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Ernest Burke
Pitcher
Born: (1924-06-26)June 26, 1924 Havre de Grace, Maryland
Died: January 31, 2004(2004-01-31) (aged 79) Baltimore, Maryland
Batted: LeftThrew: Right
Negro league baseball debut
1946, for the Baltimore Elite Giants
Last appearance
1948, for the Baltimore Elite Giants
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Baltimore Elite Giants (1946–48)

Ernest Alexander Burke (June 26, 1924 – January 31, 2004) was an American baseball player in the Negro leagues.

Burke was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland. During World War II, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and was one of the first black U.S. Marines to serve in World War II, earning a medal as a sharpshooter. During his tour of duty in the Pacific, Burke began to play baseball.

After the war, he became a pitcher and outfielder for the Baltimore Elite Giants in the Negro American League. He played for Baltimore from 1946 to 1949. In 1949, he joined the Pough-Kingston team in the Western League, then later played in the Canadian Provincial League.

Burke died of kidney cancer complications at the age of 79. A statue of Burke was unveiled on June 26, 2021, in his home city.

References

1. Bruns, Roger A. (2012). Negro Leagues Baseball. ISBN 9780313386480.

External links

• Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors) and Baseball-Reference Black Baseball stats and Seamheads
• Ernest Burke at Find a Grave
• Havard de Grace Official City Website

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• 1924 births
• 2004 deaths
• Baseball players from Harford County, Maryland
• Baltimore Elite Giants players
• Deaths from kidney cancer in the United States
• People from Havre de Grace, Maryland
• African Americans in World War II
• United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II
• Deaths from cancer in Maryland
• United States Marines
• Baseball pitchers
• 21st-century African-American sportsmen
• Negro league baseball pitcher stubs