Tom Burr
| Date and Place of Birth: | November 1, 1893 Chicago, IL |
| Date and Place of Death: | October 12, 1918 Cazaux, France |
| Baseball Experience: | Major League |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Military Unit: | 31st Aero Squadron, US Air Service |
| Area Served: | France |
Alexander Thomson "Tom" Burr was born on November 1, 1893 in Chicago, Illinois.
He attended Choate School in Connecticut, where he played shortstop and
had an outstanding record as a pitcher. Burr later attended Williams
College at Williamstown, Massachusetts, and signed with the New York
Yankees in January 1914.
After spending the early part of the season on the Yankees’ bench, and
making just one appearance against the Senators on
April 21, Burr was assigned to the New London Planters of the Eastern
Association. After being used sparingly by the Planters he was signed by
the Jersey City Skeeters of the International League. In seven games he
had an 0-1 record and quit the professional game at the end of the
season.
In 1917, Burr was serving with the 31st Aero Squadron, US Air Service.
He went to the flying school at Issoudun in France. From there he
attended the École de Tir Aérien gunnery school at Cazaux.
On October 12, 1918, while attacking targets at the gunnery school,
Lieutenant Burr’s plane collided with another at a height of 4,500 feet.
Crashing into Cazaux lake, it would be 12 days before his body was
recovered.
Thanks to Rory Costello, who has compiled an in-depth biography of Burr as part of the SABR Baseball Biography Project
Date Added: January 29, 2012 Updated July 8, 2012
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