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{{Short description|American baseball player (1864–1928)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{good article}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox MLB player
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Oyster Burns
|name=Oyster Burns
|image=Oyster Burns.jpg
|image=Oyster Burns.jpg
|caption=Burns in 1888
|position=[[Outfielder]]
|position=[[Outfielder]]
|birth_date={{birth date|1864|9|6}}
|birth_date={{birth date|1864|9|6}}
|birth_place=[[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
|birth_place=[[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1928|11|11|1864|9|6}}
|death_date={{death date and age|1928|11|11|1864|9|6}}
|death_place=[[Brooklyn, New York]]
|death_place=[[Brooklyn]], New York, U.S.
|bats=Right
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|throws=Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=August 18
|debutdate=August 18
|debutyear=1884
|debutyear=1884
|debutteam=[[Wilmington Quicksteps]]
|debutteam=Wilmington Quicksteps
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 16
|finaldate=September 16
|finalyear=1895
|finalyear=1895
|finalteam=[[San Francisco Giants|New York Giants]]
|finalteam=New York Giants
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average]]
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.300
|stat1value=.300
|stat2label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=832
|stat2value=65
|stat3label=[[Stolen base]]s
|stat3label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=263
|stat3value=834
|teams=
|stat4label=[[Home run]]s
|stat4value=65
|teams=<nowiki></nowiki>
*[[Wilmington Quicksteps]] (1884)
*[[Wilmington Quicksteps]] (1884)
*[[Baltimore Orioles (1882-1899)|Baltimore Orioles]] (1884–85, 1887–88)
*[[Baltimore Orioles (19th century)|Baltimore Orioles]] (1884–85, 1887–88)
*[[Los Angeles Dodgers|Brooklyn Bridegrooms]] (1888–1895)
*[[History of the Brooklyn Dodgers|Brooklyn Bridegrooms]] (1888–1895)
*[[San Francisco Giants|New York Giants]] (1895)
*[[New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]] (1895)
|highlights=<nowiki></nowiki>
|highlights=
* National League [[List of Major League Baseball home run champions|home run champion]]: 1890
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders|NL home run leader]] (1890)
* National League [[List of Major League Baseball RBI champions|RBI champion]]: 1890
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders|NL RBI leader]] (1890)
}}
}}
'''Thomas P. "Oyster" Burns''' (September 6, 1864{{spaced ndash}}November 11, 1928) was a [[professional baseball]] player whose career spanned 15 seasons, 11 of which were spent with the [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) [[Wilmington Quicksteps]] (1884), [[Baltimore Orioles (1882-1899)|Baltimore Orioles]] (1884–85, 1887–88), [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Brooklyn Bridegrooms]] (1888–1895), and [[San Francisco Giants|New York Giants]] (1895). Burns, who predominately played as an [[outfielder]], also played as a [[shortstop]], [[second baseman]], [[third baseman]] and as a [[pitcher]]. Over his career, Burns compiled a career [[batting average]] of .300 with 870 [[run (baseball)|runs scored]], 1,392 [[hit (baseball)|hits]], 224 [[Double (baseball)|doubles]], 129 [[triple (baseball)|triples]], 65 [[home run]]s, and 834 [[runs batted in]] (RBI) in 1,188 [[games played]]. Although the majority of his career was spent in the major leagues, Burns also played in [[minor league baseball]]. He made his MLB debut at the age of 19 and was listed as standing {{convert|5|ft|8|in|cm}} and weighing {{convert|183|lb|kg}}.<ref name="Porter2000">{{cite book|title=Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: A-F|last=Porter|first=David L. G.|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2000|pages=186–187|isbn=0-313-31174-9|location=Westport, Connecticut|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=AUFUw01sIWYC&source=gbs_navlinks_s}}</ref>
'''Thomas P.''' "'''Oyster'''" '''Burns''' (September 6, 1864{{spaced ndash}}November 11, 1928) was an American [[professional baseball]] player whose career spanned 15 seasons, 11 of which were spent with the [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) [[Wilmington Quicksteps]] (1884), [[Baltimore Orioles (19th century)|Baltimore Orioles]] (1884–85, 1887–88), [[History of the Brooklyn Dodgers|Brooklyn Bridegrooms]] (1888–1895), and [[New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]] (1895). Burns, who predominately played as an [[outfielder]], also played as a [[shortstop]], [[second baseman]], [[third baseman]], and [[pitcher]]. Over his career, Burns compiled a career [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] of .300 with 870 [[run (baseball)|runs scored]], 1,392 [[hit (baseball)|hits]], 224 [[Double (baseball)|doubles]], 129 [[triple (baseball)|triples]], 65 [[home run]]s, and 834 [[runs batted in]] (RBI) in 1,188 [[games played]]. Although the majority of his career was spent in the major leagues, Burns also played in [[minor league baseball]]. He made his MLB debut at the age of 19 and was listed as standing {{convert|5|ft|8|in|cm}} and weighing {{convert|183|lb|kg}}.<ref name="Porter2000">{{cite book|title=Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: A-F|last=Porter|first=David L. G.|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2000|pages=186–187|isbn=0-313-31174-9|location=Westport, Connecticut|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AUFUw01sIWYC}}</ref>


