Professional baseball umpire and manager. He began his career in baseball as an umpire in the Northwest League in 1883. Later that year, Burnham was hired by the National League as a mid-season umpire replacement and worked 41 games until his firing in late July. In his second-to-last game, he umpired a no-hitter by Providence's Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn against Cleveland. During his baseball career, he earned the nickname "Watch" after he was presented with a watch in public in what appeared to be a public display of admiration by baseball fans, only for it to be revealed he purchased the watch for himself. He returned as an NL umpire for a contest between Kansas City and Detroit on July 19, 1886. When financial backers of an Indianapolis club began efforts to join the National League in the winter of 1886-1887, he was rewarded the manager's job upon the team's entry into the league due to his contacts in the league. Burnham led the club until being forced to resign in May, only to be reinstated a few weeks later. He was relieved of his duties again in early June. Burnham umpired 33 National League games in 1889 and 31 in 1895, but was released for a final time after not being given time off to heal broken ribs suffered after being hit with foul tips during a game in Boston. He later ran a restaurant and saloon in Indianapolis and worked as an advertising solicitor. He was placed in a mental hospital in 1902 after incorrectly believing he had become a millionaire and died in November of that year.
Professional baseball umpire and manager. He began his career in baseball as an umpire in the Northwest League in 1883. Later that year, Burnham was hired by the National League as a mid-season umpire replacement and worked 41 games until his firing in late July. In his second-to-last game, he umpired a no-hitter by Providence's Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn against Cleveland. During his baseball career, he earned the nickname "Watch" after he was presented with a watch in public in what appeared to be a public display of admiration by baseball fans, only for it to be revealed he purchased the watch for himself. He returned as an NL umpire for a contest between Kansas City and Detroit on July 19, 1886. When financial backers of an Indianapolis club began efforts to join the National League in the winter of 1886-1887, he was rewarded the manager's job upon the team's entry into the league due to his contacts in the league. Burnham led the club until being forced to resign in May, only to be reinstated a few weeks later. He was relieved of his duties again in early June. Burnham umpired 33 National League games in 1889 and 31 in 1895, but was released for a final time after not being given time off to heal broken ribs suffered after being hit with foul tips during a game in Boston. He later ran a restaurant and saloon in Indianapolis and worked as an advertising solicitor. He was placed in a mental hospital in 1902 after incorrectly believing he had become a millionaire and died in November of that year.
Bio by: Adam Penale
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