Britt Burns – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Britt Burns looked like a rising star as a left-handed pitcher, but his career with the Chicago White Sox ended suddenly in 1985, right when he should’ve been hitting his prime. At 6’5″, with some nasty pitches, Burns racked up a solid 70-60 record and a 3.66 ERA over eight big-league seasons.

After a standout rookie year in 1980 and a strong 18-win campaign in 1985, it really felt like he was on the path to greatness.

Burns didn’t choose to retire at 26; chronic hip problems forced him out after the White Sox traded him to the New York Yankees. His hip issues, which started during a wild growth spurt as a teen, led to multiple surgeries and made it impossible for him to keep pitching.

The timing just made it sting more, since he left the game right after his best season.

Burns’ story is one of talent and heartbreak. He dominated high school baseball in Alabama, then played a crucial part in the White Sox’s 1983 playoff run.

His journey really shows both the excitement of athletic promise and the tough reality—injuries can ruin even the brightest careers.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Robert Britt Burns was born on June 8, 1959, in Houston, Texas. His family later moved to Alabama, where he grew into one of the state’s top young pitchers.

At Huffman High School, Burns put up eye-popping strikeout numbers that made MLB scouts take notice.

Childhood and Family Background

Britt Burns arrived on June 8, 1959, in Houston. His family didn’t stay there long—they moved to Alabama, and that’s where he grew up.

Alabama proved to be a great place for a young ballplayer. The state had a strong high school baseball tradition, and Burns found plenty of competition to test his skills.

He grew up when baseball really was America’s pastime. For kids like him, making the majors was the dream.

Burns showed off his left-handed pitching ability early on. That natural talent set the stage for everything that followed.

Huffman High School Achievements

Burns attended Huffman High School in Birmingham, Alabama, and quickly became the ace of the team. His pitching performances were often jaw-dropping.

His biggest high school moment? He struck out 18 batters in a single game. That game made it clear he could completely dominate hitters.

Scouts started to circle, drawn by his numbers and the way he overpowered batters. That tall frame—6’5″, over 200 pounds—didn’t hurt, either.

His size and strength definitely helped him stand out among Alabama’s best prep players.

Scouting and Amateur Recognition

Scouts packed the stands to watch Burns pitch during his senior year. He had the size, the fastball, and the strikeout numbers teams wanted.

The Chicago White Sox showed the most interest. They saw him as a possible future ace.

In the 1978 MLB June Amateur Draft, the White Sox made him their third-round pick. That selection proved his high school dominance meant something.

Burns skipped college baseball entirely and went straight from Huffman High to the pros at just 19.

That draft pick capped off his amateur career and set him on a fast track to the majors.

Major League Debut and Rise With the White Sox

Burns went from high school standout to big leaguer after the White Sox picked him in the third round of the 1978 draft. He struggled at first, but then he broke out in 1980, winning 15 games with a 2.84 ERA as a rookie.

Chicago White Sox Draft and Early MLB Appearances

The White Sox grabbed Burns in the third round of the 1978 MLB June Amateur Draft, taking him straight from Huffman High in Birmingham. He was the 70th pick overall.

Burns pitched just 31 innings for Appleton in the Midwest League before the White Sox called him up. At 19, he made his MLB debut on August 5, 1978, against Detroit.

His first games didn’t go smoothly. He started twice, lasted only 7⅓ innings, and gave up 11 earned runs, including a 7-0 loss in his debut.

Burns got another shot with the White Sox in 1979, but those appearances were brief. Like a lot of young pitchers, he needed time to adjust to big-league hitters.

He finally made the team out of spring training in 1980. That’s when things started to click.

Breakout Rookie Season and Topps All-Star Rookie Honors

Burns’ 1980 season really put him on the map as one of the top young pitchers in baseball. He kicked things off with three April starts against tough teams, allowing just one run while facing the Yankees twice and Boston.

In May, he came close to a no-hitter against Seattle. The Mariners only managed four hits, and Burns threw his first shutout, moving to 5-2.

He hit a rough patch from July 21st through August 7th, going 0-5 over six starts, but he still posted a decent 3.40 ERA during that stretch. The White Sox lineup didn’t give him much run support, scoring just nine runs in those games.

Despite the slump, Burns finished fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. His fellow players named him AL Rookie Pitcher of the Year.

“That’s a real honor to be voted by my peers,” Burns said. “But I’m not going to be satisfied with what I’ve done. I want to get better.”

Manager Tony La Russa had high praise too: “If that kid’s not Rookie of the Year, there’s no such thing.”