Burns, nicknamed "Oyster" because he sold shellfish in the off-season, was described as a "loudmouth" and having "an irritating voice and personality".<ref name="Shafer2011">{{cite book|title=When the Dodgers Were Bridegrooms: Gunner McGunnigle and Brooklyn's Back-to-Back Pennants of 1889 and 1890|last=Shafer|first=Ronald G.|publisher=McFarland|year=2011|page=84|isbn=0-7864-5899-2|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LpG92B3_17gC&source=gbs_navlinks_s}}</ref> Nevertheless, Burns led the Bridegrooms to an [[American Association (19th century)|American Association]] championship in 1889 and a [[List of National League pennant winners|National League pennant]] in 1890. After retiring from baseball, Burns died on November 11, 1928 in [[Brooklyn, New York]].
Burns, nicknamed "Oyster" because he sold shellfish in the off-season, was described as a "loudmouth" and having "an irritating voice and personality".<ref name="Shafer2011">{{cite book|title=When the Dodgers Were Bridegrooms: Gunner McGunnigle and Brooklyn's Back-to-Back Pennants of 1889 and 1890|last=Shafer|first=Ronald G.|publisher=McFarland|year=2011|page=84|isbn=978-0-7864-5899-8|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LpG92B3_17gC}}</ref> He led the Bridegrooms to an [[American Association (19th century)|American Association]] championship in 1889 and a [[List of National League pennant winners|National League pennant]] in 1890. After retiring from baseball, Burns died on November 11, 1928, in [[Brooklyn]], New York.


==Early life==
==Biography==
Thomas P. Burns was born on September 6, 1864, in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Gammons|first=Peter|title=The 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia|editor=Pete Palmer, Gary Gillette, Stuart Shea|publisher=Sterling|year=2006|page=822|isbn=1-4027-3625-8|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=eUe37F9gN00C&source=gbs_navlinks_s}}</ref> His parents, Patrick and Mary Burns, were both Irish immigrants.<ref name="Porter2000" />
Thomas P. Burns was born on September 6, 1864, in [[Philadelphia]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Gammons|first=Peter|title=The 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia|editor=Pete Palmer |editor2=Gary Gillette |editor3=Stuart Shea|publisher=Sterling|year=2006|page=822|isbn=1-4027-3625-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eUe37F9gN00C}}</ref> His parents, Patrick and Mary Burns, were both Irish immigrants.<ref name="Porter2000" />


