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Burkett, Hall of Fame Slugger, Dies of Heart Ailment at 84 WORCESTER, Mass., May 27 UP.— Jesse Burkett, who hit better than .400 three times to earn a niche in baseballs Hall of Fame, died at a hospital today. He was 84. A native of Wheeling, W. Va., he broke into Major league baseball in 1891. During his seven years with the Cleveland National League club he hit .423 and .410. In his first season with the St. Louis National ; League club in 1899, he turned in a .402 average. The only others ever to surpass .400 three times were Rogers Hornsby and Ty Cobb. Though his baseball career ended in i 1924, it was not until 1946 that he was ; named to the Hall of Fame. When informed . of his selection, he smiled with delight and said "it took them a long time and I thought they werent going to because everybody had forgotten me." Burkett joined the American League : team in St. Louis in 1902 and remained I with that club until 1905 when he played I a year with the Boston Red Sox before retiring. •
