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amead17 · 04-10-2022, 03:49 AM

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2 time World Series Champion
6 time NL Pitcher of the Year
1 time World Series MVP
19 time All Star

Dick Burns was one of the best Pitchers in the late 1880's and 1890's era of baseball. He played for 23 years and racked up 481 wins along with 3271 strikeouts to keep the Boston faithful happy.

Richard Simon Burns was born on the 26th December 1863 in Holyoke, Massachusetts to Thomas and Bridget. His parents were poor Irish immigrants and Dick had to learn to help contribute to the family coffers from an early age. By the time he was sixteen he was working in a cotton mill and by 18 had started playing baseball for the local Holyoke club. It was during one of these games that Burns was spotted by MLB scouts and invited to the December 1882 first year player draft.

There were a number of good pitchers in the 1882 draft and Dick Burns was one of them. The Boston Beaneaters liked what they saw of Burns and decided to make him the 5th overall pick in that years draft. There was real hope that Burns could help turn the Boston Beaneaters around from a club that had struggled for the previous few years to a power house of the NL.

Going into his first season in 1883 Dick Burns just wanted to make the rotation and prove himself. He managed early on to get a few starts that led him into being one of the mainstays of the Beaneaters rotation that year. In total Burns started 38 games and posted a 14-21 record. The Beaneater did not do well as they came last in the NL.

After his first taste of a regular season Dick Burns wanted more and knuckled down to work hard into the 1884 season. He helped to push the Beaneaters slowly forward as they moved from 8th to 5th. His record for that year was 17-16 over 35 games with 34 starts.

With another season under his belt Burns was starting to find some form going into the 1885 season. He again started 38 games for the Beaneaters and this time posted a 21-15 record. The Beaneaters finished 6th but there were signs the team was on the move for higher. This work saw Burns recognised as he gained the first of his 19 consecutive All Star appearances.

The Beaneaters entered the 1886 season with a renewed optimism and Dick Burns was right there with them. The Regular season seemed to fly past as the Beaneaters tore up the opposing NL teams. Burns was at his best as he went 31-13 over his 47 game starts. This work by Burns and the team saw them finish 1st in the NL and going to the teams first World Series in 8 years. The Beaneaters faced the St. Louis Browns in the World Series. Burns Started 2 games in the World Series and posted a 1-0 record. Sadly that was the only game the Beaneaters would win as they went down 4-1.

After their beating in 1886, the Beaneaters were in no mood to be messed about with in their goal to make it back to the World Series again in 1887. Dick Burns was party to that as he went 29-13 over the regular season to help maintain the Beaneaters position atop the NL. The Beaneaters would again face the St. Louis Browns and this time they were going to put a lot of their faith in Burns to lead them to victory. Burns started 3 games and posted a 2-1 record as the Beaneaters managed to get revenge over the Browns 4-2 and win the World Title. Burns would win his first Championship Medal along with personal recognition as his first NL Pitcher of the Year award was gained.

After tasting glory with a Championship Series win Burns and his teammates wanted more. Burns went all out in his 47 starts in the regular season to post a 32-14 record to help the Beaneaters again make the number 1 spot in the NL their own and head to a 3rd consecutive World Series. This time round the Beaneaters would be facing different opposition as the Detroit Wolverines represented the AL. Burns did not care who he was facing in that world series as he was just determined to win a second title. He started 3 games in the series and won all of them as the Beaneaters blew past the Detroit Wolverines 4-2. Burns would win his second Championship Medal as well as being voted the MVP for the series. He would also be voted NL Pitcher of the year for the second time.

After 3 successful years the Beaneaters were again looking to be in the world series in 1889. Sadly they would fall just short as they finished 2nd in the NL. Dick Burns still played a big part in the teams push to 2nd place as he went 26-16 over his 47 games. He would remain in the conversation over NL Pitcher of the year but would ultimately lose that accolade this year.

The Beaneaters were stung by missing out on the World Series the previous year and the whole team doubled down to get back there in 1890. Dick Burns was one of those with the aim to get back to the showcase final as he went 29-15 over his 47 regular season starts. With this renewed hunger the Beaneaters did get back to being number 1 in the NL and head to the world series. They faced the Columbus Solons of the AL and put up a good fight but ultimately fell just short as they lost 4-3. Burns won 2 of the 3 games he started and lost the other and he put up a strong showing in the series. Sadly Burns did not get another championship medal but had the consolation of again becoming the NL Pitcher of the Year.

