Topic: Jamie Burke

James Eugene Burke (born September 24, 1971 in Roseburg, Oregon) is a Major League Baseball catcher in the Seattle Mariners organization.

Burke was originally drafted by the California Angels in the 9th round of the 1993 amateur draft, after playing for Oregon State University, where he was also a kicker for the school's football team. He was signed as a free agent by the Chicago White Sox on January 27, 2003. He played 73 games in the Major Leagues for the White Sox from 2003-2005. The Texas Rangers signed him to a minor league deal near the end of the 2005 season. He did not appear in an MLB game during the 2006 season. As a non-roster invitee in the Mariners' camp during spring training 2007, he beat out incumbent René Rivera for the backup catcher job going into Opening Day. On September 30, 2007, on the last day of the regular season, Burke hit his first career home run against A. J. Murray of the Texas Rangers.

On July 6, 2008, Burke was pressed into service on the pitcher's mound in the 15th inning of a game against Detroit when the Mariners ran out of pitchers, as a result he was credited with the loss. However, Burke still pitched well, giving up only one hit and a run. The run scored after a lead off double, wild pitch, and sacrifice fly. Burke had previously made four pitching appearances in the minor leagues.