Smoky Burgess---1967
Traveling the highways of the Midwest
as a scout for nearly 20 years, you take
in little slices of life along the trail.
Traveling North from Nashville, TN on
I-65 heading towards Louisville, KY
there is one sign that invariably brings a
small chuckle and a shake of my head
each time that I see it.
Just off the road shy of Exit 81 for
Sonora, KY and Route 84 is a sign from
Sullivan Farms advertising
“USED COWS FOR SALE”
and a number to call. Huh!?
It makes me wonder, why would anyone
want to buy a used cow? And think
about it, what do you do with a used
cow? Are cows that difficult to
housebreak that one needs to buy a
used cow instead of a calf? Are cows
even a good house pet? Maybe people
buy these used cows, take care of them
for awhile longer and then turn around
and sell them to premium steak houses
as aged beef.
One can almost imagine Old Man
Sullivan in a pair of overalls as a John
Deere cap hides part of his sun-worn
face on the local cable access station
out of Elizabthtown every Saturday
morning from 5 AM until 5:47 AM,
showing off his used cows for sale.
"Low mileage and only been milked on
Sundays to give alittle color to my
mother's coffee. But you better hurry on
up, there goin' fast pardner."
I just don’t know, but the sign has been
up for at least 15 years, so these folks
must sell a damn good used cow. Used
cows?
So getting on to our card of the day,
Smoky Burgess comes to mind when I
think of the used cows. The lefty
swinger was an offensive-minded
backstop for the Phillies (1953-54) and
Reds (1955-58), but most notably a
perennial All-Star during five seasons
with the Pirates (1959-64). He was
honored with nine All-Star Game
selections, playing in seven mid-summer
classics; and helped the Pirates upset
the New York Yankees in the 1960
World Series. Burgess also was behind
the plate for Harvey Haddix’s near
perfect game of May 26, 1959 against
the Milwaukee Braves.
In his first five seasons for the Pirates,
the hind snatcher logged a .301 batting
average in 518 games. But by 1964,
Burgess’ body had seen better days.
His bat was suffering, as Burgess was
hitting just .246 after 68 games, yielding
playing time to Jim Pagliaroni. Hence,
Pittsburgh General Manager Joe Brown
put out the baseball's proverbial “Used
Cow For Sale” sign, when he placed
Burgess on waivers in September,
where he was picked up by the White
Sox.
Pale Hose managers Al Lopez and
Eddie Stanky promptly sat the hefty
Burgess on the bench, calling upon him
regularly for his pinch-hitting expertise.
During his three-plus seasons in the
Windy City, Burgess would appear in
243 contests, but catch in just seven
games!
As we can tell from the belly in his 1967
card (and last card), life was good for
Burgess as a pinch hitter. No squatting,
very little running and by being on the
bench, he was close to the post-game
spread in the clubhouse. Unfortunately,
the good times came to an end in 1967,
when Burgess suffered with back
problems and hit just .133 in 76 plate
appearances over 77 games.
After the season the White Sox put their
“Used Cow” on waivers, but found no
takers, as Burgess was sent off to a
distant pasture--- probably in Sonora,
KY--- never to appear in another major
league game.
******************************************
In the end, the chubby veteran would
hit .286 as a pinch-hitter and establish
a then-major league record with 145
pinch hits, which now ranks fourth on
the all-time list.
(5/7/10+)
as a scout for nearly 20 years, you take
in little slices of life along the trail.
Traveling North from Nashville, TN on
I-65 heading towards Louisville, KY
there is one sign that invariably brings a
small chuckle and a shake of my head
each time that I see it.
Just off the road shy of Exit 81 for
Sonora, KY and Route 84 is a sign from
Sullivan Farms advertising
“USED COWS FOR SALE”
and a number to call. Huh!?
It makes me wonder, why would anyone
want to buy a used cow? And think
about it, what do you do with a used
cow? Are cows that difficult to
housebreak that one needs to buy a
used cow instead of a calf? Are cows
even a good house pet? Maybe people
buy these used cows, take care of them
for awhile longer and then turn around
and sell them to premium steak houses
as aged beef.
One can almost imagine Old Man
Sullivan in a pair of overalls as a John
Deere cap hides part of his sun-worn
face on the local cable access station
out of Elizabthtown every Saturday
morning from 5 AM until 5:47 AM,
showing off his used cows for sale.
"Low mileage and only been milked on
Sundays to give alittle color to my
mother's coffee. But you better hurry on
up, there goin' fast pardner."
I just don’t know, but the sign has been
up for at least 15 years, so these folks
must sell a damn good used cow. Used
cows?
So getting on to our card of the day,
Smoky Burgess comes to mind when I
think of the used cows. The lefty
swinger was an offensive-minded
backstop for the Phillies (1953-54) and
Reds (1955-58), but most notably a
perennial All-Star during five seasons
with the Pirates (1959-64). He was
honored with nine All-Star Game
selections, playing in seven mid-summer
classics; and helped the Pirates upset
the New York Yankees in the 1960
World Series. Burgess also was behind
the plate for Harvey Haddix’s near
perfect game of May 26, 1959 against
the Milwaukee Braves.
In his first five seasons for the Pirates,
the hind snatcher logged a .301 batting
average in 518 games. But by 1964,
Burgess’ body had seen better days.
His bat was suffering, as Burgess was
hitting just .246 after 68 games, yielding
playing time to Jim Pagliaroni. Hence,
Pittsburgh General Manager Joe Brown
put out the baseball's proverbial “Used
Cow For Sale” sign, when he placed
Burgess on waivers in September,
where he was picked up by the White
Sox.
Pale Hose managers Al Lopez and
Eddie Stanky promptly sat the hefty
Burgess on the bench, calling upon him
regularly for his pinch-hitting expertise.
During his three-plus seasons in the
Windy City, Burgess would appear in
243 contests, but catch in just seven
games!
As we can tell from the belly in his 1967
card (and last card), life was good for
Burgess as a pinch hitter. No squatting,
very little running and by being on the
bench, he was close to the post-game
spread in the clubhouse. Unfortunately,
the good times came to an end in 1967,
when Burgess suffered with back
problems and hit just .133 in 76 plate
appearances over 77 games.
After the season the White Sox put their
“Used Cow” on waivers, but found no
takers, as Burgess was sent off to a
distant pasture--- probably in Sonora,
KY--- never to appear in another major
league game.
******************************************
In the end, the chubby veteran would
hit .286 as a pinch-hitter and establish
a then-major league record with 145
pinch hits, which now ranks fourth on
the all-time list.
(5/7/10+)
