Ellis Burks
Born: 9/11/1964 in Vicksburg, MS, USA
MLB Debut: 1987-04-30 | Final Game: 2004-10-02
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: Ellis Rena Burks
Biography
Ellis Burks was a prominent American professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1987 to 2004. Born in 1964, Burks played primarily as an outfielder and designated hitter, making a significant impact in Major League Baseball during his time. Over the course of 2000 games, he amassed 2,107 hits, showcasing his exceptional batting prowess with a career batting average of .291. Known for his power at the plate, Burks hit 352 home runs and recorded 1,206 RBIs, establishing himself as a formidable offensive threat. His speed was also notable, as he stole 181 bases throughout his career, further contributing to his all-around game.
Burks was selected as an All-Star twice, reflecting his status as one of the elite players of his era. He played during a transformative period in baseball, which saw the rise of power hitters and an emphasis on offensive production. His versatility allowed him to excel in various roles, including that of a consistent middle-of-the-order hitter. Burks’ contributions were vital to the teams he played for, including the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies, and he left a lasting legacy in the game as a player who combined hitting ability with speed and defensive skills.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7232 | 1253 | 2107 | 402 | 63 | 352 | 1206 | 181 | 793 | 1340 | 0.291 | 0.363 | 0.510 | 0.874 | 25805.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | BOS | AL | 133 | 558 | 94 | 152 | 30 | 2 | 20 | 59 | 27 | 41 | 98 | 0.272 | 215.4 |
| 1988 | BOS | AL | 144 | 540 | 93 | 159 | 37 | 5 | 18 | 92 | 25 | 62 | 89 | 0.294 | 2309.8 |
| 1989 | BOS | AL | 97 | 399 | 73 | 121 | 19 | 6 | 12 | 61 | 21 | 36 | 52 | 0.303 | 1447.3 |
| 1990 | BOS | AL | 152 | 588 | 89 | 174 | 33 | 8 | 21 | 89 | 9 | 48 | 82 | 0.296 | 1937.8 |
| 1991 | BOS | AL | 130 | 474 | 56 | 119 | 33 | 3 | 14 | 56 | 6 | 39 | 81 | 0.251 | 269.1 |
| 1992 | BOS | AL | 66 | 235 | 35 | 60 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 30 | 5 | 25 | 48 | 0.255 | 244.1 |
| 1993 | CHW | AL | 146 | 499 | 75 | 137 | 24 | 4 | 17 | 74 | 6 | 60 | 97 | 0.275 | 812.6 |
| 1994 | COL | NL | 42 | 149 | 33 | 48 | 8 | 3 | 13 | 24 | 3 | 16 | 39 | 0.322 | 1020.2 |
| 1995 | COL | NL | 103 | 278 | 41 | 74 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 49 | 7 | 39 | 72 | 0.266 | 736.9 |
| 1996 | COL | NL | 156 | 613 | 142 | 211 | 45 | 8 | 40 | 128 | 32 | 61 | 114 | 0.344 | 4744.0 |
| 1997 | COL | NL | 119 | 424 | 91 | 123 | 19 | 2 | 32 | 82 | 7 | 47 | 75 | 0.290 | 1974.2 |
| 1998 | COL | NL | 100 | 357 | 54 | 102 | 22 | 5 | 16 | 54 | 3 | 39 | 80 | 0.286 | 937.8 |
| 1998 | SFG | NL | 42 | 147 | 22 | 45 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 8 | 19 | 31 | 0.306 | 937.8 |
| 1999 | SFG | NL | 120 | 390 | 73 | 110 | 19 | 0 | 31 | 96 | 7 | 69 | 86 | 0.282 | 2060.2 |
| 2000 | SFG | NL | 122 | 393 | 74 | 135 | 21 | 5 | 24 | 96 | 5 | 56 | 49 | 0.344 | 2573.7 |
| 2001 | CLE | AL | 124 | 439 | 83 | 123 | 29 | 1 | 28 | 74 | 5 | 62 | 85 | 0.280 | 1795.5 |
| 2002 | CLE | AL | 138 | 518 | 92 | 156 | 28 | 0 | 32 | 91 | 2 | 44 | 108 | 0.301 | 2179.5 |
| 2003 | CLE | AL | 55 | 198 | 27 | 52 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 28 | 1 | 27 | 46 | 0.263 | 186.5 |
| 2004 | BOS | AL | 11 | 33 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0.182 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 93 | 14 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 0.280 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | ALDS1 | CLE | 5 | 19 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0.316 |
| 2000 | NLDS2 | SFN | 4 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0.231 |
| 1995 | NLDS1 | COL | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.333 |
| 1993 | ALCS | CHA | 6 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 0.304 |
| 1990 | ALCS | BOS | 4 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.267 |
| 1988 | ALCS | BOS | 4 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0.235 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1612 | 1559 | 3435 | 81 | 60 | 13 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | BOS | OF | 132 | 128 | 320 | 15 | 4 | 2 |
| 1988 | BOS | OF | 142 | 139 | 370 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1989 | BOS | OF | 95 | 96 | 245 | 7 | 6 | 3 |
| 1990 | BOS | OF | 143 | 143 | 324 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | BOS | OF | 126 | 123 | 283 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 1992 | BOS | OF | 63 | 62 | 120 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | CHA | OF | 146 | 133 | 313 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| 1994 | COL | OF | 39 | 38 | 79 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1995 | COL | OF | 80 | 67 | 158 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 | COL | OF | 152 | 149 | 279 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| 1997 | COL | OF | 112 | 106 | 207 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| 1998 | COL | OF | 98 | 93 | 187 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1998 | SFN | OF | 41 | 41 | 89 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | SFN | OF | 107 | 106 | 210 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 2000 | SFN | OF | 108 | 108 | 215 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| 2001 | CLE | OF | 20 | 19 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | CLE | OF | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | CLE | OF | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 289 |
| Center Field | 1061 |
| Right Field | 360 |
| Designated Hitter | 307 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Outstanding DH Award | |
| 2001 | Player of the Week | Week of 2001-06-23 |
| 1997 | Player of the Week | Week of 1997-05-24 |
| 1996 | Player of the Week | Week of 1996-05-18 |
| 1996 | Player of the Week | Week of 1996-09-14 |
| 1996 | Player of the Week | Week of 1996-06-22 |
| 1996 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 1996 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 1994 | Player of the Month | April |
| 1990 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 1990 | Player of the Week | Week of 1990-09-01 |
| 1990 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 1990 | TSN All-Star | OF |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | BOS | AL | $750,000 |
| 2003 | CLE | AL | $7,166,667 |
| 2002 | CLE | AL | $6,666,667 |
| 2001 | CLE | AL | $5,666,667 |
| 2000 | SFN | NL | $5,500,000 |
| 1999 | SFN | NL | $4,500,000 |
| 1998 | COL | NL | $4,900,000 |
| 1997 | COL | NL | $4,000,000 |
| 1996 | COL | NL | $4,033,333 |
| 1995 | COL | NL | $3,333,333 |
| 1994 | COL | NL | $2,333,333 |
| 1993 | CHA | AL | $2,050,000 |
| 1992 | BOS | AL | $2,300,000 |
| 1991 | BOS | AL | $1,825,000 |
| 1990 | BOS | AL | $475,000 |
| 1989 | BOS | AL | $275,000 |
| 1988 | BOS | AL | $125,000 |
| 1987 | BOS | AL | $62,500 |
| Total Career Earnings | $55,962,500 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Junior College | Paris | TX | 1983 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 15th | 6.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 1996 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 3rd | 186.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1990 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 13th | 25.0 | 392 | 0 |