⚫
In 1883, Burns began his professional baseball career as an outfielder and pitcher with [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]] of the minor-league [[Interstate Association]]. He had a batting average of .220 in 69 games. As a pitcher, Burns posted an [[earned run average]] (ERA) of 2.30 over 20 games pitched, 15 of which were [[starting pitcher|starts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=a2fd836c|title=1883 Harrisburg|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=August 8, 2011}}</ref>
==Professional career==
⚫
In 1883, Burns began his professional baseball career as a pitcher with [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]] of the minor-league [[Interstate Association]]. On the year, Burns posted an [[earned run average]] (ERA) of 2.30 over 20 games pitched, 15 of which were [[starting pitcher|starts]]. When he wasn't pitching, Burns played second and third base.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=a2fd836c|title=1883 Harrisburg|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=August 8, 2011}}</ref>


{{Quote box
{{Quote box
|quote = "He was a disturber and one of the worst that ever played ball. His disposition was very bad, and he made it unpleasant for any of the boys that crested him. He is what you would call a bulldozer. [Bridegrooms [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] Bill] [[Bill McGunnigle|McGunnigle]] may be able to handle Burns, but I doubt it."
|quote = "He was a disturber and one of the worst that ever played ball. His disposition was very bad, and he made it unpleasant for any of the boys that crested him. He is what you would call a bulldozer. [Bridegrooms [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] Bill] [[Bill McGunnigle|McGunnigle]] may be able to handle Burns, but I doubt it."
|source = A teammate of Burns on the Orioles<ref name="Shafer2011" />
|source = A teammate of Burns on the Orioles<ref name="Shafer2011" />
|width = 40%
|width = 30%
|align = right
|align = right
|style=clear:none;max-width:50%
|style=clear:none;max-width:50%
}}
}}
[[File:Oyster Burns baseball card.jpg|thumb|Burns batting for the Orioles in 1887|alt=A baseball card of Oyster Burns batting in a white uniform with a red belt and socks]]
[[File:Oyster Burns baseball card.jpg|thumb|upright|1887 baseball card of Burns|alt=A baseball card of Oyster Burns batting in a white uniform with a red belt and socks]]


