Richard Paul Burleson "Rooster" played for three American League teams over 13 seasons and was an intense ballplayer. Boston Red Sox teammate Bill Lee once said of Burleson, "Some guys didn't like to lose, but Rick got angry if the score was even tied."
Burleson received All-Star nods in 1978 and 1979-In 1979, Burleson batted .278, scored 90 runs and earned the AL's Gold Glove Award at short to earn his first of two consecutive Thomas A. Yawkey Awards as the Most Valuable Player of the Boston Red Sox. He batted .278 with a career high eight home runs and 89 runs scored, and set a major league record for double plays by a shortstop in a single season with 147 en route to winning the award the following season. From 1975 to 1980, he played in at least 145 games and got at least 140 hits each season.
*MLB debut
May 4, 1974, for the Boston Red Sox
*Last MLB appearance
July 8, 1987, for the Baltimore Orioles
*MLB statistics
Batting average
.273
Home runs
50
Runs batted in
449
Teams
As player
* Boston Red Sox (1974–1980)
* California Angels (1981–1984, 1986)
*Did not play due to injury (1985)
* Baltimore Orioles (1987)
*As coach
* Oakland Athletics (1991)
* Boston Red Sox (1992–1993)
* California Angels (1995–1996)
*Career highlights and awards
* 4× All-Star (1977–1979, 1981)
* Gold Glove Award (1979)
* Silver Slugger Award (1981)
* Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
*Rick Burleson did not play in 1985. He missed the entire 1985 season due to a torn rotator cuff injury. He returned to the California Angels and played in 93 games in 1986, hitting .284 and being named Comeback Player of the Year.
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