Position: pitcher, first base, outfield Bats: right Throws: right

Al was born on September 15, 1932 in Washington DC to Maire and Willie Burrows. He was raised alongside one brother. The boys attended Thorn Hill, a one-room grade school in Orange, VA. Al and his schoolmates made time to play baseball on the schoolyard grounds but his interest in the game of baseball really blossomed when he played alongside teammates in the sandlot leagues of Orange County. While he was being coached, and working hard to develop his own baseball skills on these little league fields, he looked up to his favorite major league players for and watched their play for tips and pointers that would tighten-up his over-all game. Some of his favorite players included such greats as Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, and Jackie Robinson.

In 1953, Al entered the Armed Forces in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was trained as a medic, attended jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia and upon completion was assigned to the 449, 82nd Airborne. He was eventually transferred to a special services attachment where he competed in track, football and baseball while pursuing a medical duty assignment at the VA hospital. He was awarded a Good Conduct Medal before he was discharged.

By mid 1954, Burrows was offered an opportunity to play professionally with the Kansas City Monarchs. Al met Monarch manager Buck O'Neil and spoke with the Monarch front office. After he heard their offer, Al proceeded to the talk with the New York Black Yankees Organization. He decided that the opportunity presented in New York would be better for him, as would be the money. Burrow's was able to obtain a 120-day leave status from the military to join the team, and so he did. He pitched for the Black Yankees, serving up a nice variety of pitches. He later found that his keen ability to pitch location would prove to be a larger part of his game. Eventually, Burrows came down from the mound and took over the responsibilities of a first baseman and outfielder.

He remembers the bus travels well - life on road presented many trying times and situations - long rides and little sleep, were just a small part of the mix. The game schedule was often so tight that no sooner would the team arrive in one town to play a game that they would be re-loading the bus and off to the next. If there was ever a need to stay the night, they were usually put-up in family residences within the community as local hotels most often denied them accommodations.

In 1955, the Indianapolis Clowns Organization picked up Burrows. Here, he played alongside Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, one of three women to play baseball with the men in the Negro Leagues. He stayed with the Indianapolis Clown Organization through 1962, a player/manager the last two seasons. He followed his love for baseball back to Washington DC and continued playing baseball in the tri-state industrial leagues while studying engineering with the Charles E. Smith Company in Crystal City, VA. He retired an engineer in 1989, started his own home improvement company, and remains active in the trades to this day. Al is an active NLB Living Legend. He works to support the work of the NLB LL Program and its effort to present a better understanding of the Negro Leagues, to recognize it's significant contribution to baseball history, and to acknowledge the players for their personal contribution as well. Al has also worked with the Program to support our friends at the Partners with Youth Sports Foundation based in Tampa, Florida.