Rick Burleson, baseball player, 1974-1987

Rick Burleson

Born: 4/29/1951 in Lynwood, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1974-05-04 | Final Game: 1987-07-08

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 165 lbs

Full name: Richard Paul Burleson

Biography

Rick Burleson, born in 1951, was a prominent infielder in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1974 until 1987. Known for his solid defensive skills and versatility on the field, Burleson played primarily as a shortstop and was recognized for his ability to contribute both offensively and defensively. Over the course of 1,346 games, he amassed 1,401 hits, hitting for a career batting average of .273. His offensive contributions included 50 home runs and 449 runs batted in, alongside 72 stolen bases, showcasing his speed and agility as a player. Burleson was selected as an All-Star four times, affirming his status as one of the top players of his era. He played during a transformative period in baseball, where the game was evolving with an increased emphasis on offense and athleticism. His all-around skills and adaptability made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for, including the Boston Red Sox and the California Angels. As a key player of the late 1970s and 1980s, Burleson's legacy includes not only his personal achievements but also his contributions to the teams he represented in a competitive baseball landscape.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
1346 5139 656 1401 256 23 50 449 72 420 477 0.273 0.328 0.361 0.689 -2627.3

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
14 44 3 14 3 0 0 3 5 2 0.318

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1986 ALCS CAL 4 11 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.273
1975 ALCS BOS 3 9 2 4 2 0 0 1 1 0 0.444
1975 WS BOS 7 24 1 7 1 0 0 2 4 2 0.292

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 92 85 192 235 9 66
3B 6 3 6 3 1 0
SS 1192 1164 2151 3871 179 827

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Second Base 92
Third Base 5
Shortstop 1193
Designated Hitter 45

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1981 Silver Slugger SS
1981 TSN All-Star SS
1979 Gold Glove SS
1977 TSN All-Star SS
1976 Player of the Week Week of 1976-08-20

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1987 BAL AL $200,000
1986 CAL AL $856,667
1985 CAL AL $856,667
Total Career Earnings $1,913,334

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1979 Most Valuable Player AL 21th 7.0 392 0
1978 Most Valuable Player AL 36th 1.0 392 0
1977 Most Valuable Player AL 22th 5.0 392 0
1975 Most Valuable Player AL 13th 28.0 336 0
1974 Rookie of the Year AL 4th 1.0 24 1