Lew Burdette

From mlb.com

Former Braves star Burdette dies
Right-hander threw three complete games in 1957 World Series

Former Braves 1957 World Series hero Lou Burdette passed away Tuesday morning at his home in Winter Garden, Fla., after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. He was 80.

Burdette's '57 Series one to remember

In the 1957 World Series, Burdette won three games, shutting out the mighty New York Yankees twice in a row. Milwaukee, referred to as "Bushville" by some in the Yankee party, triumphed, and nobody was more central to the outcome than Burdette, the Series MVP.
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But more than anything else, he will be remembered for that magnificent October performance. Three starts against the heavily favored Yanks. Three complete games. Two shutouts. Working on what today would be considered impossibly short rest. A total of two earned runs allowed. And one World Series championship for the Braves.

Long before Mark Fidrych became known for his antics on the mound, Burdette talked to the ball, talked to the batters, talked to the umpires, and talked to himself. This activity, combined with an elaborate set of mannerisms that accompanied his work, made his appearances on the mound unique occasions. But the main thing was, he could pitch.

He was the winning pitcher in one of the greatest games ever pitched. when Pittsburgh's Harvey Haddix threw 12 perfect innings against Milwaukee, but lost in the 13th on May 26, 1959. Burdette, who had a well-honed sense of humor, famously asked for a hefty raise the following winter, reasoning that if he had won against the greatest game ever pitched, he must be pretty deserving himself.

Farewell to a hero
Crafty pitcher led Braves to glory in '57

Burdette, who was 80, had planned to attend the Braves' 50th anniversary celebration of the '57 championship in August in Milwaukee.

"I talked to him a couple of months ago and he said he was coming," said Johnny Logan, who played shortstop during the Braves' glory years in Milwaukee. "I was looking forward to seeing him again. This is so sad. He loved this team and the people here."

From jsonline.com

My dad had a Lew Burdette glove that he used when we played catch. And he let me use it when I first started playing organized ball.

As for the Lew/Lou thing for his first name:

Born Selva Lewis Burdette Jr., he sometimes signed his autograph as "Lew" and other times as "Lou." He was commonly known in his playing days as Lew, and standard baseball references routinely list his name as Lew.

It must be noted that his family said Tuesday that its choice was "Lou" and that was the way the name would appear on his gravestone. No disrespect is meant here by the use of Lew, because that was the way the name looked at the time of his greatest achievements and that is how he is remembered in the official records of those epic events.

Lew or Lou, either way he was a unique pitcher and a major talent. It is sad for Braves fans to lose him, on this, the 50th anniversary of the World Series championship.