Thomas F. Burke III has been elected to the Northeastern Hall of Fame for his heroics in baseball and football.
Burke, Class of '76, was one of the last of the great two-sport athletes and one of only two Huskies ever to win team most valuable player awards in both baseball and football. Before his college days, he was a two-sport star at North Quincy High School.
As a freshman, he entered NU in September and was too late to play football. However, in the spring, he immediately made his mark with the baseball team. As a slick-fielding outfielder he batted .315 with four home runs and 26 RBIs to help lead the team to a 15-8 season and a place in the NCAA District I playoffs.
In his sophomore year, Burke established himself on the football team as a speedy kickoff returner with a 22.9-yard average. He then excelled again in baseball, hitting .309 with 15 RBIs. That year an unusual pattern started to emerge; Burke stole 20 bases in 20 tries as a freshman and added 16 more steals in 16 tries as a sophomore.
Burke had one of the finest football seasons ever by a Husky in his junior campaign. He carried the ball 60 times for 375 yards, four touchdowns and an average of 6.3 yards per carry. Burke also caught 20 passes for 474 yards, five touchdowns and an 18.2-yard average. Add 249 yards on kickoff returns, and Burke totaled 1098 all-purpose yards. In the final game of the year, his 80-yard touchdown run triggered a 39-14 romp over C. W. Post and the Huskies finished with a 6-4 record. For his great efforts he was named Team MVP. In baseball, he hit .307 with 15 RBIs and broke his own record of 20 steals set as a freshman by swiping 24 bases in 24 attempts. That summer, Burke had to make a big decision. The Montreal Expos wanted him badly. However, he chose college and the Huskies.
Used only as a receiver in his senior football season, he caught 20 passes for 334 yards. In baseball, Burke batted .344 with five homers and 20 RBIs. A groin pull limited his base stealing to six, but he completed his career a perfect 66 for 66. He was voted Team MVP, All-Greater Boston League for the fourth time, and All-New England for the second time.
Upon graduation, Burke was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and played in the Pirates' organization for three seasons.
