Burkett attributed much of that to his personality, he told The Times.
"I'm the kind of guy who doesn't get excited about very much," Burkett told The Times that May. "I've always been able to stay calm on the mound and I think that's why I've pitched well in big games. I've always been able to keep my cool. I guess you could call it relaxed aggressiveness."
Burkett was in his 10th season with time in the majors that year. He started at least 30 games in eight of those. He then continued to pitch through 2003, getting two more 30-start campaigns and one with 29.
Over his total 15 big league campaigns, Burkett amassed 166 wins, a career ERA of 4.31, two All-Star nods. By far his best season was 1993, where he went 22-7 and came in fourth in the NL Cy Young balloting.
Burkett's career began in 1983, taken by the Giants in the sixth round of the draft out of Beaver High School in Pennsylvania.
He started in rookie Great Falls. He moved to single-A Clinton in 1984, then AA Shreveport in 1986. Burkett then got his first look at San Francisco in September 1987.
Burkett got into three games in relief for the Giants that year, giving up three earned in six innings of work. He returned to the minors for two more seasons, then returned to the majors for good in 1990.
His 1990 campaign was his first 30-start season. He started 32 games, going 14-7, with a 3.79 ERA. He also came in fourth in the Rookie of the Year balloting.
That May, Burkett returned to his hometown of Pittsburgh for the first time, pitching against the team he rooted for growing up.
"I can't treat it differently, though," Burkett told The Times before the game. "I can't get away from the fact that it's just one game. I've just got to go out and pitch like I normally do."
Burkett picked up 12 wins in 1991, then 13 in 1992. Then came his 22-win season in 1993, and his first All-Star appearance. That August, he picked up a win while giving up just four hits in a 6-0 win over the Reds. He didn't give up a hit until the sixth.
Burkett stayed with the Giants through 1994. He then moved to the Marlins, picking up another 14 wins in 1995. Going into 1996, Marlins manager Rene Lachemann told The Times about Burkett's durability.
"You can mark him down for a minimum of 200 innings right now," Lachemann told The Times. "He's durable. He takes care of himself and his arm. He always wants the ball. And he's not just giving you innings, he's giving you quality innings. He's not only durable but he's a good pitcher."
Burkett continued to start games with frequency. He won 11 games total in 1996, moving mid-year to the Rangers. Even with his durability, he didn't get double-digit wins again until 2000.
In 2001, though, he was back to form. Pitching for Atlanta, he got his second All-Star nod, won 12 games and ended with a 3.04 ERA.
"I think it's just been my ability to execute," Burkett told The Rome News-Tribune that July of his success. "I think that has made a difference this year. I'm keeping the ball down better and have been more consistent than I ever have, and I'm mixing pitches up and they've all seemed to come together."
Burkett moved to the Red Sox for 2002. He won 13 games there that year and 12 there the next. His 2003 season was his 15th and final in the majors.
- Beaver County Times, May 24, 1990: Going Home, Part 2
- Kentucky New Era, Associated Press, Aug. 12, 1993: Burkett 4-hits Cincy
- Beaver County Times, April 1, 1996: Workhorse, Part 2
- Beaver County Times, May 17, 1998: Burkett hopes rocky road's turned smooth, Part 2
- Rome News-Tribune, July 1, 2001: Braves' best kept secret
Players/Coaches Featured:1,656
Made the Majors: 798 - 48.2%-X
Never Made Majors: 858-51.8%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 347-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:202
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