 A native of Calumet, Michigan, Burich was one of many major leaguers who saw his baseball career interrupted by a military stint during World War II.In 1942 he appeared in 25 games as a backup infielder for Pinky May, Bobby Bragan and Danny Murtaugh.He enlisted in the United States Army in 1943, serving for three and half years before rejoining the Phillies in the 1946 midseason.