Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Player. He played in over 2,000 major league games, compiling a lifetime batting average of .342, while topping the .400 batting mark three times. He was nicknamed "Crab" by his teammates for his overly serious demeanor, steady complaining, inability to take teasing, and general lack of friendliness. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, he began playing baseball as a left throwing pitcher, and was later played as an outfielder, but it was as a batter that he made his mark on the game. A left handed line-drive hitter and a clever bunter, his ability to foul pitches off resulted in the introduction of a rule that made foul balls the equivalent of strikes. Prior to this rule, foul balls did not count against a batter. He began playing professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals, before changing to the St. Louis Browns in 1901. In 1905, he was traded by the St. Louis Browns, along with Frank Huelsman, to the Boston Pilgrims (now the Red Sox) for George Stone. He was nicknamed "the Crab" by fans and teammates due to his often caustic barbs and complaints. He often insulted fans, rivals, teammates, or anyone else that he came across, all with equal vigor. When teased that he and player Jack Glasscock, who he resembled, were really father and son, he would result to fist fighting in denying it. After leaving the Major League in 1906, he owned and managed the Worcester club, continuing to make appearances in the outfield until 1913. From 1913 to 1921, he would also manage other minor league clubs and coach college teams, and in 1921, he joined the New York Giants as a coach. When the Giants won the World Series, owner John McGraw had to pay him a bonus from his own pocket, as the other players refused to vote him a share of the winnings. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946. He died at his home in Worchester, Massachusetts from hardening of the arteries.
Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Player. He played in over 2,000 major league games, compiling a lifetime batting average of .342, while topping the .400 batting mark three times. He was nicknamed "Crab" by his teammates for his overly serious demeanor, steady complaining, inability to take teasing, and general lack of friendliness. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, he began playing baseball as a left throwing pitcher, and was later played as an outfielder, but it was as a batter that he made his mark on the game. A left handed line-drive hitter and a clever bunter, his ability to foul pitches off resulted in the introduction of a rule that made foul balls the equivalent of strikes. Prior to this rule, foul balls did not count against a batter. He began playing professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals, before changing to the St. Louis Browns in 1901. In 1905, he was traded by the St. Louis Browns, along with Frank Huelsman, to the Boston Pilgrims (now the Red Sox) for George Stone. He was nicknamed "the Crab" by fans and teammates due to his often caustic barbs and complaints. He often insulted fans, rivals, teammates, or anyone else that he came across, all with equal vigor. When teased that he and player Jack Glasscock, who he resembled, were really father and son, he would result to fist fighting in denying it. After leaving the Major League in 1906, he owned and managed the Worcester club, continuing to make appearances in the outfield until 1913. From 1913 to 1921, he would also manage other minor league clubs and coach college teams, and in 1921, he joined the New York Giants as a coach. When the Giants won the World Series, owner John McGraw had to pay him a bonus from his own pocket, as the other players refused to vote him a share of the winnings. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946. He died at his home in Worchester, Massachusetts from hardening of the arteries.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
Inscription
Jesse Burkett
Baseball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1946
.338 lifetime B.A.
As Holy Cross coach was 100-20-1
Owned, managed or played for the Worcester professional teams Busters and Panthers
Coached Sockalexis with Cleveland Spiders
Family Members
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Records on Ancestry
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