| Ellis Burks | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ellis Burks in 2007 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1964-09-11)September 11, 1964 (age 61) Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 30, 1987, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 2, 2004, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .291 |
| Hits | 2,107 |
| Home runs | 352 |
| Runs batted in | 1,206 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Ellis Rena Burks (born September 11, 1964) is an American formeroutfielder. Burks played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for 18 seasons from 1987 to 2004 with theBoston Red Sox,Chicago White Sox,Colorado Rockies,San Francisco Giants, andCleveland Indians. Burks was a two-timeMLB All-Star, two-timeSilver Slugger Award winner, aGold Glove Award winner, and a member of the30–30 club. He is a member of theBoston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
Burks was born inVicksburg, Mississippi, but raised inFort Worth, Texas, and attendedEverman High School.[1] Burks was initially overlooked by scouts and only received a scholarship offer fromRanger Junior College after a showcase atArlington Stadium.[2] His school lost a junior college championship to theJay Buhner-ledMcLennan Community College.[3]
Selected by theBoston Red Sox in the first round (20th pick) of the1983 Major League Baseball draft, Burks made his debut in the 1987 season as a regularcenter fielder at age 22, becoming the third player in Red Sox history to hit 20home runs andsteal 20 bases in one season. He was selected to both theBaseball Digest andTopps "All-Rookie" teams. Defensively, Burks showed excellent range, a sure glove and a strong arm. Burks, however, was injury-prone. He had shoulder surgery in 1989, and it was the first of many setbacks for him. During the1990 season he hit two home runs in the same inning of a game, to become the second player in Red Sox history to achieve the feat;Bill Regan was the first, in1928.
Later, Burks suffered from bad knees and back spasms. After six seasons in Boston, and despite his injuries, he ended up leaving as a free agent and signing with theChicago White Sox in January 1993. He surpassed expectations around him by turning in a solid, injury-free season, filling the White Sox' urgent need for a qualityright 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 five-year contract with theColorado Rockies (1994–98). On April 17, 1994, Burks hit a game-winning home run in the bottom of the 10th inning against the Montreal Expos. It was the only major league walk-off home run ever hit atMile High Stadium.[4] His 1,000th career hit also came against the Expos, a triple in July 1995.[5]
In1996, Burks enjoyed his best season. He ledNational League hitters inruns (142),slugging average (.639),total bases (392) andextra-base hits (93); was second inhits (211) anddoubles (45), and fifth in home runs (40) andRBI (128). His .344 average was also second in the race for the batting title (behindTony Gwynn, .353). Burks finished third in theMVP voting. He alsostole 32 bases that season, marking only the second time that two players from the same team collected at least 30 home runs and 30 steals, as Colorado outfielderDante Bichette accomplished the feat. Burks remains in the top ten in many offensive categories for the Rockies.[6]
While with the Rockies, Burks was part of the Blake Street Bombers that includedAndrés Galarraga, Bichette,Larry Walker andVinny Castilla. This was the heart of the Rockies' lineup that was second in the National League in home runs by team in 1994, then led the National League in home runs from 1995 to 1997.[7]
Burks was traded to theSan Francisco Giants in mid-season 1998 forDarryl Hamilton andJim Stoops. In 2000, batting fifth behindBarry Bonds andJeff Kent, he compiled numbers of .344, 24, 96, in only 122 games and 393at bats. He won the 2000Willie Mac Award for his spirit and leadership.
Burks was signed by theCleveland 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 inspring training of 2003 and kept playing in 55 games until the muscles in his right hand affected his ability to swing the bat. Burks underwent season-ending surgery to repair nerve damage in his right elbow. The Indians did not pick up their 2004 contract option or offer him salary arbitration, and he returned to the Red Sox in 2004, playing eleven games without making the postseason roster.[8] He retired at the end of the season with aWorld Series ring with the team that he began his career with.
In an 18-year career, Burks was a .291 hitter with 352 home runs, 1,206 runs batted in (RBI), 1,253 runs, 2,107 hits, 402 doubles, 63triples, 181 stolen bases and 793 walks in 2,000games. Defensively, Burks recorded a .983fielding percentage playing at all three outfield positions.[9]
After the2005 season, Burks joined the Indians' front office staff as a special assistant to thegeneral manager.
In 2021, Burks joinedNESN as a studio analyst and alternatecolor commentator for Red Sox games.[10]
Burks resides inChagrin Falls, Ohio,[11][failed verification] and his son, Chris, played baseball in the San Francisco Giants organization. He also has three daughters, Carissa, Elisha, and Breanna.[12] He met his wife, Dori,[12] in Connecticut in 1985.[3]
He is a cousin of fellow Major League outfielderRoosevelt Brown.[13]
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