Burns began the 1884 season playing for the Wilmington Quicksteps, but left the team after they joined the [[Union Association]],<ref name="Porter2000" /> and joined the Baltimore Orioles. Burns—the youngest player on the Orioles and the seventh youngest player in the American Association<ref name="1884Orioles">{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/1884.shtml|title=1884 Baltimore Orioles Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=August 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AA/1884-other-leaders.shtml|title=1884 American Association Awards, All-Stars and Other Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=August 8, 2011}}</ref>— batted .298. Despite playing in only 35 games on the season, Burns recorded a team-leading six home runs over 141 [[plate appearance]]s.<ref name="1884Orioles" /> He continued his career with the Orioles in 1885, batting .231 with five home runs and 37 RBI, and pitching to a 7–4 [[win–loss record (pitching)|win–loss record]]. His offensive struggles led him to be demoted to the [[Newark Domestics]] for the 1886 season,<ref name="Porter2000" /> where he helped the Domestics win the [[International League|Eastern League]] pennant.<ref name="Porter2000" /> By 1887, Burns had reentered the majors for the Orioles and became the team captain until he threw a [[baseball (ball)|baseball]] at an opposing pitcher following a [[Baseball rules|groundout]];<ref name="Westcott">{{cite book|title=Native sons: Philadelphia baseball players who made the major leagues|last1=Westcott|first1=Rich|last2=Campbell|first2=Bill|page=121|publisher=Temple University Press|year=2003|isbn=978-1-59213-215-7|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=JtOisowYTh4C&source=gbs_navlinks_s}}</ref> he was later fined [[United States Dollar|$]]25 (${{Inflation|US|25|1887}} in 2011).<ref name="Porter2000" /> On the season, he recorded nine home runs—good for third in the American Association. Burns's 19 triples were enough to tie him with five others for the league lead, and his 140 games played were tied for the league lead with teammate [[Blondie Purcell]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AA/1887-batting-leaders.shtml|title=1887 American Association Batting Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref>
Burns began the 1884 season playing for the Wilmington Quicksteps, but left the team after they joined the [[Union Association]],<ref name="Porter2000" /> and joined the Baltimore Orioles. Burns—the youngest player on the Orioles and the seventh youngest player in the American Association<ref name="1884Orioles">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/1884.shtml|title=1884 Baltimore Orioles Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=August 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AA/1884-other-leaders.shtml|title=1884 American Association Awards, All-Stars and Other Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=August 8, 2011}}</ref>— batted .298. Despite playing in only 35 games on the season, Burns recorded a team-leading six home runs over 141 [[plate appearance]]s.<ref name="1884Orioles" /> He continued his career with the Orioles in 1885, batting .231 with five home runs and 37 RBI, and pitching to a 7–4 [[win–loss record (pitching)|win–loss record]]. His offensive struggles led him to be demoted to the [[Newark Domestics]] for the 1886 season,<ref name="Porter2000" /> where he helped the Domestics win the [[Eastern League (baseball, 1884–1912)|Eastern League]] pennant.<ref name="Porter2000" /> Burns led the league in batting average (.352), [[slugging percentage]] (.558), and home runs (10).<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=bef96fe5 "1886 Eastern League Batting Leaders"]. baseball-reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> By 1887, Burns had reentered the majors for the Orioles and became the team captain until he threw a [[baseball (ball)|baseball]] at an opposing pitcher following a [[Baseball rules|groundout]];<ref name="Westcott">{{cite book|title=Native sons: Philadelphia baseball players who made the major leagues|last1=Westcott|first1=Rich|last2=Campbell|first2=Bill|page=[https://archive.org/details/nativesonsphilad0000west/page/121 121]|publisher=Temple University Press|year=2003|isbn=978-1-59213-215-7|url=https://archive.org/details/nativesonsphilad0000west|url-access=registration}}</ref> he was later fined [[United States Dollar|$]]25 (${{Inflation|US|25|1887}} in 2011).<ref name="Porter2000" /> On the season, he recorded nine home runs—good for third in the American Association. Burns's 19 triples were enough to tie him with five others for the league lead, and his 140 games played were tied for the league lead with teammate [[Blondie Purcell]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AA/1887-batting-leaders.shtml|title=1887 American Association Batting Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=August 9, 2011}}</ref>


After playing in 79 games for Baltimore, Burns was transferred to the Brooklyn Bridegrooms by [[Harry Von der Horst]], the owner of both clubs.<ref name="Dodgers">{{cite book|title=The Dodgers Encyclopedia|last=McNeil|first=William F.|page=30|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|year=2000|location=Champaign, Illionios|isbn=1-58261-316-8|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=aKQ3CQYbYXkC&source=gbs_navlinks_s}}</ref> While he was playing for the Bridegrooms, the ''[[New York Clipper]]'' described Burns as "the noisiest man that ever played on the Brooklyn team. His voice reminds one of a buzz-saw."<ref name="Shafer2011" /> Burns remained with the Bridegrooms for the 1889 season. He recorded team highs in [[on-base percentage]], batting average, and home runs hit while the Bridegrooms, with a 89–48 record, became American Association champions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BRO/1889.shtml|title=1889 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref> In the [[World Series]], the Bridegrooms played the New York Giants of the [[National League]]. Burns hit a three-run home run to win the fourth game of the series, giving Brooklyn a 3–1 series lead. However, the Giants would take the World Series after winning five straight games.<ref name="Dodgers" />
After playing in 79 games for Baltimore in 1888, Burns was transferred to the Brooklyn Bridegrooms by [[Harry Von der Horst]], the owner of both clubs.<ref name="Dodgers">{{cite book|title=The Dodgers Encyclopedia|last=McNeil|first=William F.|page=30|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|year=2000|location=Champaign, Illionios|isbn=1-58261-316-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aKQ3CQYbYXkC}}</ref> While he was playing for the Bridegrooms, the ''[[New York Clipper]]'' described Burns as "the noisiest man that ever played on the Brooklyn team. His voice reminds one of a buzz-saw."<ref name="Shafer2011" /> Burns remained with the Bridegrooms for the 1889 season. He recorded team highs in [[on-base percentage]], batting average, and home runs, while the Bridegrooms, with an 89–48 record, became American Association champions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BRO/1889.shtml|title=1889 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=August 9, 2011}}</ref> In the [[1889 World Series]], the Bridegrooms played the New York Giants of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]]. Burns hit a three-run home run to win the fourth game of the series, giving Brooklyn a 3–1 series lead. However, the Giants would take the World Series after winning five straight games.<ref name="Dodgers" />


