Ken Burkhart
Encyclopedia
Kenneth William Burkhart, born Burkhardt (November 18, 1916 - December 29, 2004), was an American
right-handed pitcher
and umpire
in Major League Baseball
. From through he played for the St. Louis Cardinals
(1945–48) and Cincinnati Reds
(1948–49), and he served as a National League
umpire from 1957 to 1973.
Burkhart was born in Knoxville, Tennessee
. During his major league pitching career, he posted a 27-20 record
with 181 strikeout
s and a 3.84 earned run average
in 519 2/3 innings pitched
. He posted an 18-8 mark as a Cardinals rookie in 1945, with 22 starts and 20 relief appearances; his 18 victories and .692 winning percentage each tied him for third in the National League, while his 2.90 ERA ranked him seventh, but an ailing throwing arm ended his season prematurely, and he increasingly worked from the bullpen afterwards. As a pitcher, since he lacked a speedy fastball, he relied on an "oddly breaking knuckleball" for much of his success. On July 26, , Burkhart was traded by St. Louis to the Reds in exchange for first baseman Babe Young
. He appeared in 11 games for the Reds in 1949 and retired at the end of the season.
Following his playing career, Burkhart developed as a well-regarded umpire. He worked in three World Series
(1962
, 1964
and 1970
), serving as crew chief in 1970, and in the 1972 National League Championship Series
. He umpired in four All-Star Games
(second 1959
game, second 1962 game, 1967 and 1973), and also umpired in no-hitter
s on consecutive days in for Gaylord Perry
(September 17) and Ray Washburn
(September 18). On May 11, he was umpiring at second base when Sandy Koufax
pitched his second no-hitter, and on June 21, he was at third base when Jim Bunning
of the Philadelphia Phillies
pitched a 6-0 perfect game
against the New York Mets
. Burkhart officiated in eight no-hitters overall, then one short of the record for NL umpires, but did not work behind the plate for any of them. He was, however, behind the plate on July 12, when brothers Tommie
and Hank Aaron both hit home run
s in the ninth inning to propel the Milwaukee Braves
to an 8-6 win, with Hank's grand slam
winning the contest.
Burkhart was involved in a controversial play in Game 1 of the 1970 World Series
when he collided with Baltimore Orioles
catcher Elrod Hendricks
in a close play at home plate. With one out in the sixth inning and two Cincinnati Reds runners on base – Tommy Helms
at first and Bernie Carbo
at third – pinch-hitter Ty Cline
batted a pitch off Jim Palmer
in front of the plate. Burkhart stepped forward to call a fair ball and found himself caught in the middle of a play when Hendricks – who initially intended to throw out Cline at first base – instead snatched up the ball and spun around in an attempt to tag out Carbo, who was speeding home. Hendricks tagged Carbo with his mitt while holding the ball in his other hand. Burkhart, who was knocked to the ground and had his back to the play, was obviously distracted during the collision and called Carbo out on contact, although replays showed that Hendricks tagged Carbo with an empty glove and Carbo missed the plate. Reds manager Sparky Anderson
ran out of the dugout and argued with Burkhart about the play. Carbo touched home plate incidentally when he headed back to the dugout and thus should have been called safe. The score remained tied at 3-3, with the Orioles eventually winning 4-3.
Burkhart was inducted to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1982. He died of emphysema
in Knoxville at age 89, and was buried in that city's Woodlawn Cemetery; he was the last surviving major league umpire who had previously played in the majors.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
and umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. From through he played for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1945–48) and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1948–49), and he served as a National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
umpire from 1957 to 1973.
Burkhart was born in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. During his major league pitching career, he posted a 27-20 record
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
with 181 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 3.84 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 519 2/3 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. He posted an 18-8 mark as a Cardinals rookie in 1945, with 22 starts and 20 relief appearances; his 18 victories and .692 winning percentage each tied him for third in the National League, while his 2.90 ERA ranked him seventh, but an ailing throwing arm ended his season prematurely, and he increasingly worked from the bullpen afterwards. As a pitcher, since he lacked a speedy fastball, he relied on an "oddly breaking knuckleball" for much of his success. On July 26, , Burkhart was traded by St. Louis to the Reds in exchange for first baseman Babe Young
Babe Young
Norman Robert Young born in Astoria, New York was a First Baseman for the New York Giants , Cincinnati Reds and St...
. He appeared in 11 games for the Reds in 1949 and retired at the end of the season.
Following his playing career, Burkhart developed as a well-regarded umpire. He worked in three World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
(1962
1962 World Series
The 1962 World Series matched the defending American League and World Series champions New York Yankees against the National League champion San Francisco Giants, who had won their first NL pennant since 1954 and first since moving from New York in 1958, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in a...
