Nelson Burbrink
Encyclopedia
Nelson Edward Burbrink was a Major League Baseball
catcher
and scout. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio
, he was signed by the Chicago Cubs
as an amateur free agent before the 1941 season. He finally made it to the major leagues at the age of 33 with the St. Louis Cardinals
.
After being called up to the big leagues in June 1955, Burbrink shared catching duties with teammate Bill Sarni
for the remainder of the season. He made his major league debut on June 5 during a doubleheader
against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field
. He appeared in 58 games for St. Louis, going 47-for-170 (.276) with 0 home runs, 15 runs batted in, and 11 runs scored
. He had a .333 on base percentage
and a slugging percentage of .335.
Defensively, he recorded 261 putouts, 24 assists
, 6 errors
, and participated in 4 double plays. His fielding percentage
was .979, slightly under the league average that season.
After his playing career ended, Burbrink scouted for the Cardinals and the New York Mets
. He served as the Mets' scouting director (1968–72) and director of player development (1973–78).
Burbrink died in Largo, Florida
, at the age of 79.
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...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and scout. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, he was signed by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
as an amateur free agent before the 1941 season. He finally made it to the major leagues at the age of 33 with 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...
.
After being called up to the big leagues in June 1955, Burbrink shared catching duties with teammate Bill Sarni
Bill Sarni
William Florine Sarni was an American professional baseball player who played as a catcher in the Major Leagues. A native of Los Angeles, California, he played for the St...
for the remainder of the season. He made his major league debut on June 5 during a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
. He appeared in 58 games for St. Louis, going 47-for-170 (.276) with 0 home runs, 15 runs batted in, and 11 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
. He had a .333 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
and a slugging percentage of .335.
Defensively, he recorded 261 putouts, 24 assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
, 6 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
, and participated in 4 double plays. His fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
was .979, slightly under the league average that season.
After his playing career ended, Burbrink scouted for the Cardinals and 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...
. He served as the Mets' scouting director (1968–72) and director of player development (1973–78).
Burbrink died in Largo, Florida
Largo, Florida
Largo is the third largest city in Pinellas County, Florida, USA and is part of the Tampa Bay Area. Centrally located, it is the crossroads of the county. As of the 2000 census, the City had a total population of 69,371. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau was...
, at the age of 79.