This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/15/2014
Graded VG 3 by PSA. In 1913 the 23-year-old Burns became McGraw's Opening Day left fielder, displacing speedy leadoff hitter Josh Devore, who had fallen out of favor and soon would be traded. Left field in the Polo Grounds was a notoriously difficult position on bright, sunny afternoons, and Devore had lost fly balls in the sun too frequently for McGraw's liking. Determined not to make the same mistake, Burns worked hard to become a specialist at playing the sun field, in time adopting a special cap with an extra long bill and blue sunglasses attached to it (at the plate he switched to a short-billed cap). Sportswriters dubbed the left-field bleachers "Burnsville" as the pint-sized speedster rapidly established himself as a fan favorite.