Key Stats: 15 Wins, 2.84 ERA, and Strikeouts

Burns’ rookie stats were impressive. He notched 15 wins, tying him with the best rookie pitchers in the AL that year.

His 2.84 ERA put him among the league’s most effective starters. He kept hitters in check all season.

Burns piled up strikeouts, showing he could make batters miss. That became a big part of his game.

1980 Season Highlights:

• 15 wins in his first full season
• 2.84 ERA versus AL hitters
• First shutout, against Seattle
• Strong April against the Yankees and Red Sox

With those numbers, Burns quickly became a key part of the White Sox rotation. He looked like a future star.

That rookie year set his reputation as one of the best young lefties in baseball.

Prime Years: Performance and Impact

Burns became a steady starter in the American League during the early ’80s, finishing with a 3.66 ERA over eight years. His best seasons came in 1980 and 1985, winning 15 and then a career-high 18 games.

Consistent Starting Pitcher in the American League

Burns took over as a full-time starter for the White Sox in 1980, just two years after his debut at 19. He quickly showed he could handle the job in the tough American League.

He ended up with a 70-60 record. His 3.66 ERA stacked up well against other AL starters of his time.

Burns struck out 734 batters in his career. He faced some of the league’s toughest lineups, including Baltimore and New York.

Managers valued his reliability. He often pitched over 200 innings a season, giving the rotation some much-needed stability.

Notable Seasons and Achievements

Burns’ big breakthrough came in 1980 with 15 wins as a 21-year-old. That year made him a fixture in the White Sox rotation.

His peak came in 1985: 18 wins, 172 strikeouts, and 227 innings pitched. That season was his best, right before injuries caught up to him.

In 1983, he helped the White Sox reach the AL Championship Series. He pitched 9⅓ innings in Game 4 against Baltimore before giving up a home run to Tito Landrum.

Burns usually kept his ERA under 4.00. His best years came in the early ’80s, when he was at his sharpest.

All-Star Honors and League Rankings

Burns made the All-Star team in 1981, a nod to his standing among AL pitchers. That was just his third full season.

His 1985 season stood out for the White Sox. Those 18 wins tied him for the team lead and put him among the league’s top starters.

He wasn’t always among the league leaders in strikeouts, but his 172 in 1985 set a personal best.

Burns’ durability and solid pitching earned respect around the league. His performances against division rivals built his reputation as a tough starter.

1983 AL Championship Series and Playoff Highlights

Britt Burns had his most unforgettable moment during the 1983 AL Championship Series against the Baltimore Orioles. The series ended in heartbreak when a tenth-inning homer dashed the White Sox’s hopes.

White Sox’s Postseason Run

The White Sox won the AL West in 1983 and faced the Orioles in a best-of-five series from October 5 to 8.

Chicago took Game 1, winning 2-1. Fans thought it might be their year.

Then the Orioles bounced back. Mike Boddicker struck out 14 in Game 2, earning series MVP honors.

Game 3 shifted to Chicago, but Baltimore stayed hot and took a 2-1 series lead. The White Sox had to win Game 4 to stay alive.

Burns’ Iconic ALCS Performance vs. Baltimore Orioles

Manager Tony La Russa put his trust in Burns for Game 4. With the White Sox on the brink, Burns got the ball at Comiskey Park.

He delivered one of his best outings. Burns held the Orioles scoreless through nine innings, matching them pitch for pitch.

The pressure was intense. Burns showed great control and kept Baltimore hitters guessing all night.

The game stayed 0-0 after nine, so they went to extras. Burns kept pitching into the tenth, showing real grit.

Dramatic Homer by Tito Landrum

In the tenth, Burns faced Tito Landrum. Landrum got ahold of a pitch and sent it out for a solo homer.

That broke the deadlock and gave Baltimore a 1-0 lead. Burns could only watch as Landrum rounded the bases and the White Sox’s season slipped away.

Baltimore tacked on two more runs for a 3-0 win. The Orioles took the series 3-1 and went on to win the World Series.

That home run, hit in front of the Chicago crowd, was a crushing blow for Burns and the team. Baltimore moved on to face the Phillies and won it all in five games.

Trade to the New York Yankees and Early Retirement in 1985

On December 12, 1985, the White Sox traded Burns to the New York Yankees. That moment marked both the peak of his value and the start of a sad ending.

His chronic hip condition kept him from ever pitching for New York. At just 26, Burns had to walk away from baseball.

Blockbuster Trade Involving Ron Hassey and Joe Cowley

On December 12, 1985, the New York Yankees picked up Britt Burns and minor leaguers Glen Braxton and Mike Soper from the Chicago White Sox. In exchange, the White Sox got catcher Ron Hassey and pitcher Joe Cowley.

