Born in Jarbalo, Kansas, Burwell was a right-handed pitcher who stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg).

During the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in 1918, Burwell volunteered for the dangerous mission of attacking German machine gun nests, and his pitching hand was injured by a bullet.

He posted six saves and one complete game, allowing 253 hits and 79 bases on balls, with 49 strikeouts, in 2181⁄3 innings pitched.

While serving as pitching coach on Danny Murtaugh's staff, Burwell was a member of the Pirates' 1960 world championship team.

[2] Law — winner of the 1960 Cy Young Award as the top pitcher in the majors — later cited Burwell as the coach who most helped him during his time in the minor leagues.