About Ernest Burke
Lived 1924 – 2004 (aged 79). Ernest Burke was an American baseball player.
Ernest Alexander Burke (June 26, 1924 – January 31, 2004) was an American professional baseball player in the Negro leagues.
Burke was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland. During World War II, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and was one of the first black U.S. Marines to serve in World War II, earning a medal as a sharpshooter. During his tour of duty in the Pacific, Burke began to play baseball.
After the war, he became a pitcher and outfielder for the Baltimore Elite Giants in the Negro American League. He played for Baltimore from 1946 to 1949. In 1949, he joined the Pough-Kingston team in the Western League, then later played in the Canadian Provincial League.
Burke died of kidney cancer complications at the age of 79. A statue of Burke was unveiled on June 26, 2021, in his home city.
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Important facts
People in Ernest Burke's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
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Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Ernest Burke's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Ernest Burke?
American baseball player
When was Ernest Burke born?
Ernest Burke was born on 26 June 1924 in Havre de Grace.
When did Ernest Burke die?
Ernest Burke died on 31 January 2004 in Baltimore, Maryland.
What was Ernest Burke's occupation?
Ernest Burke was a baseball player.
What nationality was Ernest Burke?
Ernest Burke was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ernest Burke. https://biography.guide/ernest-burke/
MLA: "Ernest Burke." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ernest-burke/.
Chicago: "Ernest Burke." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ernest-burke/.
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