Tom Burgess – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Tom Burgess tells one of those classic baseball stories—full of grit, hope, and a stubborn dream to make it to the major leagues. The Canadian outfielder and first baseman from London, Ontario, managed to carve out a professional career that stretched almost two decades. His big league run was short, but honestly, it left a mark.

Thomas Roland Burgess wrapped up his professional baseball life in 1962 after his most notable major league season with the Los Angeles Angels. He played 104 MLB games in total, split across two different stints. He started with the St. Louis Cardinals organization in 1946 and made his final major league appearance at 35. You have to admire that kind of commitment.

Burgess’s .177 career batting average doesn’t exactly leap off the page. Still, his journey was always about more than just numbers. He started out in the Cardinals’ farm system, then later moved into coaching and player development. His impact on baseball kept growing, especially in Canada, as he helped shape future major leaguers.

Early Life and Journey to Baseball

Thomas Roland Burgess was born on September 1, 1927, in London, Ontario. His dad worked as a postmaster, providing some stability for the family in Lambeth, a small community nearby.

Burgess found his passion for baseball early on. He even put his high school education on hold to chase professional opportunities, though he eventually went back and finished school.

Family Background

Burgess grew up in London, Ontario, where his father worked as the local postmaster. The family settled in Lambeth, just outside the city.

Life in this tight-knit community meant Burgess always had a supportive family around him. His dad’s job brought steady income and a bit of respect in town.

The Burgess family valued both education and sports. This mix influenced Tom’s later decision to take a break from baseball and finish high school.

Growing up in rural Ontario shaped his work ethic. That determination would become crucial as he faced the grind of the minor leagues.

Initial Interest in Baseball

Burgess fell in love with baseball as a kid in Ontario. He looked up to Hall of Famer Stan Musial, who was famous for his hard-hit line drives.

Like a lot of kids back then, Burgess played whatever sport fit the season. “Baseball was the summer game, football the fall game, basketball the spring game and hockey the winter game,” he once said.

He started showing real talent during his peewee years. Eventually, he pitched for the London Majors, a semipro team in Ontario’s Major Intercounty circuit.

In the winters, Burgess played senior-B hockey. That kind of multi-sport background gave him a solid foundation for athletics and competition.

The St. Louis Cardinals took notice and signed him to a pro contract. They sent him off to their Hamilton farm club, kicking off his journey.

Education and Return to the Sport

After three seasons in the minors, Burgess made a big call. He put himself on the voluntarily retired list so he could go back to London and finish high school.

His family’s focus on education definitely played a part in that decision. Burgess spent three summers away from pro baseball, putting school first.

His wife, Dorrie Bates—a former school teacher—helped nudge him back toward the game. She convinced him to give professional baseball another shot, even after he’d almost let the dream go.

“I always thought that maybe later on he would wish he had gone back to baseball,” Dorrie told the Toronto Star in 1953. “He had gone halfway up the baseball ladder and to quit then seemed silly to me.”

They agreed to a two-year limit for this renewed chase. That decision led to his breakout season with the Rochester Red Wings in 1953.

Professional Debut and Major League Entry

Tom Burgess kicked off his professional baseball career in 1946 by signing with the St. Louis Cardinals. He showed promise in the minors with strong batting and eventually got his first shot at the majors in 1954.

Signing with St. Louis Cardinals

Burgess signed his first pro contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1946 at just 19. He started out with the Hamilton Red Wings in the Class D Pennsylvania–Ontario–New York League.

Right away, the young Canadian showed he could hit. In 1947, he posted a sharp .350 batting average in the Class C Interstate League.

Despite that strong start, Burgess chose to step away from pro baseball in 1949 for a bit. He spent three seasons playing for the London Majors in the Canadian Intercounty Baseball League.

That break gave him a chance to rethink his goals. His wife’s encouragement was key in bringing him back to pro ball and pushing for the majors.

Minor League Success

Burgess returned to pro baseball in 1952 with the Cardinals’ Class A South Atlantic League team. He wasted no time, hitting .328 in his comeback season.

His real breakout came in 1953 with the Rochester Red Wings, the Cardinals’ top Triple-A team. Burgess had his best minor league year, batting .346 with 22 home runs and 93 RBIs.

