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Lew Burdette began his pro baseball career in 1947 at 20 years old as a Yankees minor leaguer. He lasted five years in the team’s chain and got a two-game cup of coffee with the big club in 1950.

On August 29th, 1951 the Yankees traded him and $50,000 for three-time 20-game winner Johnny Sain. In Beantown Burdette became a star.

In the collection is this 1973 Topps contract for Sain. At that time he was the pitching coach for Chuck Tanner’s White Sox, a position he held from 1971-1975.

For more on Sain, click here.

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Lew Burdette had a memorable 18-year big league career that spanned from 1950 to 1967. A nine-year period in Milwaukee from 1953 to 1961 saw him average more than 17 wins per season and regularly appear on the NL pitching leaderboard.

During that run Burdette made two All Star teams, led the league in starts and wins in ’59, and complete games in ’60. Twice he topped the NL in shutouts (’56 and ’59). The right-hander finished in the top-4 in wins in five different seasons.

The pinnacle of his career came in 1957. He pitched four scoreless innings in his first All Star appearance, and helped lead the Braves to the World Series.

Against the New York Yankees on baseball’s biggest stage, Burdette was at his best. He threw three complete games and two shutouts including a Game 7 gem. Burdette’s stellar performance earned him the World Series MVP Award.

By the time he left the Braves in 1963 the right-hander ranked second on the franchise’s all-time list in games, innings, and wins. After exiting Milwaukee, Burdette played for four teams before retiring after his age-40 season with the Angels.

His career statistics include a 203-144 record, 158 complete games, and 33 shutouts. He also pitched in relief, finishing 128 games out of the ‘pen. When the save statistic was recognized, Burdette was retroactively awarded 32 of them.

The Braves inducted Burdette into their team Hall of Fame in 2001.

Shown here is a government postcard signed by Burdette in 1953. That season he went 15-5 and led the NL by giving up just 0.4 homers runs per 9 innings.

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Government postcards shed light on the when and the where of the autograph. Notice the 1953 postmarks in the image above. The Milwaukee mark in the upper middle shows a date of July 29 when the Braves dropped a home game to the Giants 3-2.

The lower of the two postmarks is dated July 30. That day Burdette had a special outing.

After he retired the Giants in the first, Burdette’s team jumped on New York starter Sal Maglie. The Barber got Braves leadoff man Bill Bruton to fly out. Each of the next five Milwaukee batters reached base. Three of them scored. Giants manager Leo Durocher mercifully removed Maglie six batters into the game.

The trio of first-inning runs was more than enough for Burdette. Aided by two double plays, the right-hander allowed only one man to reach as far as second base. It was the first of his 33 career shutouts and the sixth of his 158 complete games.

Examples of Burdette’s signatures from the early 50s are difficult to find.

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A charter member of the National League in 1876, the Braves called Boston home until 1952. The following season they moved to Milwaukee where they stayed until 1965 before moving to Atlanta.

While in Milwaukee, the Braves were a competitive club. Each season they posted a winning record. From 1956-1960 the Braves averaged more than 90 wins per season, finishing first or second each year. During that five-year run Milwaukee was led by one of baseball’s best pitching duos, Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette.

In ’56 Burdette led the league in ERA and shutouts. Spahn won 20 games, placed second in ERA, third in Cy Young voting, and fifth in the MVP race.

The following year in ’57 both men were All Stars and Spahn came away with the Cy Young. In the World Series victory over the Yankees, the two hurlers pitched complete games in each of the four Brave wins. Burdette’s three Fall Classic outings included wins a win in Game 2, and shutouts in both Game 5, and 7. The performance earned Burdette the World Series MVP.

The Braves captured the NL pennant again in ’58. Burdette won 20, two behind Spahn’s league best 22. In those days only one Cy Young was awarded in all of the majors. Spahn finished second in voting to the AL’s Bob Turley; Burdette finished directly behind his teammate. In the Fall Classic return the pair combined for three victories, three complete games, and a shutout.

In ’59 Milwaukee finished tied for first but lost to the Dodgers in a playoff. Burdette and Spahn tied for the league lead with 21 wins apiece. The right-hander also topped the Senior Circuit in starts and shutouts while Spahn led all NL hurlers in innings and complete games. Both men were All Stars.

The two pitchers combined for 40 wins for the second-place Braves in 1960 with Spahn finishing runner up for the Cy Young. That year each man threw a no-hitter against the Phillies.

From 1956-1960 the dynamic duo of Burdette and Spahn combined for 200 Milwaukee victories against 157 losses.

Shown here is the telegram Spahn received from Braves owner Lou Perini after throwing his 1960 no-no. The 39-year old southpaw was magnificent in the contest, throwing strikes in 71 of his 105 pitches. Two walks accounted for the only Philadelphia base runners. The lefty struck out 15 batters.

The telegram reads in part, “…have had a very strong feeling throughout the years that we have been together that you would ultimately cap many of your brilliant pitching performances with a no-hitter…”

Spahn kept the telegram from the team owner for his entire life.

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Harvey Haddix is remembered today for his 12-inning perfect game on May 26, 1959. As good as Haddix was that day, it was Lew Burdette who got the win.

Burdette matched the left-handed Haddix, putting up zeros in the run column for 12 straight innings. In the 13th, the paths of the two pitchers diverged.

In the top half, Burdette worked around a two-out single to extend the scoreless tie.

Haddix wasn’t as fortunate. Leadoff man Felix Mantilla reached first on a throwing error. Haddix’s perfect game was no more. Eddie Mathews who hit 512 career homers then bunted Mantilla to second.

Haddix intentionally walked Henry Aaron to bring up Joe Adcock. The Braves first baseman hit the ball over the fence to end the no-hitter and hang the tough-luck loss on Haddix.

In the collection is this 1961 Topps baseball card commemorating the pitcher’s performance. Haddix has added his signature across it.