Some guy named 'Jacoby'
also has a birthday today, but we thought we'd focus on another star CF of the Red Sox past:
Ellis Burks. There was a time when Burks was the most athletic and electrifying player on the Red Sox. He was fast, could hit for average and power and made terrific plays in the field. He played 733 games over 7 seasons with
The Carmine Hose—compiling a .280 average with 94 HRs and 388 RBIs. He also had a .363 OBP during that span and swiped 95 bases. He had his injuries, and played 100 games or more in only four of his Boston seasons. But when he was healthy, he was a marvel to watch. His best season as a Red Sox player was probably 1990—when he hit .296 with 21 HRs and 89 RBIs and made the All-Star team. After leaving as a free agent, his career really took off in Colorado. He spent five years in Denver and clouted 115 HRs, while hitting .306. Many fans forget that Burks was actually a member of the 2004 World Series Championship team—although he only played in 11 games in his return to Boston. In 2012, he was inducted into the Red Sox Hall Of Fame. Many of us will remember him in his prime—as the guy you came to Fenway to see. Happy 50th, Ellis!
