Allan James Burnett (born January 3, 1977), is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Philadelphia Phillies for 17 seasons.
[5] On September 7, 2001, Burnett threw a warm-up pitch that accidentally struck the window of a moving pick-up truck.
[6] In 2002, he held an ERA of 3.30 and finished with a 12–9 record and 203 strikeouts, career bests that he did not top until 2008, as well as leading the majors with five complete game shutouts.
As former teammate Carl Pavano had done in the 2004 off-season, he wanted to test the market rather than take whatever new contract the Marlins gave him.
On the morning of December 6, 2005, at the Baseball Winter Meetings being held in Dallas, Texas, the Toronto Blue Jays signed Burnett to a five-year, $55 million deal.
[13] The Blue Jays took a chance by signing Burnett despite his propensity to injury, and the 2006 season began with him going on the disabled list when a piece of scar tissue—remnants of his Tommy John surgery—broke off in his pitching arm.
However, some baseball commentators like RotoWorld and Tim Dierkes still considered the signing worthwhile, since many of the other free agent pitchers that year, like Matt Morris and Paul Byrd had less impressive career stats, even though they had fewer health risks.
[14] Burnett was activated on April 15, 2006, and made his first start with the Blue Jays that day against the Chicago White Sox, giving up four runs in six innings of work to earn the loss.
[15] In his next start, against the Boston Red Sox, Burnett was removed from the game after only four innings due to soreness in his right arm.
Against Chicago White Sox pitcher Javier Vázquez in early September at U.S. Cellular Field, Burnett took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before giving up a hard hit that bounced off Scott Rolen's glove, but got the win.
When he was relieved in the beginning of the ninth inning, he received a very long and memorable standing ovation and came out for a curtain call after being congratulated by the players.
[19] His five-year contract with the Blue Jays allowed him to opt out at the end of the 2008 season, and he chose to do so, becoming a free agent.
[22] On October 9, 2009, Burnett made his postseason debut in a win against the Minnesota Twins in Game 2 of the American League Divisional Series, in which he earned a no-decision.
However, during the time Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland took a leave of absence for a few weeks, Burnett's numbers plummeted in June where he went winless.
[25] Burnett broke his winless streak upon Eiland's return, but lost again to the Tampa Bay Rays in his first start since the end of the All-Star break, a game where he injured his hand after punching a door out of frustration.
[27] In the 2011 American League Division Series against Detroit, the Yankees, facing elimination, turned to Burnett to pitch Game 4 at Comerica Park.
Burnett would fill a towel with whipped cream, sneak up behind the player who was responsible for the walk-off hit, and slam the "pie" in their face.
The orbital fracture required surgery to determine the extent of the injury and duration of recovery, and it was reported that Burnett would be out for at least two to three months.
[34] On April 6, 2012, Burnett began his rehab stint pitching for the Pirates High-A affiliate, the Bradenton Marauders.
On June 28, 2012, Burnett became the first Pirates pitcher since Dock Ellis in 1974 to win eight games in a row, moving his record to 9–2 with a 3.31 ERA.
[38] On July 31, 2012, Burnett pitched a complete game one-hitter in a win against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
[40] On September 23, 2012, Burnett became the first Pirates' pitcher to win at least 15 games in a single season since Todd Ritchie (15–9) last accomplished the feat in 1999.
In an earlier at bat, Hanley Ramirez hit a home run and performed a celebration by making circles over his eyes with his fingers.
[43] On April 1, 2013, Burnett tied Bob Veale (1965) and John Candelaria (1983) for the franchise's opening day record with 10 strikeouts in a 3–1 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
Burnett remained a free agent as spring training got underway, and this is when he made his decision to play, rather than retire.
[47] On November 14, 2014, Burnett signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract to return to the Pirates,[47] announcing that the 2015 season would be his last.
[49] On July 11, in a game versus the Cardinals, Burnett hit a solo shot, his fourth total home run.
To his surprise, a Bat-Signal appeared in the sky at PNC Park above the Pittsburgh Renaissance Hotel and in various other locations Downtown.
[68] In April 2020, Burnett worked with Pittsburgh Clothing Company to create a shirt to promote social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The shirts read "Stay The F*** Home", a tribute to his famous slogan from 2012, but now used to urge folks to self-quarantine to prevent spreading of the virus.