The 1891 season was a slight drop by the Beaneaters again as they could not maintain the hunger of the previous year. They slipped back to 2nd in the NL with Dick Burns going 27-20 over his 47 regular season starts. Burn was again the NL Pitcher of the year.

The Beaneaters were again ready in 1892 to prove that they were the team to beat in the NL. Sadly for Dick Burns he would not be with them for most of the way. In mid May during a game he tore a Rotator Cuff which saw him sidelined. He would miss the rest of the season. His stats in 1892 were 15 games started with an 8-6 record. The Beaneaters made it to the World Series without him but missed him in the final reckoning as they lost the world series 4-0 to the Milwaukee Brewers.

After a tough end to the 1892 season Dick Burns was looking to bounce back in 1893. He was fully fit and ready to go when the season started. He played 48 regular season games for the Beaneaters, starting 47 but he was not quite the same as previous as he went 20-28 over those 48 games. The Beaneaters were also struggling as they fell right back to 7th place in the NL.

The Beaneaters struggles continued into 1894 as they finished 5th. A fully fit and ready to go Dick Burns did as much as he could with 47 game starts and a record of 24-19. As his form returned Burns was again in the conversation for NL Pitcher of the year which he duly won for a 5th time.

The 1895 season saw the Boston Beaneaters continue to struggle and this affected Dick Burns play. He went 25-21 over his 47 game starts as the Beaneaters posted another 5th place finish. 1896 got even worse for the Beaneaters as they fell right to the bottom of the NL. Burns posted his first losing record in a very long time going 19-27 over his 47 game starts. 1897 proved slightly better for Burns and the Beaneaters as they moved back to 6th. Burns managed a 22-12 record over 37 starts after elbow inflammation and a strained should caused him to miss a few games. 1898 proved to be a fourth tough season on the bounce for the Beaneaters and Burns. The team finished 7th and Burns managed a record of only 24-23 over his 47 game starts. Somehow that record and his excellent pitching got Burns noticed as he won his last NL Pitcher of the year award.

Going into the 1899 season the Beaneaters team had finally had enough of the poor play and decided to try and get back into the conversation. The 35 year old Dick Burns was one of those that was most vocal about improving things. He himself managed to go 28-17 over the regular season of 47 starts as he helped propel the team back up to 3rd place in the NL.

1900 would see the Beaneaters again push for success but again fall short as they finished 3rd again. Burns would go 26-20 over his 47 regular season starts as the team continued to build. Sadly that building would be put on pause for the Beaneaters in 1901 as they would fall back to 5th. For Burns 1901 was a tough year as he managed to fracture his shoulder blade in June which would ultimately lead to him missing 10 weeks of the season. He started 23 games in 1901 and posted a record of 14-8.

1902 would see the Beaneaters again challenging for the NL title but with the loss of Dick Burns to injury again half way through the year they would finish second. Burns himself managed a 9-9 record from 22 starts before he had to end the season in July with bone chips in his elbow.

Going into 1903 Burns was just hoping for a healthy season while the Beaneaters were hoping for respectability. In the end the Beaneaters were 5th and Burns managed to play a full season. From his 34 starts burns managed a record of 18-16 to prove he still had what it takes at the highest level.

Sadly that proof would not last long as 1904 would be the beginning of the end for Dick Burns career. With the Beaneaters play being mediocre, Burns was trying everything he had to get them back into the conversation. In the end he tried too hard as a late May game saw him tear the same Rotator Cuff he tore back in 1892. This would see his season end and him sidelined again. His 1904 season was 8 wins and 3 losses from 13 starts.

After Dick Burns second rotator cuff injury doctors had told him that perhaps it was time to give up the professional game. He was not ready to do so and got himself fit, ready for the 1905 season with the Beaneaters. Sadly Burns would again see injury raise its ugly head as he strained an abdominal muscle in May meaning a 5 week layoff. He would then return to pitch a few more games before his career came to an abrupt end as he tore a UCL while pitching. This time Doctors were adamant his career was over as he would be out 14 months with this injury.

Dick Burns finally had to agree that yes his career was over and he announced at the end of the 1905 season that he had played his last. He retired with 481 wins from the game he loved and the adulation of the Boston fans as he took his 2 Championship Medals off into the sunset.

