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Wally Burnette
Wallace Harper Burnette
Born: June 20, 1929 in Blairs, Va.
Died: Dec. 12, 2003 in Danville, Va.
Debut: 1956 | Pos: P
H: 6-0 | W: 178 | B: R | T: R
| Yr | W | L | G | SV | IP | SO | ERA |
| 3 | 14 | 21 | 68 | 1 | 262.2 | 122 | 4.12 |
>> Visit the Wally Burnette biography on Baseball Almanac for complete statistics.
Wally Burnette, a pitcher with the Kansas City Athletics from 1956-58, died on Feb. 12, 2003, in Danville, Virginia, from complications related to lung cancer. He was 73.
He posted a 14-21 record in 3 seasons, pitching 262.2 innings and posted a 3.56 ERA. In his rookie season in 1956, Burnette posted a 6-8 record in 121.1 innings with a 2.89 ERA. HGe appeared in 50 games in the next two seasons, but only started 13.
According to an obituary in the Danville Register, Burnette was spotted by major league scouts while he was pitching at Spring Garden High School in Blairs, Va.
He signed with the Yankees in 1947 and was assigned to the minor league club in Blacksburg, Va. He spent six years in the minor leagues and then served two years in the army during the Korean War.
Following his military duty, he got his chance to play with the As.
After baseball, he returned to Blairs, married his wife, Katie, and opened Burnette Grocery -- a gas station, restaurant and convenience store, according to the Danville Register article. He managed the store for 31 years and also ran a small engine repair shop.
He had two children -- a son and daughter.
Sources: Total Baseball, Danville Register obituary