Ellis Burks

Information about Ellis Burks

Ellis Burks
Outfielder
Batted: RightThrew: Right
MLB Debut
April 30, 1987 for the Boston Red Sox
Final game
October 2, 2004 for the Boston Red Sox
Career Statistics
AVG    .291
HR    352
Hits    2107
Teams
Career Highlights and Awards
  • World Series Champion: 2004
  • 2-time All-Star (AL, 1990 - NL, 1996)
  • AL Gold Glove Award (1990)
  • 2-time Silver Slugger Award (AL, 1990 - NL, 1996)
  • Led NL in Slugging Percentage (.639), Runs (142), Total Bases (392) and Extra-Base Hits (93) in 1996
  • .510 Slugging Percentage (73rd All-Time MLB)
  • 352 Home Runs (75th All-Time MLB)
  • 817 Extra-Base Hits (83rd All-Time MLB)
Ellis Rena Burks (born September 11, 1964 in Vicksburg, Mississippi) is a former outfielder and designated hitter who played in Major League Baseball for 18 seasons. He batted and threw right-handed.

Career

Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st round (20th pick) of the 1983 amateur draft, Burks made his debut in the 1987 season as a regular center fielder at age 22, becoming the third player in the Red Sox history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in one season. He was selected to both the Baseball Digest and Topps "All-Rookie" teams. Defensively, Burks showed excellent range, a sure glove and a strong arm. The only problem for Burks while with the Red Sox was that he was injury-prone. He had shoulder surgery in 1989, and it was the first of many setbacks for him. Later he suffered from bad knees and back spasms. After six pretty good seasons in Boston, and despite his injuries, Burks ended up leaving as a free agent and signing with the Chicago White Sox in January 1993.

Burks found his old self in Chicago. He surpassed all expectations around him by turning in a solid, injury-free season, filling the White Sox urgent need for a quality right fielder. He was one of the club's better performers in the playoffs, batting .304. A free agent at the end of the season, he signed a lucrative 5-year contract with the Colorado Rockies (1994-98).

In 1996 Burks enjoyed his best season. He led National League hitters in runs (142), slugging average (.639), total bases (392) and extra-bases (93); was second in hits (211) and doubles (45), and fifth in home runs (40) and RBI (128). His .344 was also second in the batting title race (behind Tony Gwynn, .353). Burks finished third in the MVP voting. He also stole 32 bases that season, marking only the second time ever that two players from the same team collected at least 30 home runs and 30 steals, as Colorado outfielder Dante Bichette accomplished the same feat that year. He remains in the top ten in many offensive categories for the Rockies.[1]

While with the Rockies, Burks was part of the formidable Blake Street Bombers that included the likes of Andres Galarraga, Dante Bichette, Larry Walker, and Vinny Castilla. This was the heart of the Rockies' lineup that was second in the National League in home runs by team in 1994 and then lead the National League in home runs from 1995-1997.[2]

Burks was traded to the San Francisco Giants in mid-season 1998. In 2000, batting fifth behind Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent, he compiled significant numbers of .344, 24, 96, in only 122 games and 393 at-bats. He won the 2000 Willie Mac Award for his spirit and leadership.

He was signed by the Cleveland Indians after the season. In his new role as a DH for the Indians, Burks provided consistent production in the middle-of-the-lineup, hitting .280, 28, 74 in 2001, and .301, 32, 91 in 2002. He sprained his wrist in spring training of 2003 and kept playing in 55 games until the muscles in his right hand affected his ability to swing the bat. He underwent season-ending surgery to repair nerve damage in his right elbow. The Indians didn't pick up their 2004 contract option or offered him salary arbitration, and he returned to the Red Sox in 2004. He retired at the end of the season with a World Series Ring with the team that he began his career with.

In 18-year career Burks was a .291 hitter with 352 home runs, 1206 RBI, 1253 runs, 2107 hits, 402 doubles, 63 triples, and 181 stolen bases in 2000 games.

After the 2005 season, Burks joined the Indians front office staff as a special assistant to the general manager.

See also

External links

Preceded by
Andrés Galarraga		National League Player of the Month
April, 1994		Succeeded by
Lenny Dykstra & Mike Piazza
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home run is a hit in which the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring a run himself (along with a run scored by each runner who was already on base), with no errors by the defensive team on the play which result in the batter advancing for extra
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hit (denoted by H), sometimes called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice.
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