Burgess Whitehead
Born: 6/29/1910 in Tarboro, NC, USA
Died: 11/25/1993 in Windsor, NC, USA
MLB Debut: 1933-04-30 | Final Game: 1946-09-29
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 160 lbs
Full name: Burgess Urquhart Whitehead
Biography
Burgess Whitehead was born in 1910 and enjoyed a notable career in Major League Baseball from 1933 until his retirement in 1946. An accomplished position player, Whitehead participated in 924 games, where he demonstrated a solid offensive presence with 883 hits and a batting average of .266. Throughout his career, he contributed significantly to his teams with 17 home runs and 245 runs batted in, while also showcasing his speed on the bases with 51 stolen bases. His versatility and consistent performance earned him All-Star selections in two different seasons, marking him as one of the prominent players of his era.
Playing during a transformative time in baseball history, Whitehead's career spanned the Great Depression and World War II, periods that profoundly affected the sport and its players. His ability to maintain a strong batting average and contribute to his team's success during these challenging times speaks to his resilience and skill. Known for his work ethic and determination, Whitehead left a lasting impact on the teams he played for, solidifying his place in the annals of baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 924 | 3316 | 415 | 883 | 100 | 31 | 17 | 245 | 51 | 150 | 138 | 0.266 | 0.304 | 0.331 | 0.634 | -9194.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | STL | NL | 12 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.286 | 0.0 |
| 1934 | STL | NL | 100 | 332 | 55 | 92 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 0.277 | -684.2 |
| 1935 | STL | NL | 107 | 338 | 45 | 89 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 0.263 | -1316.6 |
| 1936 | NY1 | NL | 154 | 632 | 99 | 176 | 31 | 3 | 4 | 47 | 14 | 29 | 32 | 0.278 | -1491.3 |
| 1937 | NY1 | NL | 152 | 574 | 64 | 164 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 52 | 7 | 28 | 20 | 0.286 | -1010.0 |
| 1939 | NY1 | NL | 95 | 335 | 31 | 80 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 1 | 24 | 19 | 0.239 | -1266.8 |
| 1940 | NY1 | NL | 133 | 568 | 68 | 160 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 36 | 9 | 26 | 17 | 0.282 | -1051.5 |
| 1941 | NY1 | NL | 116 | 403 | 41 | 92 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 23 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 0.228 | -1836.5 |
| 1946 | PIT | NL | 55 | 127 | 10 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0.220 | -537.8 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 37 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0.135 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | WS | NY1 | 5 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.250 |
| 1936 | WS | NY1 | 6 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.048 |
| 1934 | WS | SLN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 718 | 0 | 1847 | 2297 | 118 | 462 |
| 3B | 116 | 0 | 106 | 191 | 15 | 14 |
| SS | 53 | 0 | 65 | 68 | 5 | 10 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | SLN | 2B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1933 | SLN | SS | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1934 | SLN | 2B | 48 | 0 | 88 | 140 | 9 | 27 |
| 1934 | SLN | 3B | 28 | 0 | 30 | 47 | 3 | 6 |
| 1934 | SLN | SS | 29 | 0 | 40 | 33 | 4 | 5 |
| 1935 | SLN | 2B | 80 | 0 | 172 | 218 | 8 | 43 |
| 1935 | SLN | 3B | 8 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 2 |
| 1935 | SLN | SS | 6 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 2 |
| 1936 | NY1 | 2B | 153 | 0 | 442 | 552 | 32 | 107 |
| 1937 | NY1 | 2B | 152 | 0 | 394 | 514 | 24 | 106 |
| 1939 | NY1 | 2B | 91 | 0 | 232 | 320 | 17 | 60 |
| 1939 | NY1 | 3B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1939 | NY1 | SS | 4 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 2 |
| 1940 | NY1 | 2B | 57 | 0 | 164 | 200 | 5 | 45 |
| 1940 | NY1 | 3B | 74 | 0 | 68 | 130 | 11 | 5 |
| 1940 | NY1 | SS | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1941 | NY1 | 2B | 104 | 0 | 288 | 285 | 18 | 60 |
| 1941 | NY1 | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946 | PIT | 2B | 30 | 0 | 66 | 64 | 5 | 14 |
| 1946 | PIT | 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946 | PIT | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 715 |
| Third Base | 118 |
| Shortstop | 55 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | NC | 1929, 1930 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 11th | 6.0 | 80 | 0 |