Burgess Whitehead
A slick-fielding second baseman and key component of two World Series champion teams with the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1930s.
1910–1993 (age 83)·American baseball player·Birthday: June 29·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Burgess Whitehead was the kind of player managers loved: consistent, fundamentally sound, and a master of the double play. Coming out of the University of North Carolina, he joined the St. Louis Cardinals' famed 'Gashouse Gang' in the mid-1930s. While not a headline slugger like some of his teammates, Whitehead's defensive prowess at second base provided crucial stability. He was part of the Cardinals' championship cores in 1934 and 1935, forming a reliable pivot with shortstop Leo Durocher. After a stint in the minors, he returned to the big leagues with the New York Giants, where he enjoyed some of his best offensive seasons and made his only All-Star team in 1942. His career was interrupted by World War II, and he played only briefly after returning. Whitehead's legacy is that of a classic 'glove-first' infielder, whose contributions were measured in runs saved and rallies killed, essential to the success of his teams.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Burgess was born in 1910, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Burgess Was Born
The biggest hits of 1910
Burgess's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1910Born
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1915Started school
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Became a teenager
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Could drive
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1928Could vote
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Turned 21
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1940Turned 30
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 40
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 50
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 60
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 70
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 80
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Died at 83
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
Key Achievements
- Won World Series championships with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1934 and 1935.
- Selected as a National League All-Star in 1942 while playing for the New York Giants.
- Led National League second basemen in fielding percentage in 1935 with a .981 mark.
Did You Know?
He was a college baseball star at the University of North Carolina before turning professional.
His full name was Burgess Urquhart Whitehead, with 'Whitey' being a common nickname.
He missed the 1943, 1944, and 1945 MLB seasons while serving in the United States Navy during World War II.
“You don't need to be a star to help your team win a pennant.”