That performance got the Cardinals’ attention. His mix of power and average made him a real prospect for the big club.

Burgess spent multiple seasons with the Rochester Red Wings, working on his game as a first baseman and outfielder.

Promotion to the Major Leagues

The Cardinals brought Burgess up to the majors for the 1954 season. He debuted in MLB on April 17, 1954, at age 26.

That first big league stint was tough. He found it hard to adjust to major league pitching. In 17 games, Burgess managed just one hit in 21 at-bats—a double off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul LaPalme on June 13.

His .048 batting average during that first try sent him back to Rochester. The Cardinals wanted him to keep working on his game in Triple-A.

Even after the rough start, Burgess stayed in the Cardinals’ system for years. He kept playing in the International League with Rochester and later Columbus, always hoping for another shot.

MLB Playing Career Highlights

Tom Burgess had two separate runs in Major League Baseball, with eight years between his first and last appearance. He played a short stint with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954 and then a full season with the Los Angeles Angels in 1962, mostly as an outfielder and first baseman.

St. Louis Cardinals Tenure

Burgess made his MLB debut on April 17, 1954, with the Cardinals at 26. He got the call after a stellar 1953 season in Rochester, where he batted .346 with 22 homers and 93 RBI.

His time with the Cardinals proved challenging. He played just 17 games in 1954, managing only one hit in 21 at-bats for a .048 average.

Notable Achievement:

• Picked up his first and only Cardinals hit on June 13, 1954—a double off Paul LaPalme of the Pirates

After that short stint, the Cardinals sent him back to Rochester. Burgess stuck around in the minors for seven more years, still hoping for another big league shot.

Los Angeles Angels Season

The expansion Los Angeles Angels picked up Burgess for their second season in 1962. At 34, he earned a spot on the roster after spending 1961 with the Triple-A Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers.

Burgess played his most extensive MLB season with the Angels in 1962. He appeared in 87 games and got 143 at-bats. He hit .196 and picked up 28 hits that year.

1962 Season Statistics:

• Games: 87
• At-Bats: 143
• Hits: 28
• Batting Average: .196

That full season was the highlight of his major league career. Even though he struggled at the plate, he gave the young Angels some much-needed depth.

Positional Roles and Fielding

Burgess mostly played outfield and first base in the majors. He batted and threw left-handed, stood six feet tall, and weighed about 180 pounds. His versatility meant he could fill in wherever the team needed him.

Career Totals:

• Batting Average: .177
• Home Runs: 2
• RBI: 14
• Games: 104

He held his own defensively. Teams liked that he could handle both outfield and first base. That kind of flexibility helped him stick around in pro baseball, even after his time in the majors.

His stats show the uphill battle many players face when jumping from minor league success to the majors.

Statistical Overview

Tom Burgess put up modest numbers in his short Major League Baseball career. He finished with a .177 batting average over 104 games with the Cardinals and Angels. The stats tell the story of a player who struggled to really break through at the highest level.

Batting Performance

Burgess had a tough time at the plate in the majors. His .177 career average was well below the league norm for his era.

In 1954 with the Cardinals, he got just 1 hit in 21 at-bats—a rough .048 average. Things looked a bit better in 1962 with the Angels, where he hit .196 in 143 at-bats.

The Canadian outfielder picked up 29 total hits in his two seasons. He drew 39 walks and struck out 29 times, so he showed some plate discipline even if the hits weren’t coming.

He played 17 games in his 1954 rookie season. His busiest year was 1962, when he took the field 87 times for Los Angeles.

Home Runs and RBI Records

Power wasn’t really Burgess’s thing in the majors. He hit just 2 home runs total, both during his 1962 campaign with the Angels.

He drove in 14 runs in his MLB career, with 13 coming in his final season. Only 1 RBI showed up during his 1954 stint.

His career slugging percentage sat at .274, which shows his struggles to rack up extra-base hits.

Burgess scored 19 runs in the majors. He added 8 doubles and a single triple to his 2 home runs.

Fielding Metrics

On defense, Burgess played several spots. He mostly handled first base and the outfield in the majors.

His fielding percentage depended on the position. At first base in 1962, he posted a strong .997 fielding percentage, making just 1 error in 35 games.

