1. Overview
Selva Lewis Burdette, Jr. (November 22, 1926 - February 6, 2007) was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played primarily for the Boston / Milwaukee Braves, but also had tenures with the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and California Angels. Renowned for his exceptional control, Burdette's career average of 1.84 walks per nine innings pitched ranks him among the best control pitchers since 1920. He was a pivotal figure in the Milwaukee Braves' success, most notably earning the Most Valuable Player title in the 1957 World Series, where he led the franchise to its first championship in 43 years and its only title while in Milwaukee. Throughout his 18-year career, Burdette amassed 203 wins, appeared in two All-Star games, and led the National League in several pitching categories.
2. Early Life and Professional Debut
Selva Lewis Burdette, Jr. was born on November 22, 1926, in Nitro, West Virginia. He began his professional baseball career when he was signed by the New York Yankees in 1947. Burdette made his MLB debut for the Yankees, appearing in two relief appearances in September 1950. In August 1951, he was traded from the Yankees to the Boston Braves in exchange for Johnny Sain, a four-time 20-game winner. This trade marked the beginning of his impactful tenure with the Braves franchise.
3. Major League Career
Lew Burdette's primary activities and achievements as a Major League Baseball player spanned from his impactful tenure with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves through his later career with several other teams, marked by significant games and statistical achievements.
3.1. Boston / Milwaukee Braves Era
After joining the Boston Braves in 1951, Burdette became a cornerstone of the team's pitching staff, particularly during its years in Milwaukee. Alongside left-hander Warren Spahn and right-hander Bob Buhl, he formed one of the best starting rotations in the majors during the 1950s. Burdette consistently performed, winning 15 or more games eight times between 1953 and 1961. He led National League pitchers in earned run average (ERA) in 1956.
Burdette's career highlight came in the 1957 World Series against his former team, the New York Yankees. He became the first pitcher in 37 years to win three complete games in a single series. Furthermore, he was the first pitcher since Christy Mathewson in the 1905 World Series to pitch two shutouts in a series, accomplishing this in Games 5 and 7. His crucial start in Game 7 came on only two days' rest after Games 1 and 4 starter Warren Spahn was sidelined with the flu, showcasing Burdette's resilience and importance to the team. His dominant performance earned him the World Series MVP award, leading the Braves to their only championship in Milwaukee history.
In the subsequent 1958 World Series, also against the Yankees, Burdette started three games but lost twice. His final setback occurred in Game 7, which he again started on only two days' rest. This decision by manager Fred Haney drew widespread criticism. In Game 2 of the 1958 World Series, Burdette intentionally walked Mickey Mantle in the first inning. Ultimately, the Yankees defeated Burdette in the decisive game, securing their 18th World Series title. Despite this series loss, Burdette continued to be a top performer, winning 20 games in 1958 and tying Spahn for the National League lead with 21 victories in 1959. He also recorded 19 wins in 1956 and 1960, 18 in 1961, and 17 in 1957.
3.2. Notable Games and Milestones
Lew Burdette was involved in several memorable games throughout his career. On May 26, 1959, he was the winning pitcher in a historic game where Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Harvey Haddix threw a perfect game for 12 innings against the Braves, only to lose in the 13th. Despite Haddix's masterful outing, Burdette pitched a 1-0 shutout, scattering 12 hits, to secure the victory. In the ensuing offseason, Burdette famously joked, "I'm the greatest pitcher that ever lived. The greatest game that was ever pitched in baseball wasn't good enough to beat me, so I've got to be the greatest!"
On August 18, 1960, Burdette achieved a significant milestone by throwing a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee County Stadium, winning 1-0. Facing the minimum 27 batters, the only opposing batter to reach base was Tony González, who was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning but was then retired on a double play. Burdette also contributed to his own victory by scoring the game's only run in the eighth inning; after hitting a double, he scored on Bill Bruton's double. Five days after his no-hitter, he pitched his third consecutive shutout.
Beyond these specific games, Burdette consistently achieved statistical excellence. He led National League pitchers with a 2.70 ERA in 1956. He was a 20-game winner twice and twice led the National League in shutouts (1956, 1959). He also led the National League in wins, ERA, innings pitched, and complete games once each. His total wins, games played, and innings pitched with the Braves ranked behind only Warren Spahn and Kid Nichols in franchise history. He was named the MLB Player of the Month for August 1958, compiling a 7-1 record with a 1.89 ERA and 38 strikeouts.
