#Smoky July 17
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For the month of July 2024 several of us are going to take on a 30-Day Nickname Coach4aday Challenge. The simple concept is to share a nickname and tell a little about who it is associated with and why they got tagged with that moniker. Today I’m going with a member of the NC Sports Hall of Fame whose nickname is SMOKY.
Forrest Harrill Burgess alias Smoky was born on February 6, 1927 in Caroleen, North Carolina, a town in Rutherford County and played professionally from 1949-1967. My grandson Forrest James Kenney has a first name connection with someone who played in the MLB.
On Saturday July 6th my grandson got to see his first MLB game at the age of 1 in Atlanta. He went to the game with his dad, mom, and his mom’s parents.
Nickname 30-Day Challenge Guidelines
Like previous challenges there are no hard and fast rules to participate. There are a few suggested guidelines.
- Each day in July learn something or just appreciate a nickname associated with someone.
- Share that name with others
- If so inclined use the hash tag #Coach4adayChallenge on social media platforms
July 17th-Smoky
- Smoky Burgess holds the record for the highest career batting average as a pinch hitter in Major League Baseball history. Throughout his career, he recorded an impressive .364 batting average in pinch-hitting situations.
- Burgess was known for his exceptional hitting skills. He finished his career with a .295 batting average, with over 1,000 hits and more than 400 RBIs.
- He was selected to six All-Star Games during his career.
- In 1954, while playing for the Cincinnati Reds, Burgess achieved a remarkable feat by hitting three home runs in a single game.
- After each season and when he retired he owned and operated the Smoky Burgess Gulf Service Station in Forest City NC
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