Australian baseball legend Adam Burton, 53, mourned after his death

The Australian sporting community is mourning the sudden death of an Olympian lovingly known as Hollywood.

Adam Burton has been remembered for his stunning career.

An Australian baseball legend is being remembered for his stunning skills and adoring personality following his sudden death.

The sport is mourning the loss of 2000 Olympian Adam “Hollywood” Burton, 53, who died on Monday with memories of his on and off field actions pouring in.

Burton’s career started with Waverley where he made the club’s first Australian Baseball League roster in 1990 as a 17-year-old after coming through the junior program.

His talents which included “lightning speed, bat speed and power to match” saw him signed to a professional contract by Major League Baseball outfit the Baltimore Orioles before eventually moving onto the Atlanta Braves. After his stint in the United States, Burton returned home and led his local club to the 1995 national title.

“He was brash, cocky, entertaining with a ‘can’t take your eyes off him’ talent. He was dynamic, explosive and had an intrinsic love of the spotlight,” Waverley wrote in a moving tribute.

“He had style. He had charisma. He would light up a room, hold court with a catalogue of stories, some with a liberal dollop of mayonnaise, but that is how he rolled.

“‘Hollywood’ carried an impish glint in his eye, there was a hint of mischief always lurking. He was someone whose company was compelling.

Adam Burton in action for Australia. Photo: Gregg Porteous

“‘Hollywood’ had the three Ps – pazazz, personality and performance. Many could talk the talk, but ‘Hollywood’ walked the walk.

“He was destined for baseball’s biggest stage from the time he called Napier Park and Waverley Baseball Club home as a junior in the mid 1980s.”

Burton made a stirring move to the Brisbane Bandits after the championship season and went onto produce one of the greatest seasons in national history where he hit at .388 and led the team in home-runs (21), doubles (15) and hits (64).

When the Sydney Olympics came around in 2000, an ankle injury hampered his ability, but it was one of several appearances he made for the national team including at the Baseball World Cup.

“Adam Burton was a guy who could put the team on his shoulders without feeling the burden. It is evident when you consider he owned a .312 lifetime average during a 332 game ABL career that saw him win multiple All Star honours,” Waverley said.

Blackburn, another of Burton’s ABL clubs, remembered him as a “baseball genius and gifted teacher of the game”.

Adam Burton in action for Preston. He played locally after his elite career. Picture: Hamish Blair

“His demeanour in the dugout and around the club was stuff of legend, frequently borrowing a cap, belt or socks off a seconds player before nonchalantly taking the field,” the club wrote.

Once his career at the elite level came to an end, Burton had a significant impact on the local baseball community in Victoria including time with Preston Pirates and Watsonia in Melbourne’s north.

His exploits included playing and coaching premierships in the summer and winter competitions.

“‘Burto’ was a larger than life character who never let the truth get in the way of a funny story,” Watsonia wrote in a social media post.

Baseball Victoria said: “Adam will always be remembered for his unwavering love of the game and infectious personality”.

Team Australia Baseball said: “A legendary player and great team mate to many.”

Originally published as Australian baseball legend Adam Burton, 53, mourned after his death