Games Managed 28 Role Umpire Name Watch Burnham | Winning % .214 Win-Loss Record 6-22 | |
 | ||
Died November 18, 1902, Detroit, Michigan, United States Similar People Oscar Branch Colquitt, Andrew Jackson Hamilton, Elisha M Pease | ||
George Walter "Watch" Burnham (May 20, 1860 – November 18, 1902) was an American umpire and manager in Major League Baseball who was briefly in the National League in the 1880s. He was born in Albion, Michigan.
Contents
Umpiring career
Burnham began his major league officiating career in 1883 when he called 41 National League games. On July 25 of that season, he called balls and strikes for a no-hitter thrown by "Old Hoss" Radbourn of the Providence Grays.
His next appearances as an umpire were single games in 1886 and another in 1887, but he returned to part-time officiating when he called 33 games in 1889, and 31 games in 1895. In all, Watch umpired 107 games, 99 of which were behind the plate.
Managerial career
Burnhan began the 1887 season as the manager of an upstart National League team, the Indianapolis Hoosiers. However, after a very slow start, the team had a 6-22 record, and was in last place; he was fired on June 2. Fred Thomas took over as interim manager in addition to his front office duties.
Later life
Watch Burnham died at the age of 42 in Detroit, Michigan, and is interred at Oakwood Cemetery in Saline, Michigan.