3.3. Later Career
Following his successful tenure with the Milwaukee Braves, Burdette was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1963, where he played through 1964. He then moved to the Chicago Cubs (1964-1965) and the Philadelphia Phillies (1965). In 1966, he signed with the California Angels, where he pitched exclusively in relief for the 1966 and 1967 seasons before retiring from professional baseball.
4. Pitching Style and Characteristics
Lew Burdette was known for his unique and somewhat controversial pitching style. He was notably fidgety on the mound, constantly scratching himself and adjusting his uniform before pitches. Former manager Fred Haney once quipped, "Burdette would make coffee nervous," highlighting his restless demeanor.
These frequently repeated motions, such as bringing his fingers to his lips and wiping sweat from his forehead, fueled persistent rumors that he threw spitballs, a pitch that was illegal at the time. The controversy peaked after the second game of the 1957 season when Cincinnati Reds manager Birdie Tebbetts publicly labeled Burdette a "cheating spitballer." This prompted the Reds' General Manager Gabe Paul to file an official protest with the National League. National League President Warren Giles responded by clarifying that it was permissible for a pitcher to moisten his hands as long as the moisture was not transferred to the baseball. Giles stated, "Until someone-the umpires or someone-presents evidence that Burdette is using the spitter, I'll do nothing about it." Burdette himself famously addressed the accusations, saying, "It's the best pitch I've got-and I don't throw it."
Despite his denials, the rumors persisted among his peers and the media. Don Hoak claimed, "Only once did I ever see water fly off a spitball, and the man who threw me that pitch was Burdette." The Sporting News wrote in 1967, "Perhaps no pitcher has engendered more controversy about the spitter than Lew Burdette." New York Times sportswriter Red Smith humorously suggested, "There should be 3 pitching statistics for Burdette: Wins, Losses, and Relative Humidity." Burdette himself leaned into the reputation, jokingly stating he retired because "they were starting to hit the dry side of the ball."
5. Career Statistics
In his 18-year Major League Baseball career, Lew Burdette posted a comprehensive record of 203 wins and 144 losses. He accumulated 1,074 strikeouts and maintained a 3.66 ERA over 3,067.1 innings pitched. Throughout his career, he completed 158 games and recorded 33 shutouts.
His control as a pitcher was exceptional, evidenced by his career average of 1.84 walks per nine innings. Among pitchers with at least 3,000 innings since 1920, this figure places him behind only Robin Roberts (1.73), Greg Maddux (1.80), Carl Hubbell (1.82), and Juan Marichal (1.82).
In his two All-Star appearances, Burdette allowed only one run over seven innings pitched. He led National League pitchers with a 2.70 ERA in 1956. He achieved 20-win seasons twice and topped the National League in shutouts twice. Additionally, he led the National League in wins, earned run average, innings pitched, and complete games once each. His cumulative totals for wins, games, and innings pitched with the Braves organization rank third in franchise history, behind only Warren Spahn and Kid Nichols.
As a hitter, Burdette compiled a .183 batting average (185 hits in 1,011 at-bats) with 75 RBI and 12 home runs. Notably, he hit his first two home runs in the same game in 1957 and had two more multi-homer games later in his career. He also hit a home run in Game 2 of the 1958 World Series, becoming the first pitcher to do so since Bucky Walters in 1940.
6. Personal Life and Post-retirement
After his retirement from baseball, Lew Burdette remained a recognized figure. He was honored with induction into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, a testament to his athletic legacy.
Burdette's influence extended beyond the baseball field into popular culture. In 1958, a reference to him appeared in an episode of the American television sitcom Leave It to Beaver. A letter from the principal to Beaver's parents briefly displays the text: "Lew Burdette just hit a home run and Milwaukee leads seven to one in the series." That same year, Burdette also ventured into music, releasing a single featuring two Rockabilly songs: "Three Strikes and You're Out" on the A-side and "Mary Lou" on the B-side.
His connection to baseball continued through his family; his grandson, Nolan Fontana, also became a professional baseball player, playing for the Los Angeles Angels.
7. Death
Selva Lewis Burdette, Jr. died on February 6, 2007, at the age of 80. The cause of his death was lung cancer. He passed away in Winter Garden, Florida.
8. Awards and Honors
Lew Burdette's distinguished baseball career was marked by numerous awards and honors:
- World Series MVP (1957)
- Two-time All-Star selection (1957, 1959)
- Third place in Cy Young Award voting (1958)
- Led National League in wins (1959)
- Led National League in games started (1959)
- Led National League in complete games (1960)
- Led National League in shutouts (1956, 1959)
- Ranked in the top four in National League wins five times (1956-1958, 1960-1961)
- MLB Player of the Month for August 1958
- Inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame (1998)