Lew Burdette (2008) - Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame

Lew Burdette

Induction:
2008
Class:
1949

Following an unlikely road to the University of Richmond and later to becoming a World Series MVP, Lew Burdette pitched for the Spiders in 1946 before gaining fame in the Major Leagues with the Milwaukee Braves. Burdette, whose hometown high school in Nitro, West Virginia didn't have a baseball team, was nonetheless spotted by the Rev. Alfred Montgomery R'38, who helped him gain a scholarship to Richmond.

In 1946, Burdette took the hill for the Spiders, and was named All-Virginia Big Six, pitching for legendary Hall of Fame coach Mac Pitt. But Burdette's blazing fastball and endurance caught the attention of the New York Yankees, who signed him in 1947. Three years later, the Yankees traded him to Milwaukee, where Burdette's career flourished. Burdette won 203 games in 18 big league seasons, was a two-time All-Star, led the league in wins in 1959 and twice led the league in shutouts (1956, 1959).

His crowning moment, however, came in the 1957 World Series, when he won three games - two by shutout - against the team that originally signed him - the Yankees - in leading the Braves to the World Series title. Burdette was named MVP after holding New York scoreless for 24 consecutive innings and winning game seven, 5-0. He was later named Associated Press "Sportsman of the Year" for his accomplishments. Lew Burdette, who died Feb. 6, 2007, is also a member of the Braves Hall of Fame in Atlanta and the State of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.