George Burns
| Birthdate | 1/31/1893 |
| Death Date | 1/7/1978 |
| Debut Year | 1914 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Athletics, Indians, Red Sox, Tigers, Yankees |
| Position | First Base |
The 1926 AL MVP, George Burns retired with 2,018 hits trailing only Nap Lajoie (2,523) and Harry Heilmann (2,499) among AL right-handed hitters.
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No right-handed hitter has recorded more doubles in a season than Burns did in 1926
No right-handed hitter has recorded more doubles in a season than Burns did in 1926
George Burns enjoyed a highly-productive and notable 16-year big league career.
The first baseman began with four nondescript seasons in Detroit from 1914-1917. The following season he moved to the Philadelphia Athletics and promptly hit .352, leading the league in hits and total bases.
Midway through the 1920 season the Indians purchased his contract for $10,000. The deal paid dividends as Burns helped Cleveland capture its first pennant.
In the Fall Classic he hit .300 with a .462 on-base percentage in 13 plate appearances to earn his first ring. The next year he hit .361 in a part-time role. After the season the Indians packaged him in a deal for Red Sox first baseman Stuffy McInnis.
In Boston Burns became a star. Afforded more than 600 plate appearances in both of his seasons there, Burns responded by hitting .317. He received MVP consideration each year.
Burns’ 1922 campaign included 12 homers – the most among AL first baseman. The next year he turned an unassisted triple play – the first by a big league first baseman. At bat in ’23 Burns hit .328. His 47 doubles were the second-most in the big leagues behind only Tris Speaker. Burns finished tenth in MVP voting.
Acknowledging the mistake of letting him go, Cleveland reacquired Burns. His next four full seasons with the Tribe were among his best. In 1924 and ’25 he combined to hit .323 with 78 doubles and 147 RBI.
His career year came in 1926 when he established career highs in hits (216), doubles (64), RBI (115), and batting average (.358). The 64 two-base hits tie him with Hall of Famer Joe Medwick for the most by a right-hander in big league history. Only lefty Earl Webb ever hit more in a season. For his efforts Burns was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player.
The following season Burns mashed another 51 doubles to place second in the AL. A two-base hitting machine, Burns is baseball’s all-time leader in doubles per 162 games played.
His numbers slid in ’28. Burns played for three teams in his final two big league seasons. The .307 career hitter left the big leagues in 1929.
At the time of his retirement Burns’ 2,018 hits ranked high on the all-time leaderboard. Among American League righties, only Nap Lajoie and Harry Heilmann had more safeties to that point.
Starting in 1930, Burns spent five seasons as player/manager in the Pacific Coast League before leaving the game for good in 1934.
Throughout the rest of his life Burns maintained that he belonged in Cooperstown. The numbers tell a different story. In 1,866 games Burns recorded just just 72 homers and 954 RBI. His 35.1 WAR ranks 63rd all time among first baseman. High Pockets Kelly – one of the weakest Hall of Famers – is the only Cooperstown man at the position with a lower career WAR.
Though he’ll never receive a plaque, former MVP George Burns had a career worth worth remembering.
In the collection is this index card signed by Burns. He adds a lengthy inscription, listing the teams for which he played.
On 4/18/1923 George Burns' third-inning single was the first hit in The House that Ruth Built
On 4/18/1923 George Burns' third-inning single was the first hit in The House that Ruth Built
When Yankee Stadium opened on April 18, 1923, it was the most exciting day in franchise history for the team that had yet to win a World Series. The stands were packed as an overflow crowd of 74,200 came to witness the stadium’s christening.
In the first contest the Yanks squared off against the Boston Red Sox. Playing against his former team, Babe Ruth himself slugged the first home run in The House that Ruth Built. His third-inning three-run bomb extended a lead the Yankees never relinquished.
George Burns also played a historic role in the contest. After the game’s first 7 batters were retired in order, Burns lofted a fly ball over the second baseman’s head onto the grass in left-center field. It marked the first hit in Yankee Stadium history. Interestingly, he also struck out to end the game.
Shown here is an autographed picture of Babe Ruth signed in the final year of his life.
1926 was the first year that the Cleveland Indians had a MVP. That will be 100 years in 2026! They have only had two others since then.
We all know that Cleveland’s first MVP George Henry Burns should be in the Hall of Fame! That being said, don’t you think Cleveland should be throwing a 100 year celebration? Their first ever, MVP. Well, I do. I am Papa’s grandson. I grew up, listening to his stories about Ty, Tris Speaker, the Babe all of them. what a great man. I was very fortunate to be able to listen to his stories as he grew older. I am hoping to work with the Cleveland organization to prepare a 100 year grand celebration.