Ellis Burks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ellis Burks |
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Ellis Burks in 2007
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: September 11, 1964 Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 30, 1987, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| Last 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 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Ellis Rena Burks was a fantastic baseball player who played for 18 seasons! He was an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1987 to 2004. He played for famous teams like the Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, and San Francisco Giants. Ellis was a two-time All-Star and won several awards, including the Gold Glove Award for amazing defense. He's even in the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame!
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Ellis Burks was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, and went to Everman High School. At first, not many baseball scouts noticed Ellis. He only got a scholarship offer from Ranger Junior College after showing off his skills.
Ellis Burks' Amazing Career
Joining the Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox picked Ellis Burks in the first round of the 1983 Major League Baseball draft. He started playing in the big leagues in 1987 as a regular center fielder. He was only 22 years old! In his first season, he became one of only three Red Sox players to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in one year. He was chosen for the "All-Rookie" teams by Baseball Digest and Topps.
Ellis was a great defensive player. He could cover a lot of ground, catch the ball well, and had a strong arm. However, he often got injured. He had shoulder surgery in 1989, which was the first of many injuries. In 1990, he hit two home runs in the same inning of a game! This was a rare feat, only the second time a Red Sox player had done it.
Moving to Other Teams
After six seasons with the Red Sox, Ellis left and joined the Chicago White Sox in 1993. He had a strong season, playing well as a right fielder without getting injured. He also played great in the playoffs, hitting for a .304 average.
After that season, he signed a five-year contract with the Colorado Rockies. On April 17, 1994, Ellis hit a game-winning home run in the 10th inning. This was the only "walk-off" home run ever hit at Mile High Stadium. A walk-off home run is one that ends the game immediately!
Best Season with the Rockies
The year 1996 was Ellis Burks' best season ever. He led the National League in several important stats, like runs scored (142) and total bases (392). He was second in hits (211) and doubles (45). He also hit 40 home runs and had 128 RBI. His .344 batting average was second-best in the league.
That season, he also stole 32 bases. This made him and his teammate Dante Bichette one of only two pairs of teammates to both hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same year. Ellis is still among the top players in many offensive categories for the Rockies.
While with the Rockies, Ellis was part of a famous group called the "Blake Street Bombers." This group included amazing hitters like Andrés Galarraga, Dante Bichette, Larry Walker, and Vinny Castilla. They were known for hitting lots of home runs!
Later Career and Retirement
In 1998, Ellis was traded to the San Francisco Giants. In 2000, he had another great year, hitting .344 with 24 home runs and 96 RBI. He won the Willie Mac Award for his great spirit and leadership.
After that, Ellis joined the Cleveland Indians. He continued to be a strong hitter for them. In 2003, he had wrist surgery, which ended his season early. He returned to the Boston Red Sox in 2004 for his final season. He played 11 games and retired at the end of the year. He even got a World Series ring with the team where he started his career!
Over his 18-year career, Ellis Burks had a .291 batting average. He hit 352 home runs, had 1,206 RBI, and collected 2,107 hits. He was a truly impressive player!
After Playing Baseball
After the 2005 season, Ellis Burks started working for the Cleveland Indians' front office. He was a special assistant to the general manager.
In 2021, Ellis joined NESN, a sports TV channel. He became a studio analyst and sometimes helped commentate on Red Sox games.
Personal Life
Ellis Burks lives in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. His son, Chris, also played baseball for a while. Ellis also has three daughters: Carissa, Elisha, and Breanna. He met his wife, Dori, in Connecticut in 1985.
He is also a cousin of another Major League outfielder, Roosevelt Brown.
More About Baseball
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- 30–30 club
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
