Video: How will Burrell be remembered?
What is Pat Burrell's legacy? Marcus Hayes of the Daily News and Bob Ford of the Inquirer discuss.
Video: How will Burrell be remembered?
Video: What is Pat Burrell’s legacy? Marcus Hayes of the Daily News and Bob Ford of the Inquirer discuss.
Comments (42)
I won't even watch this video. Pat Burrell was a class act during his entire career. Say what you want from him, but is annual averages of HR's/RBI's were not too shabby. Expectations were too high on him as he was the post-J.D.Drew pick and was the "savior". In the end, his hit in the 2008 World Series (his only hit in that series) proved to be the winning run (Bruntlett scored it of course). I know the Mets won't cry with his retirement.— drhoffman- Left his best games in the men's room at the Continental and other clubs. Average fielder, hot and cold hitter. No icon for sure, had a decent but unremarkable career. Probably will make the Phillies Wall of Fame, but who doesn't anymore?— jimmymack
- Put him on the list with Von Hayes and Darren Daulton as one of the biggest jerks to ever put on a Phillies uniform.— Astro Jones
- As Billy Wagner said, he had one swing plane. He never learned to hit a breaking ball. In my opinion, the only time he had success is when a pitcher left a fastball over the middle of the plate in a hitter's count. He couldn't adapt and he did not care about situational baseball. He played with minimal energy and was a below average fielder with below average speed. Anyboyd who knows anything about hitting knows that his swinging mechanics ware beyond ugly.
But he did get the game winning hit in the World Series...— bdd5014 - One swing plane or not, Burrell repeatedly took that long swing and hammered Billy Wags zero movement fastball to left center for a key home run during Wagner's time with the Mets. Burrell was clutch against the Mets and Wagner. For that reason alone Burrell will be remembered fondly in this town. — Special Agent Fox Mulder
Drhoffman said it best. Who cares what he did after hours? In the end, he hurt no one, he bad mouthed no one, took a heck of a lot of slings and arrows from the fanbase and showed nothing but class and respect in return. He represented the uniform and city well. He will be missed except by the stinkin' Mutts who he took special glee in torching! And in the end, his one lonely hit in the 2008 World Series helped deliver a World Championship to this city and it's fans. While Rolen sour pussed his way out of town, Burrell stayed. He will be looked upon fondly as the years go by, a good player whom the fans wished could have done more. He did enough. Well done, Pat.- Pat was a good player and the Phillies adjusted nicely to what he gave them in the lineup and field. Had some clutch hit ability. By all accouts a good teamate and stand-up guy with the fans and media. All in all, just as good or slightly better than what Mr. Drew would have offered.— dfoorce3
- If Marcus Hayes doesn't like him...Burrell must be alright...and by the way, it looks like Marcus must be 300 lbs...of course 200 of that is ego...— Buck Dharma
- He helped the win the WS in 2008!— gmuny2002
- If you read Rosa Blasi's expose of former jock boyfriends, Pat will be remembered for his disappointing "shortcomings."— Carl Nidray
- I never heard of Pat getting into a car wreck while drunk and he never bad mouthed his teammates or former teammates. He took all this city could dish out and handled it with class. He may not have been the best but he carried this team the first half of 08 until the rest of the team got hot. Why does everyone have to bash this guy every chance they get. HE didn't proclaim himself the next Mike Schmidt or the teams savior, he just went out and played. If you were rich, young, and good looking, wouldn't you be out having fun? I know I would. Thanks Pat! Now take Daulton's name down and put Pat on the wall.— jburd641
- Above average. Not great by a long shot. I don't recall him getting unnecessary grief from fans so I don't know where people get that. When he was hot, he was great. But that was about 25% of the time. The rest of the time he was average. For some reason, people love to over-analyze him (media and some fans).— AvoidSundanceVacations
- This is my memory of Pat the bat: Every season, Burrell would go through extended slumps. many people would make excuses for him. You could say Pat the Bat got a "pass" for his lack of production....people took it easy on Pat. Some people are just lucky, I suppose. Probably if Pat was ugly he would not have gotten a "pass".— road515
- He was a better than average player. Hot and cold hitter. Covered little of the outfield. Had a good arm. He never caused trouble (as in Lenny). Better than J.D., but nothing special.— 4thand10
- Pat the Bat. textbook definition of "s--t-eatin'-grin" ridin in that parade.
thumbs up— raoool - Burrell's legacy will probably improve as the years go by and the 2008 WS victory becomes more and more ethereal in the memories of the fans (ala 1980). I mean, c'mon. The guy should have a "s--t-eatin'-grin" on his face. Talk about living the life. If all you have to worry about is a bunch of drunk and jealous 20+ somethings busting your @$$ for drinking wine coolers, then life is easy. He may have been a "class act" by some people's standards but it's not like he discovered the cure for cancer. Who couldn't be a "class act" living in his shoes?— Sam Crow
- Acting like your a class act was a good cover for being a classless actor. Any woman worth having would consider him a pig and equating him with class in any way demeans those who live their lives everyday in a clean moral way. Yes, good player but we will never know what he could have been if conquests on the field meant as much to him as those he amassed uptown.IMO
— DUDESKINS - Thanks Pat... You had a good career, made yourself a little bit of money (sic) and got yourself a couple of WS rings. Heck he even nodded in response to me & my daughter when we saw him drive by in Center City and waved. So, in retrospect, I didn't mind at all you riding at the front of the parade after the WS championship. Mr. Burrell, Good Luck and Thanks.— baworks
- He altered other team's strategy because they did fear his bat. Came through in the clutch more often then some of you remember. Hilarious on the town. If he was physically together,no doubt would have had a return engagement. He was part of the core that made this team go!— leecee
- His timely and clutch double against the Dodgers in the playoffs sealed the deal. That alone should endear him to every Phillies fan. Then again, there are people on here who refuse to say nice things about anyone and who perpetuate the idea of Phillie fans being the jerks.
