BURKE CATCHING ON IN SEATTLE.

Byline: Adam Jude The Register-Guard

SEATTLE - The day after most NFL teams opened training camp, Seattle Mariners catcher Jamie Burke pulled an undersized orange-and-black football out of his locker and strolled with teammates to the right-field grass at Safeco Field.

There, in a single-file line, a handful of Mariners took turns running routes under the afternoon sun on Monday, doing their best Jerry Rice impressions. It was an unusual pregame warm-up drill to see in a major league outfield, but unusual routes are common for 35-year-old James Eugene Burke, a Roseburg native and former Oregon State standout who trudged through 14 seasons mostly in the minor leagues before catching on with Seattle this year.

Perseverance is the one word most often used to define the journey Burke endured on his way to the majors, a path most big-league dreamers give up on in less than half the time Burke put in. He logged 1,187 games during nine stops in the minor leagues, garnering little consideration for the top promotion despite relative success.

"He paid his dues," Mariners manager John McLaren said. "It's hard for me to believe he doesn't have more time in the big leagues than he does. He's such a good player. He's always had a road block in front of him, but here he is.

"He's persevered and we feel real good about him."

Signed as a free agent in the offseason, Burke won the role as backup catcher to Kenji Johjima in spring training and earned an opening-day spot on a major league roster for the first time. Through 29 games in his first full-time job, Burke is hitting .333 with six RBIs in 69 at-bats for the Mariners, who dropped four games back in the American League West after an 8-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.

"It's a dream come true just to be here every day," Burke said. "I try to live for the moment every day, and to be in a pennant race is pretty exciting. Every game is important. This team is pretty special and we have some good things going on right now."

Playing mostly during Sunday afternoon games, his appearances have been limited, but Burke's work certainly hasn't gone unnoticed.

"I really like throwing to him when he's out there. We've had some good outings together," said relief pitcher Brandon Morrow, who's locker is adjacent to Burke's. "He gets to know the guys and he works hard. He comes to the pitchers' meetings with us and has his comments and pays attention and really studies the game."

Burke regularly takes batting practice with fellow role players Ben Broussard, Willie Bloomquist and Jason Ellison. During one recent session, he slapped line drives throughout the field, then cursed himself on a rare popup. It's kind of intensity and attention to detail that caught the eye of McLaren, a former catcher.

"He's been so professional and he's been a great complement to Kenji," McLaren said. "I could see in spring training that he was so fundamentally sound and so well prepared. That's what we were looking for. I've been very happy with him."

At Roseburg High, Burke was a standout at baseball and football, taking part in two football state championships and one baseball title game (Roseburg lost all three). After graduating in 1990, he played both sports at Oregon State, joining the football team as a place-kicker for three seasons.

He was drafted as a third baseman by the Angels in the ninth round of the 1993 draft, the start of a long, winding procession through the minors.

Coming back from a series of lingering injuries, Burke made his major league debut on May 9, 2001 with the Angels. He didn't stick for long, and soon was shipped back down, a process that would repeat itself for the next six seasons.

He signed with the Chicago White Sox in 2003 and shifted to catcher. In his longest major league season, he hit .333 in 57 games for the White Sox in 2004, which he believed had earned him a spot on the roster the next season. It didn't.

Burke appeared in one game during Chicago's 2005 World Series championship season - he was still given a ring - and spent 2006 with the Texas Rangers' Triple-A club.

Making it through all that has made Burke appreciate this season with the Mariners even more.

"For me to be in the situation, I can't really explain it to you," he said. "This season has just flown by. Now August is coming up, and it's like 'Wow.' This experience all the way around has been great."

With his wife, Katrina, and 2-year-old son Parker, Burke still makes his offseason home in Roseburg. He returned home during the All-Star break last month to visit an old coach and speak to a Roseburg American Legion team.

"It's important for me, especially with the situation I've had to deal with, to go visit those guys," he said. "When I was young having a big-league guy come over and talk to you would've been pretty special. I just wish I could've spent more time with them."

In the winter, Burke works as a substitute teacher for Douglas County schools, an occasional job he said he will continue later this year.

Making the league minimum of $380,000, Burke is signed only through this season. Next year, like every other, is not guaranteed, though he hopes he's made enough of an impression to earn an extension.

"I'd love to stick around here for a few more years," he said.

As much as anyone, Burke has earned a few extra innings.