04-10-2022, 03:49 AM	#7
amead17 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 9,293	Dick Burns 2 time World Series Champion 6 time NL Pitcher of the Year 1 time World Series MVP 19 time All Star Dick Burns was one of the best Pitchers in the late 1880's and 1890's era of baseball. He played for 23 years and racked up 481 wins along with 3271 strikeouts to keep the Boston faithful happy. Richard Simon Burns was born on the 26th December 1863 in Holyoke, Massachusetts to Thomas and Bridget. His parents were poor Irish immigrants and Dick had to learn to help contribute to the family coffers from an early age. By the time he was sixteen he was working in a cotton mill and by 18 had started playing baseball for the local Holyoke club. It was during one of these games that Burns was spotted by MLB scouts and invited to the December 1882 first year player draft. There were a number of good pitchers in the 1882 draft and Dick Burns was one of them. The Boston Beaneaters liked what they saw of Burns and decided to make him the 5th overall pick in that years draft. There was real hope that Burns could help turn the Boston Beaneaters around from a club that had struggled for the previous few years to a power house of the NL. Going into his first season in 1883 Dick Burns just wanted to make the rotation and prove himself. He managed early on to get a few starts that led him into being one of the mainstays of the Beaneaters rotation that year. In total Burns started 38 games and posted a 14-21 record. The Beaneater did not do well as they came last in the NL. After his first taste of a regular season Dick Burns wanted more and knuckled down to work hard into the 1884 season. He helped to push the Beaneaters slowly forward as they moved from 8th to 5th. His record for that year was 17-16 over 35 games with 34 starts. With another season under his belt Burns was starting to find some form going into the 1885 season. He again started 38 games for the Beaneaters and this time posted a 21-15 record. The Beaneaters finished 6th but there were signs the team was on the move for higher. This work saw Burns recognised as he gained the first of his 19 consecutive All Star appearances. The Beaneaters entered the 1886 season with a renewed optimism and Dick Burns was right there with them. The Regular season seemed to fly past as the Beaneaters tore up the opposing NL teams. Burns was at his best as he went 31-13 over his 47 game starts. This work by Burns and the team saw them finish 1st in the NL and going to the teams first World Series in 8 years. The Beaneaters faced the St. Louis Browns in the World Series. Burns Started 2 games in the World Series and posted a 1-0 record. Sadly that was the only game the Beaneaters would win as they went down 4-1. After their beating in 1886, the Beaneaters were in no mood to be messed about with in their goal to make it back to the World Series again in 1887. Dick Burns was party to that as he went 29-13 over the regular season to help maintain the Beaneaters position atop the NL. The Beaneaters would again face the St. Louis Browns and this time they were going to put a lot of their faith in Burns to lead them to victory. Burns started 3 games and posted a 2-1 record as the Beaneaters managed to get revenge over the Browns 4-2 and win the World Title. Burns would win his first Championship Medal along with personal recognition as his first NL Pitcher of the Year award was gained. After tasting glory with a Championship Series win Burns and his teammates wanted more. Burns went all out in his 47 starts in the regular season to post a 32-14 record to help the Beaneaters again make the number 1 spot in the NL their own and head to a 3rd consecutive World Series. This time round the Beaneaters would be facing different opposition as the Detroit Wolverines represented the AL. Burns did not care who he was facing in that world series as he was just determined to win a second title. He started 3 games in the series and won all of them as the Beaneaters blew past the Detroit Wolverines 4-2. Burns would win his second Championship Medal as well as being voted the MVP for the series. He would also be voted NL Pitcher of the year for the second time. After 3 successful years the Beaneaters were again looking to be in the world series in 1889. Sadly they would fall just short as they finished 2nd in the NL. Dick Burns still played a big part in the teams push to 2nd place as he went 26-16 over his 47 games. He would remain in the conversation over NL Pitcher of the year but would ultimately lose that accolade this year. The Beaneaters were stung by missing out on the World Series the previous year and the whole team doubled down to get back there in 1890. Dick Burns was one of those with the aim to get back to the showcase final as he went 29-15 over his 47 regular season starts. With this renewed hunger the Beaneaters did get back to being number 1 in the NL and head to the world series. They faced the Columbus Solons of the AL and put up a good fight but ultimately fell just short as they lost 4-3. Burns won 2 of the 3 games he started and lost the other and he put