In 1890, the Bridegrooms had moved to the National League. Burns, now 26, led the league in home runs (13) and RBI (128).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1890-batting-leaders.shtml|title=1890 National League Batting Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=August 10, 2011}}</ref> He [[hitting for the cycle|hit for the cycle]] on August 1, 1890—becoming the first Bridegroom to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/la/history/rare_feats.jsp|title=Dodgers Rare Feats|work=MLB.com|accessdate=August 10, 2011}}</ref> The team won the National League pennant, and faced the [[Louisville Colonels]] in the [[1890 World Series]]. The series ended in a 3–3–1 tie: bad weather led to the cancellation of more games.<ref name="Dodgers" /> After the 1891 season, Burns's 1892 RBI total was third in the league, and his hits, doubles, triples, and batting average marks were the second highest on the Brooklyn team, now named the Grooms. In 1893, between games of a [[Doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]], a teammate of Burns, [[Tom Daly (infielder)|Tom Daly]], was sleeping in [[center field]] when Burns stabbed Daly with a [[penknife]]. Daly awoke and turned on the knife, leading to a severed [[tendon]] which kept Daly out for two weeks.<ref name="Westcott" /><ref>{{cite book|title=The great encyclopedia of nineteenth century major league baseball|last=Nemec|first=David|page=572|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=xlZrLEcuUlAC&source=gbs_navlinks_s|year=2006|publisher=University of Alabama Press|isbn=978-0-8173-1499-6}}</ref> Burns' 1894 batting average (.355) was the highest of his career; his hit and run totals were also the second highest in his career. Burns continued to play for the club until 1895, when he played for the [[History of the New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]]. In his final MLB year, Burns batted a combined .258 over 25 games.
In 1890, the Bridegrooms had moved to the National League. Burns, now 26, led the league in home runs (13) and RBI (128).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1890-batting-leaders.shtml|title=1890 National League Batting Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=August 10, 2011}}</ref> He [[hitting for the cycle|hit for the cycle]] on August 1, 1890—becoming the first Bridegroom to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/la/history/rare_feats.jsp|title=Dodgers Rare Feats|work=MLB.com|access-date=August 10, 2011}}</ref> The team won the National League pennant, and faced the [[Louisville Colonels]] in the [[1890 World Series]]. The series ended in a 3–3–1 tie: bad weather led to the cancellation of more games.<ref name="Dodgers" /> After the 1891 season, Burns' 1892 RBI total was third in the league, and his hits, doubles, triples, and batting average marks were the second highest on the Brooklyn team, now named the Grooms. In 1893, between games of a [[Doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]], a teammate of Burns, [[Tom Daly (infielder)|Tom Daly]], was sleeping in [[Baseball field#outfield|center field]] when Burns stabbed Daly with a [[penknife]]. Daly awoke and turned on the knife, leading to a severed [[tendon]] which kept Daly out for two weeks.<ref name="Westcott" /><ref>{{cite book|title=The great encyclopedia of nineteenth century major league baseball|last=Nemec|first=David|page=572|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xlZrLEcuUlAC|year=2006|publisher=University of Alabama Press|isbn=978-0-8173-1499-6}}</ref> Burns' 1894 batting average (.355) was the highest of his career; his hit and run totals were also the second highest in his career. Burns continued to play for the club until 1895, when he played for the [[History of the New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]]. In his final MLB year, he batted a combined .258 over 53 games.


