Knights set up HCBU scholarship to honor Charlotte native, former Negro Leagues player

By Savannah Rudicel

The Charlotte Knights are offering a new scholarship to two student-athletes in the name of former Negro Leagues player Eddie G.G. Burton.

Knights officials are partnering with Burton’s wife, Gaile Dry-Burton, to create the “Eddie G.G. Burton Scholarship.” She said she’s excited to honor her late husband in a way that would have meant a lot to him.

“He was really into bettering the community,” she said. “He had passion for making sure our kids were treated right and making sure they had opportunities.”  The team is offering two $1,000 scholarships to local high school seniors committed to playing baseball or softball at a Historically Black College or University.

Burton’s Negro Leagues career began in 1947 when he was 16 years old. He was a second baseman for the Harrisburg Giants. Burton helped establish a Negro Leagues Night at Truist Field and agreed to putting his name to a scholarship before he passed away in 2018.

“He was a youngster, but he had that drive and that passion for baseball, and that drive and passion never went left,” Dry-Burton said. “He would definitely be very proud.”