{{short description|American baseball player (1917-2009)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Bill Burich |position=Shortstop |image=Bill Burich.JPG |caption= |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{birth date|1918|5|29}} |birth_place=Calumet, Michigan, U.S. |death_date={{death date and age|2009|12|25|1918|5|29}} |death_place=Apple Valley, California, U.S. |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=April 15 |debutyear=1942 |debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=June 10 |finalyear=1946 |finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Batting average |stat1value=.284 |stat2label=Home runs |stat2value=0 |stat3label=Runs batted in |stat3value=7 |teams= *Philadelphia Phillies ({{by|1942}}, {{by|1946}}) }}

'''William Max Burich''' (May 29, 1917 &ndash; December 25, 2009)<ref>[http://www.wcbs.tributes.com/show/87463707 Obituary]</ref> was an American infielder in Major League Baseball, playing mainly as a shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies during the {{By|1942}} and {{By|1946}} seasons. Listed at 6' 0", 180&nbsp;lb., he batted and threw right-handed.

A native of Calumet, Michigan, Burich was one of many major leaguers who saw his baseball career interrupted by a military stint during World War II. In 1942 he appeared in 25 games as a backup infielder for Pinky May, Bobby Bragan and Danny Murtaugh. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1943, serving for three and half years before rejoining the Phillies in the 1946 midseason.

In a two-season career, Burich was .284 hitter (23-for-81) in 27 games with four runs and seven RBI in 27 games, including one double, two stolen bases, and a .333 on-base percentage.

Following his brief stint in major leagues, Burich resumed his playing career in the minors and also managed the 1948 Nazareth Barons of the North Atlantic League.

Burich died on December 25, 2009, in Apple Valley, California.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{baseballstats|br=b/buricbi01|brm=burich001wil}} *[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/Pburib101.htm Retrosheet] *[http://www.baseballinwartime.com/ Baseball in Wartime]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burich, Bill}} Category:Philadelphia Phillies players Category:Major League Baseball shortstops Category:Minor league baseball managers Category:Baseball players from Houghton County, Michigan Category:People from Calumet, Michigan Category:United States Army personnel of World War II Category:United States Army soldiers Category:1910s births Category:2009 deaths Category:Rogers Lions players Category:Nazareth Barons players Category:Meridian Peps players Category:Allentown Wings players Category:Americus Pioneers players Category:Dayton Wings players Category:Houston Buffaloes players Category:Joplin Miners players Category:Macon Peaches players Category:Norfolk Elks players Category:Olean Oilers players Category:Paducah Indians players Category:Wilkes-Barre Barons (baseball) players Category:Williamsport Grays players Category:20th-century American sportsmen

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