After the 1895 season, Burns's contract was purchased by the minor-league [[Newark Colts]]. The Colts would win the [[Atlantic League (1896–1900)|Atlantic League]] division with a 82–61 record, two games above the [[Hartford Bluebirds]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=d3d2ae5e|title=1896 Atlantic League|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=August 10, 2011}}</ref> The next season, Burns served as a [[player-coach]] for the Bluebirds, where he led the team in doubles and batting average. In his final managerial year, Burns coached [[Portland, Maine]] of the [[New England League]].
In 1896, Burns' contract was purchased by the minor-league [[Newark Colts]]. The Colts won the [[Atlantic League (1896–1900)|Atlantic League]] with an 82–61 record, two games above the [[Hartford Bluebirds]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=d3d2ae5e|title=1896 Atlantic League|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=August 10, 2011}}</ref> as Burns batted .378. The next season, Burns served as a [[player-coach]] for the Bluebirds, where he led the team in doubles and batting average. In 1901, his final managerial year, he managed the [[Portland, Maine]] team of the [[New England League]].


==After baseball==
After retiring from baseball, Burns lived in Brooklyn until his death on November 11, 1928.<ref name="Dodgers" /> He was buried in [[Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington|Holy Cross Cemetery]] in [[North Arlington, New Jersey]].
After retiring from baseball, Burns lived in Brooklyn until his death on November 11, 1928.<ref name="Dodgers" /> He was buried in [[Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington|Holy Cross Cemetery]] in [[North Arlington, New Jersey]].


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
* [[List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball home run champions]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball runs batted in champions]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball triples champions]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle]]


==References==
==References==
;General
;General
*{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burnsoy01.shtml|title=Oyster Burns Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=August 7, 2011}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burnsoy01.shtml|title=Oyster Burns Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=August 7, 2011}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=burns-001oys|title=Oyster Burns Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=August 7, 2011}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=burns-001oys|title=Oyster Burns Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=August 7, 2011}}
;Specific
;Specific
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|2}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{baseballstats|espn=19758|mlb=111759|br=b/burnsoy01|brm=burns-001oys}}
{{baseballstats|espn=19758|mlb=111759|br=b/burnsoy01|brm=burns-001oys}}, or [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/Pburno101.htm Retrosheet]
*{{findagrave}}


{{s-start}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-ach|ach}}
{{succession box | title=[[List of Major League Baseball runs batted in champions|National League RBI champion]] | before= [[Roger Connor]]| years=1890 | after= [[Cap Anson]]}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Roger Connor]] | title = [[Hitting for the cycle]]| years = August 1, 1890 | after = [[John Reilly (baseball)|John Reilly]]}}
{{succession box | title=[[List of Major League Baseball home run champions|National League home run champion]] | before=[[Sam Thompson]] | years=1890<br>(with [[Mike Tiernan]] and [[Walt Wilmot]])| after=[[Harry Stovey]] and [[Mike Tiernan]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{S-end}}


{{1889 Brooklyn Bridegrooms}}
{{1889 Brooklyn Bridegrooms}}
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{{NL RBI champions}}
{{NL RBI champions}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Burns, Oyster
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Burns, Thomas P.
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Major League Baseball outfielder
| DATE OF BIRTH = September 6, 1864
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
| DATE OF DEATH = November 11, 1928
| PLACE OF DEATH = [[Brooklyn, New York]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burns, Oyster}}
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[[Category:1864 births]]
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[[Category:National League home run champions]]
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[[Category:19th-century baseball players]]
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[[Category:19th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball second basemen]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
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[[Category:Wilmington Quicksteps players]]
[[Category:Baltimore Orioles (AA) players]]
[[Category:Baltimore Orioles (AA) players]]
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[[Category:Baseball players from Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Bridegrooms players]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Bridegrooms players]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Grooms players]]
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[[Category:New York Giants (NL) players]]
[[Category:Burials at Holy Cross Cemetery (North Arlington, New Jersey)]]
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[[Category:Harrisburg (minor league baseball) players]]
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[[Category:National League RBI champions]]
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[[Category:New York Giants (baseball) players]]
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[[Category:Grand Rapids Gold Bugs players]]
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Latest revision as of 12:54, 30 December 2024

