut a record in the 1950s entitled "Three Strikes and Then You're Out". Lew Burdette died in February of 2007 of lung cancer at the age of 80 in Winter Green, FL. |