In the outfield, his defensive metrics weren’t as solid. In 1954, he recorded a .750 fielding percentage in limited action.

Burgess handled 306 total chances in his career, with 289 putouts and 15 assists. He took part in 27 double plays, all at first base with the Angels.

Retirement and Transition from Playing

Tom Burgess played his final major league game with the Los Angeles Angels in 1962, wrapping up eight years of professional baseball. After he hung up his cleats, he jumped into an extensive coaching and managing career that spanned decades.

Final Season in 1962

Burgess wrapped up his final MLB season with the Los Angeles Angels in 1962. This year finally gave him a real shot in the majors, much more than the 17 games he had with the St. Louis Cardinals back in 1954.

The 1962 season let Burgess show what he could do over a full year. He bounced between the outfield and first base during this last run.

At 35, Burgess hit and threw left-handed the whole season. That year would be his last as a major league player.

The Angels gave him steady playing time, something he hadn’t really seen with the Cardinals. This full season became the high point and the end of his MLB career.

Post-MLB Minor League Play

After 1962 with the Angels, Burgess kept playing in the minors through 1963. He officially ended his pro playing days after that season.

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame says Burgess played from 1946 to 1963. That means he stayed in pro ball for another year after leaving the majors.

He put together a long minor league career, especially at Triple-A Rochester in 1953, where he hit .346 with 22 homers and 93 RBIs. That big year got him onto the Cardinals’ roster in 1954.

Burgess kept close ties to the game through his minor league years. He built relationships that ended up helping him later on.

Reasons for Retirement

Burgess decided to retire at 36, after almost twenty years in pro baseball. Age and the usual wear and tear probably played a big part in his choice to step away from playing.

He retired just as more coaching and managing jobs started opening up. In 1969, he started managing the Cardinals’ Gulf Coast League team in Sarasota.

His years as a player in both the majors and minors set him up for leadership. Burgess had played all over the Cardinals system, so he really knew player development inside and out.

Moving into coaching let Burgess stay in baseball, passing his knowledge along to younger guys starting their own careers.

Legacy, Recognition, and Impact

Tom Burgess left a real mark by coaching and mentoring young players for decades after he stopped playing. His work in Canadian baseball and all those hall of fame nods show the kind of impact he had, both in the pros and at home.

Coaching and Mentorship Roles

After he hung up his glove, Burgess jumped into coaching and managing for more than twenty years. He started out managing the Cardinals’ Gulf Coast League team in Sarasota in 1969.

He led several minor league teams to first place finishes. Burgess took clubs to championships in Modesto in 1972, Johnson City in 1975, Tulsa in 1982, and Bristol in 1985.

He also worked as a major league coach with the New York Mets in 1977 and the Atlanta Braves in 1978. From 1988 to 1995, he served as a hitting instructor in the Royals’ minor league system.

Burgess mentored future major league stars, helping guys like Jason Bay and Justin Morneau sharpen their skills. He also coached Canadian national teams, giving back to the sport in his home country.

Hall of Fame Inductions

Thomas Roland Burgess got recognized for his baseball contributions with several hall of fame inductions. The Rochester Red Wings put him in their Hall of Fame in 1992.

They honored him for that huge 1953 season, when he hit .346 with 22 home runs and 93 RBIs. That year led straight to his shot with the Cardinals in 1954.

In 2003, Burgess made it into the London Sports Hall of Fame. That one celebrated his career as a pro athlete from London, Ontario, and everything he did for sports in his hometown.

Contribution to Canadian Baseball

Burgess really shaped Canadian baseball after he hung up his cleats. He worked closely with national teams and pushed the country’s baseball program to new heights.

He was born in London, Ontario, on September 1, 1927. Honestly, Burgess inspired a lot of Canadian players who dreamed of making it big.

He grew up in a small city, but he still made it all the way to the major leagues. That journey alone showed Canadian players what was possible.

Burgess mentored future Canadian stars like Jason Bay. He genuinely cared about helping homegrown talent find their way.

He shared his coaching wisdom and first-hand experience, guiding players through the ups and downs of pro baseball. Burgess always wanted Canadian players to succeed.

His background as both a player and a coach made him a go-to person in Canadian baseball circles. You could see his influence in the wider baseball community, not just in individual careers.