John Irving Burns (August 31, 1907 – April 18, 1975), nicknamed "Slug," was an American first baseman, coach and scout in Major League Baseball. A native of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Burns stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg) in his playing days, and batted and threw left-handed.Burns' professional playing career began in 1928 in the New England League. After leading the Class A Western League in home runs with 36 in 1929, his contract was purchased by the St.