Smoky Burgess
| Smoky Burgess | |
|---|---|
Burgess in about 1953 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: February 6, 1927 Caroleen, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| Died: September 15, 1991 (aged 64) Rutherfordton, North Carolina, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 19, 1949, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 1, 1967, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .295 |
| Home runs | 126 |
| Runs batted in | 673 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess (February 6, 1927 – September 15, 1991) was an American professional baseball catcher, pinch hitter, coach, and scout, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1949 to 1967. Burgess was selected as an All-Star in six seasons (being on the NL team for nine All-Star games). He became known, later in his career, for his abilities as an elite pinch hitter, setting the MLB career record for career pinch-hits with 145. He stood 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) tall, weighing 245 pounds (111 kg). Burgess batted left-handed and threw right-handed. A statue of Burgess was unveiled in his hometown on November 9, 2024.