Oyster Burns
Burns in 1888
Outfielder
Born: (1864-09-06)September 6, 1864
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: November 11, 1928(1928-11-11) (aged 64)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 18, 1884, for the Wilmington Quicksteps
Last MLB appearance
September 16, 1895, for the New York Giants
MLB statistics
Batting average.300
Home runs65
Runs batted in834
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Thomas P. "Oyster" Burns (September 6, 1864 – November 11, 1928) was an American professional baseball player whose career spanned 15 seasons, 11 of which were spent with the Major League Baseball (MLB) Wilmington Quicksteps (1884), Baltimore Orioles (1884–85, 1887–88), Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1888–1895), and New York Giants (1895). Burns, who predominately played as an outfielder, also played as a shortstop, second baseman, third baseman, and pitcher. Over his career, Burns compiled a career batting average of .300 with 870 runs scored, 1,392 hits, 224 doubles, 129 triples, 65 home runs, and 834 runs batted in (RBI) in 1,188 games played. Although the majority of his career was spent in the major leagues, Burns also played in minor league baseball. He made his MLB debut at the age of 19 and was listed as standing 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) and weighing 183 pounds (83 kg).[1]

Burns, nicknamed "Oyster" because he sold shellfish in the off-season, was described as a "loudmouth" and having "an irritating voice and personality".[2] He led the Bridegrooms to an American Association championship in 1889 and a National League pennant in 1890. After retiring from baseball, Burns died on November 11, 1928, in Brooklyn, New York.

Biography

[edit]

Thomas P. Burns was born on September 6, 1864, in Philadelphia.[3] His parents, Patrick and Mary Burns, were both Irish immigrants.[1]

In 1883, Burns began his professional baseball career as an outfielder and pitcher with Harrisburg of the minor-league Interstate Association. He had a batting average of .220 in 69 games. As a pitcher, Burns posted an earned run average (ERA) of 2.30 over 20 games pitched, 15 of which were starts.[4]

"He was a disturber and one of the worst that ever played ball. His disposition was very bad, and he made it unpleasant for any of the boys that crested him. He is what you would call a bulldozer. [Bridegrooms manager Bill] McGunnigle may be able to handle Burns, but I doubt it."

A teammate of Burns on the Orioles[2]
A baseball card of Oyster Burns batting in a white uniform with a red belt and socks
1887 baseball card of Burns

Burns began the 1884 season playing for the Wilmington Quicksteps, but left the team after they joined the Union Association,[1] and joined the Baltimore Orioles. Burns—the youngest player on the Orioles and the seventh youngest player in the American Association[5][6]— batted .298. Despite playing in only 35 games on the season, Burns recorded a team-leading six home runs over 141 plate appearances.[5] He continued his career with the Orioles in 1885, batting .231 with five home runs and 37 RBI, and pitching to a 7–4 win–loss record. His offensive struggles led him to be demoted to the Newark Domestics for the 1886 season,[1] where he helped the Domestics win the Eastern League pennant.[1] Burns led the league in batting average (.352), slugging percentage (.558), and home runs (10).[7] By 1887, Burns had reentered the majors for the Orioles and became the team captain until he threw a baseball at an opposing pitcher following a groundout;[8] he was later fined $25 ($848 in 2011).[1] On the season, he recorded nine home runs—good for third in the American Association. Burns's 19 triples were enough to tie him with five others for the league lead, and his 140 games played were tied for the league lead with teammate Blondie Purcell.[9]

