[citation needed] Burns was best known for his involvement in the alleged fixing of the 1919 World Series, dubbed the Black Sox Scandal.

[1] In his five-year MLB career, Burns played for the Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, and Detroit Tigers.

Pitching against the Tigers on May 21, 1908, Burns's bid for a no-hitter ended after 8 2/3 innings when Germany Schaefer singled to drive in the game's only run.

This made him the first pitcher in baseball history to suffer this fate twice, a feat not repeated until Dave Stieb lost no-hitters with two outs in the ninth inning in consecutive starts on September 24 and 30, 1988.

Burns met with Eddie Cicotte and Chick Gandil at The Ansonia, a hotel in New York City during the formative stages of the event.