When the weather finally cooperates and Ironton High School finally holds its baseball field dedication by naming it after Mike Burcham, it will leave a lasting legacy for the rest of time.

But Mike Burcham has left another legacy at Ironton that is more lasting than his name.

Burcham has been the most successful baseball coach in Ironton history. He has the numbers to prove it during his 18 seasons as the head coach: 323 wins, 129 losses, seven league titles, 10 sectional titles, four district titles, one regional and one state titles.

There are the inductions into three hall of fames — Ohio High School Baseball Coaches, Ohio High School Athletic Directors, and the University of Rio Grande Athletic HOF — that punctuate his career.

He has been an assistant football coach since arriving at his alma mater and Bob Lutz’ right-hand man for 40 seasons.

But the real legacy of Mike Burcham lies in his love for the school. There might be someone who matches it, but no one loves Ironton High School or Ironton more than Burcham.

And it’s not the building or the athletics. It’s the people.

When Burcham was teaching, he always took an interest in the special needs students. It was an annual tradition for him to buy the students a Christmas gift.

He spent nearly 30 years teaching Occupational Work Experience — OWE — and always made an impression on his students. Many of those former students still look him up today and ask him to fill out their income taxes.

Burcham often tutored students and never accepted any money. A friend of mine told me that her sister needed tutoring to graduate and the mother asked Burcham how much she owed him.

He told her, “When your daughter walks across that stage and gets her diploma, that’s my pay.”

He always said he was a teacher and that was his job. His door was always open and still is today.

Burcham also said that the best job you can have is the one you like. Mike Burcham loved his job.

Burcham might have seemed hard and unfair at times, but there was a reason for what he did. Like him or not, he has a lot of advice and wisdom to offer. The younger coaches, teachers and administrators would be wise to sit down and “pick his brain.” I’ve done it myself.

Mike has never been a phony. He doesn’t care for people who are and he’s not afraid to tell them.

There will be a lot of things said at Thursday’s dedication of the baseball field in his honor. Those comments on the field won’t be nearly as interesting as those being swapped in the stands by former or current players.

Regardless of what is said be it good or bad, you can bet it will be remembered.

And that is Mike Burcham’s real legacy.

— Sinatra —

Jim Walker is sports editor of The Ironton Tribune.