Phillies 1915 World Series Catcher Eddie Burns: Little Man, Big Job

When the Phillies get to the World Series, as they have done eight times in their history, one team member knows he won't be seeing much action. In seven of those eight World Series the backup catcher is a virtual invisible man, finding a comfortable spot on the bench and acting as cheerleader when events demand is about all that is asked of them. In 2022, backup catcher Garrett Stubbs earned a DNA (did not appear) next to his name in the final World Series stats. J. T. Realmuto caught every inning of every game. The same was true in 2009, when Carlos Ruiz caught every inning of the six games, while backup Paul Bako (remember him?) could only sit and wait. The 2008 World Championship team had Chris Coste, who did manage to get four at bats as a designated hitter, but Chooch again caught every inning. Darren Daulton played every inning of the 1993 Series against Toronto, while Todd Pratt was a DNA.

The last time a backup catcher actually appeared behind the plate for the Phillies in a World Series was 1983, when Ozzie Virgil, Jr. caught one inning after Bo Diaz was taken out for a pinch runner. Bob Boone caught every inning for the World Champion 1980 team, although backup Keith Moreland saw some action (12 at bats) as the DH. In 1950, Andy Seminick caught all but one inning of the Series even though he was playing on a dislocated ankle. Backup Stan Lopata came in after Andy went out for a pinch runner. Lopata also had a pinch-hitting at bat. That's seven World Series, 38 games, 345 innings and just two innings caught by the backup catcher.

The 1915 World Series was very different, however. The Phillies starting catcher. Bill Killefer came down with what was described as a "dead arm" in August. That opened the door for career backup catcher Eddie Burns to become the starter. Pundits of the day worried that the diminutive Burns (Eddie was just 5'6", 165 pounds) would not be up to the task. As the baseball journal Sporting Life put it, "It was generally thought that the Philly pitching staff would go to pieces," after the Killefer injury. "It was feared that his throwing would not be up to the mark and that the pitchers would lose confidence with him behind the bat." Those fears proved to be unfounded, Burns performed well, threw out 40% of those trying to steal against him, and hit .244 after taking over for Killefer on August 25. The Phillies kept winning too, going 29-12 and clinching the National League pennant with Burns behind the plate.

Before the World Series against the Boston Red Sox began, the Phillies' brass called in a specialist from New York to look at Killefer's arm, but he was deemed unfit to play and thus, little Eddie Burns caught every inning of the World Series. The Phillies were the underdogs to the powerful Red Sox team that had won 101 games on the season. The Phillies did have the great Grover Cleveland Alexander, winner of 31 games on the season, to give them hope. 

Alexander beat the Sox in Game 1 in Philadelphia. 3-1. The Phillies scored two runs in the eighth to win it, after Boston shortstop Everett Scott failed to cover second base on a potential double play ball. In the ninth inning, twent-year-old Babe Ruth made his first ever World Series appearance as a pinch-hitter. Alexander got him to ground out to first baseman Fred Luderas. Burns went a quiet 0-for-3 at the plate but handled the catching duties well.

In the second game, Burns caught the ceremonial first pitch, thrown out by President Woodrow Wilson. In the first inning, with runners on first and third, he threw out Boston star Tris Speaker trying to steal second but bobbled second baseman Bert Niehoff's low return throw for an error that allowed the on-sliding Harry Hooper to score. Burns was again 0-for-3 at the plate as the Phillies lost, 2-1.

In Game 3 at Fenway Park, Burns got his first hit of the Series in the third inning and came around to score on a Dave Bancroft single. Unfortunately, that was the only run the Phillies scored in the game as they fell by another 2-1 score. Burns gunned down Duffy Lewis trying to steal in the second. Lewis had the last laugh though as he hit a walk-off game winning single in the ninth inning against Alexander. Game 4 also finished 2-1 in favor of Boston. Burns had a good game with a single and a walk and another caught stealing, catching Speaker at second base again. 

The Series returned to Philadelphia for Game 5 with Boston leading the series 3-to-1. Luderas doubled in two runs in the first and then homered in the fourth. In that same inning, Burns stroked an RBI single scoring Niehoff to put the Phillies up by 4-2.  Boston prevailed 5-4, however, on two home runs by Hooper and one by Lewis. Burns threw out Speaker trying to steal in the first inning. The Phillies lost the last four games of the series, all excruciatingly close, but losses, nonetheless. Their Game 1 victory would be the only Phillies World Series game win for 65 years.

Eddie Burns hit just .188 over the five games, but that was actually a few points better than his teammates had managed for the Series. Burns acquitted himself well behind the plate throwing out five of six baserunners attempting to steal, including future Hall of Famer Tris Speaker three times.

When the 1916 season began, Killefer's arm had not fully mended. Burns started the first 18 games of the season, but when Killefer healed, Burns returned to the bench. He broke his thumb in 1917 and appeared in just 20 games. In 1918, the Phillies traded Killefer to the Cubs as part of the infamous Grover Cleveland Alexander trade.  Burns began the season as the starting catcher, but in late July, with his batting average hovering near the Mendoza line and with his father-in-law falling ill at home, Eddie Burns, just 30-years-old, abruptly quit baseball. He returned to his home in Monterey, California and opened a clothing store. He died of a heart attack in Monterey on May 20, 1942. He was 54.

Eddie Burns was a solid defensive catcher with a weak bat, in other words a proto-typical backup catcher. Eddie, however, got the chance that few backup catchers ever get. The chance to be the "main guy" behind the plate in the World Series.

To read more about Eddie Burns career, check out his SABR biography here.