Ken Burkhart is another in the line of great baseball players from Tennessee who have brought honor and distinction to our proud state. Born in Middleton, Tennessee, Burkhart grew up in Knoxville and attended Central High School. Then his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where Ken completed his education at West High School. A right-handed pitcher, Ken joined the St. Louis Cardinals organization in 1938 and started a thirty-five year baseball career. Shipped by the Cardinals to the Evangeline League, Ken started his climb to the majors with stops at Springfield, Missouri (Western League), Asheville, North Carolina (Piedmont League), Syracuse, New York (International League), and Columbus, Ohio (American Association). He finally arrived at the big leagues, playing for the Cardinals from 1945 to 1950. He roomed with the great Joe Garagiola and played under managers Billy Southworth and Eddie Dyer. Burkhart was a member of the fine Cards team that went to the World Series in 1946. That year was his best, as he compiled an impressive record of 18-6. In 1950 Burkhart moved to the Cincinnati Reds under Bucky Walters. Upon retiring as an active player, Burkhart began his twenty-one year career as an umpire in 1952 in the Florida States League. He moved up to the Big States League, Texas League, and then to the National League, where he remained until retirement in 1973. Before leaving baseball, Burkhart had the honor of returning to the World Series three more times as an umpire.