Burns had just finished a strong 18-11 season in 1985, bouncing back from a rough 1984 when he only won four games with a 5.00 ERA.

The Yankees saw Burns as a big piece for their rotation. His 18 wins in 1985 matched exactly what New York wanted for their pitching staff.

Ron Hassey brought veteran catching experience to Chicago. Joe Cowley added some pitching depth for the White Sox.

This trade marked the Yankees’ third deal in just 16 hours. Honestly, that flurry showed just how aggressive they got with the roster during that offseason.

Injury Setbacks and Hip Problems

A chronic, degenerative hip condition stopped Burns’ career before he ever pitched for the Yankees. The injury showed up not long after the trade.

Doctors described the hip problem as both chronic and degenerative. Basically, it would just keep getting worse, not better.

Burns never threw a single pitch for the Yankees. His hip issues made it impossible for him to take the mound.

Medical exams revealed just how bad the damage was. Burns had to go through a lot of rehab and treatment.

Despite years of trying to recover, Burns couldn’t get past the hip problems. The degenerative nature of it made a full comeback pretty much impossible.

Comparisons with Ron Guidry and Unfulfilled Yankees Tenure

The Yankees wanted Burns to give them the kind of steady left-handed pitching Ron Guidry had provided in the past. Guidry’s success as a lefty starter made Burns look like a great fit for New York.

Burns’ 18-win season in 1985 showed he could handle the pressure of pitching in New York. His time in Chicago suggested he had the skills to make it work in pinstripes.

He would have joined a Yankees rotation that needed reliable starters. His track record pointed to him filling that role.

Sadly, Burns never got the chance to prove himself in New York. The hip injury made any comparison to Guidry’s success impossible.

The Yankees took a big risk on Burns, but it just didn’t work out. His injury left a hole in their rotation plans.

Retirement at Age 26

Burns tried to make a comeback in 1990 after years of rehab. He made four minor league starts but couldn’t get back to his old form.

That comeback attempt showed how much he wanted to return to baseball. His body just couldn’t handle the demands of pitching anymore.

At only 26, Burns had to end his playing career. That’s pretty young, especially for someone who should’ve had several good years left.

His last MLB game came on September 30, 1985, with the Chicago White Sox. That was before the trade that was supposed to give him a fresh start.

Burns wrapped up his career with a 70-60 record and a 3.66 ERA. He spent all his big league years with the White Sox from 1978 to 1985.

After retiring, Burns moved into coaching and player development. He worked as a minor league pitching coordinator for the Houston Astros until 2010.

Life After Playing: Coaching and Legacy

After his playing days, Burns shifted to mentoring, spending over twenty years helping young pitchers in different organizations. He coached everywhere from the minors to coordinator roles, with his most memorable stint coming with the Birmingham Barons.

Transition to Pitching Coach Roles

When Burns retired in 1990, he quickly found his way into coaching. He started in 1993 with the GCL Marlins, kicking off a whole new chapter in baseball.

He spent two seasons with the Brevard County Manatees from 1994 to 1995. Those early jobs really helped him figure out how to teach young pitchers.

The Houston Astros, his hometown team, saw his potential and hired him as their minor league pitching coordinator. Burns stayed in that job until 2010, overseeing pitcher development across the Astros’ farm system.

That role let Burns use his major league experience to guide prospects. He worked with a ton of young arms during his time with Houston.

Impact with Birmingham Barons

Burns went back to Birmingham, where he went to high school, to work as pitching coach for the Birmingham Barons. The Barons, as the Chicago White Sox AA affiliate, gave him a link back to his old team.

He coached the Barons through 2015, spending several years developing Double-A pitchers. Double-A is a big step for players hoping to make it to the majors.

Burns brought his major league know-how to young pitchers still figuring things out. His experience at the highest level definitely helped those players.

The pitching coach job in Birmingham let him stay close to the game and give back to his hometown. His time with the Barons ended up being one of his longest coaching gigs.

Contributions to Baseball Community

Burns made a real impact on baseball development after he hung up his cleats. He took on coordinator duties with the Tri-City ValleyCats and hit the road to help pitching staffs get better.

His time as a successful major league pitcher really gave him a lot of credibility with young players. Burns just got what pitchers go through, and he could genuinely relate to their struggles.

He spent more than 20 years coaching and working in development roles. That kind of dedication to teaching the next wave of pitchers—well, that’s a legacy you can’t ignore.

Burns coached across several organizations and at different levels of pro baseball. Even into the 2010s, he stayed active in player development, sharing what he knew with tons of prospects.