, 1964
1964 World Series
The 1964 World Series pitted the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals against the American League champion New York Yankees, with the Cardinals prevailing in seven games. St...
and 1970
1970 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 10, 1970 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe Jackson 5 performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the game, which almost became an embarrassment when the group realized shortly before their performance that they weren't familiar with the lyrics...
), serving as crew chief in 1970, and in the 1972 National League Championship Series
1972 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 7, 1972 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaThe Reds got a first-inning homer from second baseman Joe Morgan to take a short-lived 1–0 lead. But Pittsburgh bounced back with three in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by an RBI triple from Al Oliver and...
. He umpired in four All-Star Games
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
(second 1959
1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (second game)
The 1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 27th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on August 3, 1959 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles,...
game, second 1962 game, 1967 and 1973), and also umpired in no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s on consecutive days in for Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Jackson Perry is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1962-1983 for eight different teams in his career. During a 22-year baseball career, Perry compiled 314 wins, 3,534 strikeouts, and a 3.11 earned run average...
(September 17) and Ray Washburn
Ray Washburn
Ray Clark Washburn is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Washburn, a right-hander, pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals from to and the Cincinnati Reds in ....
(September 18). On May 11, he was umpiring at second base when Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
pitched his second no-hitter, and on June 21, he was at third base when Jim Bunning
Jim Bunning
James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career...
of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
pitched a 6-0 perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. Burkhart officiated in eight no-hitters overall, then one short of the record for NL umpires, but did not work behind the plate for any of them. He was, however, behind the plate on July 12, when brothers Tommie
Tommie Aaron
Tommie Lee Aaron was a first baseman and left fielder in Major League Baseball, and a younger brother of Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. They were the first siblings to appear together in a League Championship Series as teammates. Born in Mobile, Alabama, he was signed by the Milwaukee Braves on May 28,...
and Hank Aaron both hit home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in the ninth inning to propel the Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
to an 8-6 win, with Hank's grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
winning the contest.
Burkhart was involved in a controversial play in Game 1 of the 1970 World Series
1970 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 10, 1970 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe Jackson 5 performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the game, which almost became an embarrassment when the group realized shortly before their performance that they weren't familiar with the lyrics...
when he collided with Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
catcher Elrod Hendricks
Elrod Hendricks
Elrod Jerome "Ellie" Hendricks was a catcher and coach in Major League Baseball. Hendricks played during a 12-year career that lasted from through for the Baltimore Orioles , Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees...
in a close play at home plate. With one out in the sixth inning and two Cincinnati Reds runners on base – Tommy Helms
Tommy Helms
Tommy Vann Helms is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Over a fourteen year career , Helms played for four different teams, including eight seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, four with the Houston Astros, and one apiece with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox...
at first and Bernie Carbo
Bernie Carbo
Bernardo 'Bernie' Carbo is a former outfielder and designated hitter who played from through for the Cincinnati Reds , St. Louis Cardinals , Boston Red Sox , Milwaukee Brewers , Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
at third – pinch-hitter Ty Cline
Ty Cline
Tyrone Alexander Cline was a Major League baseball player, primarily a reserve outfielder and pinch-hitter for the Cleveland Indians , Milwaukee Braves , Chicago Cubs , Atlanta Braves , San Francisco Giants , Montreal Expos and Cincinnati Reds .He was instrumental in helping the...
batted a pitch off Jim Palmer
Jim Palmer
James Alvin "Jim" Palmer , nicknamed "Cakes", is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in .As of 2008, Palmer and his wife Susan have homes in Palm Beach, Florida, and...
in front of the plate. Burkhart stepped forward to call a fair ball and found himself caught in the middle of a play when Hendricks – who initially intended to throw out Cline at first base – instead snatched up the ball and spun around in an attempt to tag out Carbo, who was speeding home. Hendricks tagged Carbo with his mitt while holding the ball in his other hand. Burkhart, who was knocked to the ground and had his back to the play, was obviously distracted during the collision and called Carbo out on contact, although replays showed that Hendricks tagged Carbo with an empty glove and Carbo missed the plate. Reds manager Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
ran out of the dugout and argued with Burkhart about the play. Carbo touched home plate incidentally when he headed back to the dugout and thus should have been called safe. The score remained tied at 3-3, with the Orioles eventually winning 4-3.
Burkhart was inducted to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1982. He died of emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
in Knoxville at age 89, and was buried in that city's Woodlawn Cemetery; he was the last surviving major league umpire who had previously played in the majors.
External links
- Baseball Library - profile and career highlights
- Retrosheet
- Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
- Baseball Almanac - 1970 World Series
- Ken Burkhart at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...