You don’t meet a guy named Oyster every day. But then again, Thomas P. “Oyster” Burns (1864-1928) wasn’t your everyday guy.
Nicknamed Oyster due to the fact that he sold shellfish during the offseason (which must be near the top of the baseball “offseason odd jobs” list – if there was one), Burns was known for being a loudmouth with an irritating voice and personality.
He was even described by one of his Orioles teammates as “a disturber and one of the worst that ever played ball. His disposition was very bad, and he made it unpleasant for any of the boys that crested him. He is what you would call a bulldozer. [Bridegrooms manager Bill] McGunnigle may be able to handle Burns, but I doubt it.”
Given Amber’s recent risque Wednesday photos, I figured I’d fight fire with fire. Boy that Burns, doesn’t it, Amb? (source:oriolepost.com)
I don’t exactly know what “crested him” means, but I assume you wouldn’t want to crest this Oyster! Burns, who saw big league action in the outfield and every infield position except catcher (he did more than his fair share of pitching), had an impressive – albeit not amazing – career. Oyster ended his career with a .300 average, 832 RBIs, 263 stolen bases, and 65 home runs. However, he led the league in home runs and RBIs in 1890 – with an earth-shattering 13 dingers and a very good 128 RBIs. And he did all this for a team named – you guessed it – the Brooklyn Bridegrooms! Yeah, if you claim to have guessed it, uh, let’s just say it’s fair to assume you had your pancakes Bill Lee style (i.e. with marijuana sprinkled on them) this morning. But that’s another story for another day. In his stint with Brooklyn, Oyster was described as “the noisiest man that ever played on the Brooklyn team. His voice reminds one of a buzz-saw.” How flattering. The bulldozer-like buzz-saw sure did get compared to tools a lot. I wonder if he ever dropped the hammer on opponents when he was on the mound. Oh god, that was an esoteric pun – “dropping the hammer” is slang for throwing a curveball, folks.
Funny tidbit – the erstwhile Bridegroom actually started his big league career with a team with an equally ferocious name – the Wilmington Quicksteps! I’m sure that name sent opponents running for cover on game day.
But back to Oyster’s off-field antics (and boy, are they interesting). In 1887, Oyster became Orioles team captain…until he threw a baseball at the opposing pitcher after grounding out! (Roger Clemens, move over) Can say I’ve ever seen that, thankfully. Burns, for the record, was fined $25 for the incident. And no, they weren’t sand dollars.
In another wonderful incident, Burns stabbed teammate Tom Daly, who was sleeping in center field in between games of a double-header, with a penknife. Luckily, Daly awoke during the incident (he must have smelled something fishy going on, despite his slumber), but suffered a severed tendon which kept him out of action for several weeks.
Oyster Burns himself. Please don’t chuck the bat at me!
This man goes beyond crabby – he’s a darn piranha! I think his behavior warrants a departure from my usual send-off…
You chill, Oyster!
Get it? It Burns?! Because that’s his name?!? Oh, Rob. Aren’t you glad I’m around to inspire you to such astounding heights of literary accomplishment?
I don’t know about his thoughts on it, but I’m sure glad you’re around to inspire him to such astounding heights 🙂
Yes, that’s why you like having me around. Because of the way I talk … to your brother. 😉
Haha, like I said in my reply to Diddy’s comment… one man isn’t enough to keep up with you. 🙂
Lol! And Rob thinks I’m risque?! Nice line, Carlson.
I was on a horrible pun roll, Lavitt! I think I actually succeeded in being punny.
And anyone who’s 5 feet tall, loves Strombolopolous, peanut butter and chocolate is bound to be risqué…right? Oh yeah, particularly if she likes Bieber too…Bieber lover!
She’s not a Bieber lover, is she?
Rob Carlson !!! I cannot believe that you would bring up our private facebook conversation out here on the blog for anyone to read. I mean seriously. That’s like something I would do. 😉
For the record, I am not completely opposed to these escalating photo wars.
Haha, that’s a good thing you’re okay with it, because I think it has gone past the point of no return (does that work linguistically? I’m super tired right now). First it was the one-upsmanship with Amb when I started posting Strombo and Ryan Gosling pics, and then there was the legendary internet takeover day (thank you once again for your help with that!). It’s good to have Rob taking on some of the responsibilities … it takes two of us to keep up with Amb!
Rob, oh dearest tall brother of mine, do you realize what you just did – you put the baseball team name “Bridegrooms” in your post so nonchalantly that I think some of us nearly overlooked it!
And P.S…. Some day I want to be described that way too! Such colorful insults!
All you have to do is have a buzz-saw like voice and the insults just roll right off the tongue!
It’s easy to do when you’re writing about a ballplayer named Oyster who also stabbed a guy in CF with a penknife.
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