Leo Burke
Born: 5/6/1934 in Hagerstown, MD, USA
Died: 10/13/2023 in Riner, VA, USA
MLB Debut: 1958-09-07 | Final Game: 1965-05-26
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Leo Patrick Burke
Biography
Leo Burke was a professional baseball player born in 1934, whose career spanned from 1958 to 1965. Primarily serving as a position player, Burke appeared in 165 games during his time in Major League Baseball. He recorded 72 hits, 9 home runs, and 45 runs batted in, finishing his career with a batting average of .239. Notably, Burke did not register any stolen bases throughout his time in the league, reflecting a playing style that prioritized power and contact over speed on the bases.
Burke's career unfolded during a transitional era in baseball, as the sport was beginning to evolve from the traditional styles of play to a more dynamic approach characterized by power hitting. Although he may not have been a household name, his contributions as a utility player added depth to the rosters he played for. His tenure in the game was marked by the challenge of standing out amidst a generation of players who were increasingly focused on offensive production, yet he remained a respected figure among his peers until his retirement on May 26, 1965.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 165 | 301 | 33 | 72 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 45 | 0 | 21 | 79 | 0.239 | 0.294 | 0.365 | 0.660 | -216.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | BAL | AL | 7 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.455 | 0.0 |
| 1959 | BAL | AL | 5 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1961 | LAA | AL | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1962 | LAA | AL | 19 | 64 | 8 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0.266 | 113.4 |
| 1963 | CHC | NL | 27 | 49 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 0.184 | -161.9 |
| 1963 | STL | NL | 30 | 49 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 0.204 | -161.9 |
| 1964 | CHC | NL | 59 | 103 | 11 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 31 | 0.262 | -77.4 |
| 1965 | CHC | NL | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 6 | 4 | 44 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2B | 17 | 10 | 31 | 34 | 6 | 6 |
| 3B | 16 | 10 | 12 | 19 | 6 | 1 |
| C | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 45 | 30 | 63 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | BAL | 3B | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1958 | BAL | OF | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | BAL | 2B | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | BAL | 3B | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | LAA | 3B | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| 1962 | LAA | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1962 | LAA | OF | 12 | 12 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | CHN | 1B | 4 | 3 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1963 | CHN | 2B | 10 | 7 | 22 | 27 | 4 | 6 |
| 1963 | SLN | 3B | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 1963 | SLN | OF | 11 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | CHN | C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | CHN | 1B | 2 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1964 | CHN | 2B | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 1964 | CHN | 3B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | CHN | OF | 18 | 11 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1965 | CHN | C | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | CHN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 3 |
| First Base | 6 |
| Second Base | 17 |
| Third Base | 16 |
| Shortstop | 1 |
| Left Field | 7 |
| Center Field | 1 |
| Right Field | 37 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg | VA | 1954, 1955, 1956 |