- Too all the Bashers:
Averages:
Hr's 29
Rbi's 99
SO 102
Don't care what anyone say's, but we haven't won since he left.
Good Luck Pat!!!!!
Go Canes!!!!— DocPhillyfan - While Burrell did underachieve over his career relative to expectations and the amount of money he made, he was a key part of a World Series winner. He was also a guy who never seemed to dog it and never tried to make excuses when he wasn't performing up to expectations.— Bretzky
- Good post DocPhillyfan, I agree, he was a winner here and his numbers are the type that any manager would be happy to pencil into the lineup for 8yrs. consistently with few DL visits. He also provided some key hits in the NLCS and WS 2008 and deserves recognition for that (especially from all of those who make it a point to find fault with Howard in clutch situations). On the intangibles side one must admire his refusal to bad-mouth teammates, managers, the front office or the fans, all of whom probably deserved some bad-mouthing at some point during his stay here. All in all my recollections will be positive primarily because he stayed the course was consistent over the course of a season if hot as blazes and cold as ice at times; and most importantly finished well in the clutch times of 2008 post season.— bentlip
- Pat Burrell was one of my favorite Phillies. As my season seats are between third base and left field, I watched his fielding a lot, and he was better than most of the leftfielders we have had. He certainly had his share of hits and timely ones. Fans certainly cheered for him in the 2008 parade and when he spoke at the celebration in the Ball Park. I am glad that he is retiring as a Phillie, but sorry that he cannot continue to play.— elinda
- The question asked: "what is your memory", so I described my honest lasting memory. Sorry for the negativity, there was a lot of negativity surrounding the Phillies prior to 2007. I suppose my second memory of Burrell is his persona as a Mets killer 2006-07. Hope that makes Pat Burrell's fans happy, it did make me happy.— road515
- Do you think maybe Marcus is a little mad because Burrell wouldn't talk to him?— jburd641
- Pat Burrell drinks wine coolers.— burholme
- Never played up to the hype of being a high draft pick but he was on the world series team so Pat, you are ok in my book!!!!— briman
- You wonder how good Pat would have been if not for his partying lifestyle and his propensity to swing from both sides of the fence— Ashburn072
- as never living up to the hype/potential— psualum
- Just a single guy with dough who was trying to meet girls. So what? WHy does he get sh__ for that? Had some bad swings, and was never fleet of foot. I'd say he earned his dough though. And we had Game 5, remember? Twice. Good enough for me.— Poppys
- I was in the Irish pub once in the middle of winter and pat the bat came strolling in smoking a cigarette in a Hawaiian shirt , shorts and flip flops. A girl sai he Pat, you shouldnt be smoking, you are a pro athlete. Pat, in all his glory said, You can smoke my D***, bi**h. Lol. Priceless.— bigguy34
- On Photo Day Pat always went out of his way to be polite and friendly.— Disco Dave
- I used to like that zen-yoga-stretching-zombieland thing he did before games near the end of his stay in Philly. Don't know if it helped any, but was definitely weird. Anyway good luck Pat - and franks for the memories. Just for the record, he did go get another ring in SF!! That says something about his career.— bigdaddyG
- As others have said, he took a lot of heat here, but went about his business and never complained. While he may have never met everyone's lofty expectations, he helped win a World Series ring and represented Philly with class and dignity. My hat is off to Pat the Bat, glad to see him retire as a Phillie!
— johnnyvegas - He was okay. Had one great year and a lot sub-par ones. People in this town like to hate Scott Rolen, but he was way better than Burrell. In fact, fielding-wise he was every bit as good as Schmidt. In terms of hitting, he was no Schmidt, but pretty darn good. There's a good chance he might even make the hall of fame. So in the end, the Phillies gave the money to the wrong player.— Hemingway
- that's why philly is a fraud baseball city. You're celebrating this stiff who has more rings than hits in the world series.......— mike64
- How will I remember him? Hopefully, I won't. A truly forgettable career.— orange rhino
- I'll always remember Pat for the year he broke a bone in his hand (2006, 2007?). He could have gone home and collect his money but he toughed it out and continued playing.— tyroneslothrop
Pat The Bat. I will remember both the good and the bad. Before 08 it was more bad as he was part of a team that kept missing the playoffs by like 1 game at the end and kept collapsing at the end if not struggling to mediocrity before that. Also was shown looking at his teeth or hair in the dugout just as often as getting a big hit. And he excelled at getting meaningless solo homeruns in like the 7th inning of a 7-3 already decided game. He almost NEVER got a meaningful homer in the early innings of a close game. In the clutch he generally struck out and hit most of his homers in the late innings after the game was already out of hand. One hit in 08 helped change that perception though and he stuck through some harsh critiszm so he gets credit for that. But all in all, some good, some bad, with some reedming qualities in the end. Thanks for 08 Pat.
Comment removed.- Apparently he knew how to swing another kind of bat with the ladies, hello!
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Bob Ford has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 1981, and is still trying to figure it all out. A former beat writer covering the Phillies and the 76ers, Ford became a general sports columnist for the Inquirer in 2003, following in and occasionally falling in the deep footsteps of Bill Lyon, Frank Dolson and many distinguished others. He comes to the Philly.com blogosphere after award-winning success as designer/editor of the fabulous Pen & Pencil Club softball blog. Likes: Palestra, inside-the-park home runs, sunny days. Dislikes: phony people, cloudy days, rewrites.
Reach Bob at bford@phillynews.com.
Bob Ford
Inquirer Sports Columnist
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