up a strong showing in the series. Sadly Burns did not get another championship medal but had the consolation of again becoming the NL Pitcher of the Year. The 1891 season was a slight drop by the Beaneaters again as they could not maintain the hunger of the previous year. They slipped back to 2nd in the NL with Dick Burns going 27-20 over his 47 regular season starts. Burn was again the NL Pitcher of the year. The Beaneaters were again ready in 1892 to prove that they were the team to beat in the NL. Sadly for Dick Burns he would not be with them for most of the way. In mid May during a game he tore a Rotator Cuff which saw him sidelined. He would miss the rest of the season. His stats in 1892 were 15 games started with an 8-6 record. The Beaneaters made it to the World Series without him but missed him in the final reckoning as they lost the world series 4-0 to the Milwaukee Brewers. After a tough end to the 1892 season Dick Burns was looking to bounce back in 1893. He was fully fit and ready to go when the season started. He played 48 regular season games for the Beaneaters, starting 47 but he was not quite the same as previous as he went 20-28 over those 48 games. The Beaneaters were also struggling as they fell right back to 7th place in the NL. The Beaneaters struggles continued into 1894 as they finished 5th. A fully fit and ready to go Dick Burns did as much as he could with 47 game starts and a record of 24-19. As his form returned Burns was again in the conversation for NL Pitcher of the year which he duly won for a 5th time. The 1895 season saw the Boston Beaneaters continue to struggle and this affected Dick Burns play. He went 25-21 over his 47 game starts as the Beaneaters posted another 5th place finish. 1896 got even worse for the Beaneaters as they fell right to the bottom of the NL. Burns posted his first losing record in a very long time going 19-27 over his 47 game starts. 1897 proved slightly better for Burns and the Beaneaters as they moved back to 6th. Burns managed a 22-12 record over 37 starts after elbow inflammation and a strained should caused him to miss a few games. 1898 proved to be a fourth tough season on the bounce for the Beaneaters and Burns. The team finished 7th and Burns managed a record of only 24-23 over his 47 game starts. Somehow that record and his excellent pitching got Burns noticed as he won his last NL Pitcher of the year award. Going into the 1899 season the Beaneaters team had finally had enough of the poor play and decided to try and get back into the conversation. The 35 year old Dick Burns was one of those that was most vocal about improving things. He himself managed to go 28-17 over the regular season of 47 starts as he helped propel the team back up to 3rd place in the NL. 1900 would see the Beaneaters again push for success but again fall short as they finished 3rd again. Burns would go 26-20 over his 47 regular season starts as the team continued to build. Sadly that building would be put on pause for the Beaneaters in 1901 as they would fall back to 5th. For Burns 1901 was a tough year as he managed to fracture his shoulder blade in June which would ultimately lead to him missing 10 weeks of the season. He started 23 games in 1901 and posted a record of 14-8. 1902 would see the Beaneaters again challenging for the NL title but with the loss of Dick Burns to injury again half way through the year they would finish second. Burns himself managed a 9-9 record from 22 starts before he had to end the season in July with bone chips in his elbow. Going into 1903 Burns was just hoping for a healthy season while the Beaneaters were hoping for respectability. In the end the Beaneaters were 5th and Burns managed to play a full season. From his 34 starts burns managed a record of 18-16 to prove he still had what it takes at the highest level. Sadly that proof would not last long as 1904 would be the beginning of the end for Dick Burns career. With the Beaneaters play being mediocre, Burns was trying everything he had to get them back into the conversation. In the end he tried too hard as a late May game saw him tear the same Rotator Cuff he tore back in 1892. This would see his season end and him sidelined again. His 1904 season was 8 wins and 3 losses from 13 starts. After Dick Burns second rotator cuff injury doctors had told him that perhaps it was time to give up the professional game. He was not ready to do so and got himself fit, ready for the 1905 season with the Beaneaters. Sadly Burns would again see injury raise its ugly head as he strained an abdominal muscle in May meaning a 5 week layoff. He would then return to pitch a few more games before his career came to an abrupt end as he tore a UCL while pitching. This time Doctors were adamant his career was over as he would be out 14 months with this injury. Dick Burns finally had to agree that yes his career was over and he announced at the end of the 1905 season that he had played his last. He retired with 481 wins from the game he loved and the adulation of the Boston fans as he took his 2 Championship Medals off into the sunset. Last edited by amead17; 04-10-2022 at 03:52 AM.