After playing in 79 games for Baltimore in 1888, Burns was transferred to the Brooklyn Bridegrooms by Harry Von der Horst, the owner of both clubs.[10] While he was playing for the Bridegrooms, the New York Clipper described Burns as "the noisiest man that ever played on the Brooklyn team. His voice reminds one of a buzz-saw."[2] Burns remained with the Bridegrooms for the 1889 season. He recorded team highs in on-base percentage, batting average, and home runs, while the Bridegrooms, with an 89–48 record, became American Association champions.[11] In the 1889 World Series, the Bridegrooms played the New York Giants of the National League. Burns hit a three-run home run to win the fourth game of the series, giving Brooklyn a 3–1 series lead. However, the Giants would take the World Series after winning five straight games.[10]

In 1890, the Bridegrooms had moved to the National League. Burns, now 26, led the league in home runs (13) and RBI (128).[12] He hit for the cycle on August 1, 1890—becoming the first Bridegroom to do so.[13] The team won the National League pennant, and faced the Louisville Colonels in the 1890 World Series. The series ended in a 3–3–1 tie: bad weather led to the cancellation of more games.[10] After the 1891 season, Burns' 1892 RBI total was third in the league, and his hits, doubles, triples, and batting average marks were the second highest on the Brooklyn team, now named the Grooms. In 1893, between games of a doubleheader, a teammate of Burns, Tom Daly, was sleeping in center field when Burns stabbed Daly with a penknife. Daly awoke and turned on the knife, leading to a severed tendon which kept Daly out for two weeks.[8][14] Burns' 1894 batting average (.355) was the highest of his career; his hit and run totals were also the second highest in his career. Burns continued to play for the club until 1895, when he played for the New York Giants. In his final MLB year, he batted a combined .258 over 53 games.

In 1896, Burns' contract was purchased by the minor-league Newark Colts. The Colts won the Atlantic League with an 82–61 record, two games above the Hartford Bluebirds,[15] as Burns batted .378. The next season, Burns served as a player-coach for the Bluebirds, where he led the team in doubles and batting average. In 1901, his final managerial year, he managed the Portland, Maine team of the New England League.

After retiring from baseball, Burns lived in Brooklyn until his death on November 11, 1928.[10] He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, New Jersey.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
General
  • "Oyster Burns Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  • "Oyster Burns Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f Porter, David L. G. (2000). Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: A-F. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 186–187. ISBN 0-313-31174-9.
  2. ^ a b c Shafer, Ronald G. (2011). When the Dodgers Were Bridegrooms: Gunner McGunnigle and Brooklyn's Back-to-Back Pennants of 1889 and 1890. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-7864-5899-8.
  3. ^ Gammons, Peter (2006). Pete Palmer; Gary Gillette; Stuart Shea (eds.). The 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia. Sterling. p. 822. ISBN 1-4027-3625-8.
  4. ^ "1883 Harrisburg". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "1884 Baltimore Orioles Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  6. ^ "1884 American Association Awards, All-Stars and Other Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  7. ^ "1886 Eastern League Batting Leaders". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Westcott, Rich; Campbell, Bill (2003). Native sons: Philadelphia baseball players who made the major leagues. Temple University Press. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-59213-215-7.
  9. ^ "1887 American Association Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  10. ^ a b c d McNeil, William F. (2000). The Dodgers Encyclopedia. Champaign, Illionios: Sports Publishing LLC. p. 30. ISBN 1-58261-316-8.
  11. ^ "1889 Brooklyn Bridegrooms Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  12. ^ "1890 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  13. ^ "Dodgers Rare Feats". MLB.com. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  14. ^ Nemec, David (2006). The great encyclopedia of nineteenth century major league baseball. University of Alabama Press. p. 572. ISBN 978-0-8173-1499-6.
  15. ^ "1896 Atlantic League". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oyster Burns.
Achievements
Preceded by Hitting for the cycle
August 1, 1890 		Succeeded by
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