Forest City in Rutherford County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, April 23, 2022
1. Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess Marker
Born February 6, 1927
Died September 15, 1991
Major League Catcher
Batted left-handed and threw right-handed
6-time All Star
.295 Career Batting Average
126 Career Home runs
145 Career Pinch Hits — 4th all time high
Signed by Chicago Cubs in 1944
Chicago Cubs 1949-1951
Philadelphia Phillies 1952-1955
Cincinnati Reds 1955-1958
Pittsburgh Pirates 1959-1964
Chicago White Sox 1964-1967
Member of 1960 World Series Champion
Pittsburgh Pirates
Member of Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame
Member of North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
Erected 2021 by Forest City.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is February 6, 1927.
Location. 35° 20.321′ N, 81° 52.39′ W. Marker is in Forest City, North Carolina, in Rutherford County. Marker is at the intersection of West Main Street (Business U.S. 74) and Memorial Drive, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street. Marker and monument are located on the south side of the Cool Springs Gymnasium, facing West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 121 Memorial Drive, Forest City NC 28043, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cool Springs High School (within shouting distance of this marker);
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Smoky Burgess.
An American professional baseball catcher, pinch hitter, coach, and scout, who played in Major League Baseball from 1949 to 1967. A nine-time All-Star, Burgess became known, later in his career, for his abilities as an elite pinch hitter. When his playing career ended, Burgess spent many years with the Atlanta Braves as a scout and minor league batting coach with the Pulaski Braves, in Pulaski, VA. Burgess was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, in 1975. Burgess was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, in 1978.(Submitted on May 8, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, April 23, 2022
2. Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess Monument
2. Smoky Burgess.
Smoky was known primarily as a hitter during his playing career. Smoky’s approach, dating all the way back to high school, was to go up to the plate and be aggressive. He was not particularly concerned with finding a good pitch to hit, explaining, “Any ball I can get a good part of the bat on is a good pitch to hit. Ninety percent of the hitters will get as many hits on balls as they do on strikes.”(Submitted on May 8, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Dedication To Our Hometown Hero Smoky Burgess.
His mother was asked one time, how come all her other sons didn’t become professional baseball players like her son Forrest. Her answer was simple: “Forrest couldn’t pick cotton like his brothers!” His great eye for the pitchers throwing to him when he was at bat was supposedly developed when he was just a youngster. “He would bat at bees with a broom handle!”(Submitted on May 8, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, April 23, 2022
3. Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess Statue
Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 334 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 8, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
