Watch Burnham

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#ba0021
bgcolor2=#0f437c
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white


name=Watch Burnham
position=Manager/Umpire
bats=Unknown
throws=Unknown
birthdate=May 20 1860
city-state|Albion|Michigan
deathdate=death date and age|1902|11|18|1860|5|20
city-state|Detroit|Michigan
debutdate=April 28
debutyear=by|1887
debutteam=Indianapolis Hoosiers
finaldate=May 30
finalyear=by|1887
finalteam=Indianapolis Hoosiers
stat1label=Games Managed
stat1value=28
stat2label=Win-Loss Record
stat2value=6-22
stat3label=Winning %
stat3value=.214
teams=
*Indianapolis Hoosiers (by|1887)
highlights=
*Umpired in 5 Major League seasons.
*Called one no-hitter, on July 5, 1883.

George Walter "Watch" Burnham (May 20 1860 – November 18 1902) was an American umpire and manager in Major League Baseball who was briefly in the National League in the 1880s. He was born in Albion, Michigan.cite web| title = Watch Burnham's Stats | work = retrosheet.org | url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/Pburnw801.htm | accessdate = 2008-04-01 ]

Umpiring career

Burnham began his major league officiating career in by|1883 when he called 41 National League games. On July 25 of that season, he called balls and strikes for a no-hitter thrown by "Old Hoss" Radbourn of the Providence Grays.cite web| title = Chronological List of No-Hitters | work = retrosheet.org | url=http://www.retrosheet.org/nohit_chrono.htm | accessdate = 2008-04-01 ]

His next appearances as an umpire were single games in by|1886 and another in by|1887, but he returned to part-time officiating when he called 33 games in by|1889, and 31 games in by|1895. In all, Watch umpired 107 games, 99 of which were behind the plate.

Managerial career

Burnhan began the by|1887 season as the manager of an upstart National League team, the Indianapolis Hoosiers. However, after a very slow start, the team had a 6-22 record, and was in last place; he was fired on June 2. Fred Thomas took over as interim manager in addition to his front office duties.cite web| title = Charlton's Baseball Chronology - 1887 | work = baseballlibrary.com | url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/chronology/byyear.php?year=1887 | accessdate = 2008-04-01 ]

Later life

Watch Burnham died at the age of 42 in Detroit, Michigan, and is interred at Oakwood Cemetery in Saline, Michigan.

References

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/burnhwa99.shtml Baseball-Reference.com] - career managing record
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/Pburnw801.htm Retrosheet]

Persondata
NAME = Burnham, Watch
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Burnham, George Walter
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Major League Baseball Umpire, Manager
DATE OF BIRTH = May 20 1860
PLACE OF BIRTH = Albion, Michigan
DATE OF DEATH = November 18 1902
PLACE OF DEATH = Detroit, Michigan