Ellis Rena Burks Born September 11, 1964 in Vicksburg, MS. He graduated from Everman High School and attained All-Region honors as both a shortstop and as a pitcher during his senior season. Burks then attended Ranger Junior College for one year, where he garnered all-state honors as an outfielder. In 1987, Ellis Burks would see playing time for the Boston Red Sox.
Ellis would start in centerfield, next to fellow rookie Mike Greenwell in left and veteran Dwight Evans in right. The three would star as a power hitting outfield for the late 80's Red Sox. In his rookie season, Ellis became the third player in club history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in the same season. Ellis would excel in his first two seasons, and then came 1989. In 1989 Ellis would require shoulder surgery, putting him out for most of the season.
Ellis proved that a little injury wouldn't keep him down and hit well throughout the 1990 season culminating in a late season game against his future team, the Cleveland Indians. August 27, 1990 Burks hit two home runs in a 12-4 lambasting of the Indians. Burks became the second Bosock to do so. The other is Bill Regan who did so on June 16, 1928.
Burks would be nagged by little injuries throughout his career, especially in what would be his last year in a Red Sox uniform. At the end of the 92 season, the Red Sox chose not to re-sign Ellis, and let him wade through the waters of free agency. On January 4, 1993 the Chicago White Sox decided they needed Burks, and signed him to a one year deal. Ellis hit well in Chicago, but the ChiSox only needed him for one year. Ellis signed with the fledging Colorado Rockies for their second season.
Ellis would never his numbers like he did as a Rockie. His seasons in 96 and 97 are his career best, smacking 42 and 38 home runs respectively. On September 12, 1996 Ellis Burks got his birthday present a day late as he stole his 30th base of the season on this date, making him the 19th member of the 30-30 club, at the age of 31. On April 2, 1998 Ellis Burks set a major league record by homering in 33 different stadiums! He would soon be joined by Gary Gaetti and Fred McGriff. As of when I last checked, Burks has homered in 41 different stadiums!
On July 31, 1998 Burks was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Darryl Hamilton, James Sloops and a player to be named later. Burks would see an increase in hitting with his new team, but the Giants couldn't get the job done, and let Ellis go after the 2000 season. On November 19, 2000 The Indians signed free agent Ellis Burks to a 3 year deal with an option for a fourth. In his advanced age, for a baseball player, and after all the nagging injuries to his shoulders, hamstring and knees, I'm impressed that Burks is still playing ball, even if it's only as a designated hitter.
After the Columbine shootings, Burks organized the monetary and memorabilia donations for the victims and their families. Also while playing for Colorado, Ellis donated a large amount of money to the Rockies' field restoration program, and now has two diamonds named in his Honor. His charity work did not end with his time as a Colorado Rockie. Currently, Ellis donates $100,000 per season to various Cleveland Indians Charities.
Statistics:
Number: 23
Position: DH
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 205
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Season Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS
1987 Bos 133 558 92 152 30 2 20 59 41 98 27 6 .272 .324 .441 .765
1988 Bos 144 540 93 159 37 5 18 92 62 89 25 9 .294 .367 .481 .848
1989 Bos 97 399 73 121 19 6 12 61 36 52 21 5 .303 .365 .471 .836
1990 Bos 152 588 89 174 33 8 21 89 48 82 9 11 .296 .349 .486 .835
1991 Bos 130 474 56 119 33 3 14 56 39 81 6 11 .251 .314 .422 .736
1992 Bos 66 235 35 60 8 3 8 30 25 48 5 2 .275 .327 .417 .744
1993 CWS 146 499 75 137 24 4 17 74 60 97 6 9 .275 .352 .441 .793
1994 Col 42 149 33 48 8 3 13 24 16 39 3 1 .322 .388 .678 1.066
1995 Col 103 278 41 74 10 6 14 49 39 72 7 3 .266 .359 .496 .855
1996 Col 156 613 142 211 45 8 40 128 61 114 32 6 .344 .408 .639 1.047
1997 Col 119 424 91 123 19 2 32 82 47 75 7 2 .290 .363 .571 .934
1998 Col 100 357 54 102 22 5 16 54 39 80 3 1 .286 .355 .510 .865
1998 SF 42 147 22 45 6 1 5 22 19 31 8 1 .306 .387 .463 .850
1999 SF 120 390 73 110 19 0 31 96 69 86 7 5 .282 .394 .569 .963
2000 SF 122 393 74 135 21 5 24 96 56 49 5 1 .344 .419 .606 1.025
2001 CLE 124 439 83 123 29 1 28 74 62 85 5 1 .280 .369 .542 .911
sources:
sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4051
http://www.pubdim.net/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/B/Burks_Ellis.stm
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/cle/team/cle_player_bio.jsp?club_context=mlb&playerid=111736
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/1907/latest_news.html