Willie Burns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willie Burns |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: January 12, 1916 West Palm Beach, Florida |
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| Died: February 10, 1966 (aged 50) West Palm Beach, Florida |
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| debut | |||
| 1935, for the Newark Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1945, for the New York Black Yankees | |||
| Teams | |||
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William Tatum Burns (born January 12, 1916 – died February 10, 1966) was an American baseball player. He was a talented pitcher in the Negro leagues from 1935 to 1945.
Willie Burns was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. He started his professional baseball career in 1935 with the Newark Dodgers. Over his career, he played for several different teams. He finished his time in the Negro leagues in 1945, playing for both the New York Cubans and the New York Black Yankees. Willie Burns passed away in West Palm Beach in 1966 when he was 50 years old.
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What Were the Negro Leagues?
The Negro leagues were professional baseball leagues in the United States. They were created because African American players were not allowed to play in the major leagues. This was due to segregation laws at the time. These leagues gave amazing Black baseball players a chance to show their skills.
A Time of Change in Baseball
From the late 1800s until 1947, Black players were kept out of Major League Baseball. The Negro leagues offered a high level of competition. Many players from these leagues were incredibly talented. Some of them, like Jackie Robinson, later went on to play in Major League Baseball after the color barrier was broken.
Willie Burns's Baseball Journey
Willie Burns was a left-handed pitcher. This means he threw the baseball with his left arm. He played for many different teams during his career. This was common for players in the Negro leagues.
Teams Willie Played For
Willie Burns played for several well-known teams. Here are some of them:
- Newark Dodgers (1935)
- Newark Eagles (1942)
- Chicago American Giants (1942)
- Baltimore Elite Giants (1943)
- Philadelphia Stars (1943)
- Indianapolis Clowns (1944)
- New York Cubans (1945)
- New York Black Yankees (1945)
Each team was part of the exciting history of Negro league baseball. Willie Burns was an important part of this history.
