Major League Dad

 

Tim Burke was drafted by the Pirates in the second round of the 1980 amateur draft.  He was traded to the Yankees and then to the Expos and was called up to the major leauges in 1985. That year he lead the league in games pitched, with 78.  He did start two games in 1986, but saw action in 66 others.  He was an All Star in 1989.  He stayed in the National Leauge, being traded to the Mets in 1991 and then from there to the Yankees that same season.  After that, he was granted free agency, signed with the Reds, but never played with them.  Instead, he quit baseball and spent time with his family.

He and his wife, Christine, wrote this book.  It tells the story of their lives before and after baseball.  It tells the story of the children that they adopted.

This book was published in 1994 by Focus on the Family.  Gregg Lewis helped the Burkes write it.  Skimming it, there is a message of hope and faith in God.  It may not be to everyone's taste.  I have only read the first chapter, but it is on my "to read" list.

And now for some Tim Burke baseball cards...

1987 Topps, Tim Burke (card #624)

1991 Donruss, Tim Burke (card #125)

1991 Score, Tim Burke (card #181)

Tim Burke ended his career with 699.1 innings pitched in 498 games over eight seasons.  He compiled a 49-33 W-L record (.598) and posted 102 saves while facing 2,908 batters.  No, those aren't Hall of Fame numbers.  But he went out on top, under his own terms.