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| Rick Burleson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Shortstop | |
| Born: (1951-04-29)April 29, 1951 (age 73) Lynwood, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 4, 1974, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 8, 1987, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .273 |
| Home runs | 50 |
| Runs batted in | 449 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| As player As coach | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Richard Paul Burleson (born April 29, 1951), nicknamed "Rooster", is an American formerMajor League Baseballshortstop. Burleson, who played for threeAmerican League teams over 13 seasons, was an intense ballplayer. FormerBoston Red Sox teammateBill Lee once said of Burleson, "Some guys didn't like to lose, but Rick got angry if the score was even tied."[1]
Burleson graduated fromWarren High School, inDowney, California. He attendedCerritos Junior College for one year.
Burleson was drafted by theMinnesota Twins in the1970 Major League Baseball Draft upon graduation from high school, but he did not sign. After a year ofjunior college, the Boston Red Sox selected Burleson #5 overall during the January secondary phase of the1970 Major League Baseball Draft.
Burleson spent his first professional season with theWinter Haven Red Sox of theFlorida State League. He batted only .220, and committed 38errors at short. In1972, Burleson was named anEastern LeagueAll-Star while assigned to thePawtucket Red Sox. FollowingLuis Aparicio's retirement, he battledMario Guerrero for the starting shortstop job inspring training1974.
Though Guerrero won the job, Burleson still managed to earn a call to the major leagues by May. On May 4, Burleson tied a major league record by committing three errors in his major league debut, and was replaced by Guerrero at short by the end of the game.[2] Despite the inauspicious start to his career, he would eventually end up being considered among the best defensive shortstops of his generation, earning aGold Glove Award in1979.
Burleson was batting .298 with onehome run, 28runs batted in and 45runs scored to be elected the startingAmerican League shortstop at the1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[3] For the season, Burleson batted .293 with three home runs, 52 RBIs and 80 runs scored, and was second toJim Rice among team hit leaders with 194 base hits.
Burleson received All-Star nods in1978 and1979 as well. In 1979, Burleson batted .278, scored 90 runs and earned the AL's Gold Glove Award at short to earn his first of two consecutiveThomas A. Yawkey Awards as theMost Valuable Player of the Boston Red Sox. He batted .278 with a career high eight home runs and 89 runs scored, and set a major league record fordouble plays by a shortstop in a single season with 147 en route to winning the award the following season. From1975 to1980, he played in at least 145 games and got at least 140 hits each season.
Burleson was traded along withButch Hobson from theRed Sox to theAngels forCarney Lansford,Rick Miller andMark Clear on December 10, 1980.[4] His first season with the Angels, he batted .293 with 33 RBIs and 53 runs scored while playing 109 of the Angels' 110 games during thestrike shortened season. He won theSilver Slugger Award as the best hitting shortstop in the American League and theGene Autry Award as the MVP of the California Angels.
A year later he injured his throwing arm, appearing in only 51 games over the next three seasons, and missing the entire1985 season. He returned in1986 to bat .284 with five home runs, 29 RBIs and 35 runs scored in 93 games for theAmerican League Western division winning Angels. Along with backing upDick Schofield at short, he appeared in 38 games as adesignated hitter, and played second andthird base for the first time since his rookie season.
Following the season, he signed as afree agent with theBaltimore Orioles. He batted .209 in 55 games as asecond baseman for the Orioles in1987 before he was released during the All-Star break.
Following his playing career, shortstop Rick Burleson was anOakland Athletics Minor league infield instructor in1989 and scout in1990. He was an A's coach in1991 and a member of theBoston Red Sox staff the next two seasons, (1992–1993). He was aCalifornia Angels Minor league Baserunning Instructor in1994 and a coach for theCalifornia Angels (1995–1996).
Since the1997 season, he has managed in theminors for theLancaster JetHawks (1997-1998),San Bernardino Stampede (1999), where he won theCalifornia League championship,San Antonio Missions (2000),Billings Mustangs (2001-2003), where he wonPioneer League championships in2001 and2003, andLouisville Bats (2003-2004), before returning to Billings for two seasons (2005-2006). In2007, he replacedPat Kelly as manager of theGCL Reds, after Kelly was named bench coach by theCincinnati Reds.
In2008, Burleson switched to theArizona Diamondbacks system and worked as a coach for theVisalia Oaks. From 2009 to 2012, Burleson served as hitting coach and first base coach for theReno Aces of thePacific Coast League, the triple-A affiliate of theArizona Diamondbacks.
Burleson is the father of three sons, Tyler, Chad and Kyle, and a daughter, Lauren.
| Preceded by | Thomas A. Yawkey Memorial Most Valuable Player Award 1979, 1980 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Boston Red SoxHitting Coach 1992 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Boston Red SoxThird-Base Coach 1992–1993 | Succeeded by |
