Johnny Burnett

Who was Johnny Burnett?

John Henderson Burnett was an American professional baseball player who was a utility infielder in Major League Baseball for nine seasons during the 1920s and 1930s. Burnett played second base, third base, shortstop, and outfielder for the Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Browns.

Born in Bartow, Florida, he made his major league debut for the Cleveland Indians at the age of twenty-two on May 7, 1927 against the Philadelphia Athletics after graduating from the University of Florida. Burnett wore uniform number 1 in all eight of his seasons with the Indians. In 1930, Burnett's first season as an everyday starter, he was batting above .300 into July when, on July 19, he broke his wrist and was sidelined for the season. Without Burnett, the Indians narrowly missed the playoffs after finishing eight games above .500. On July 10, 1932, still playing for the Indians, Burnett had a major league record nine hits in eleven at-bats in an eighteen inning game against the Philadelphia Athletics. Burnett's record for hits in a game still stands today.

In late 1934, in the waning years of his career, after eight seasons with the Indians, Burnett was traded by the Indians to the St.