Jeff Burroughs

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Jeffrey Alan (Jeff) Burroughs (born March 7, 1951 in Long Beach, California) is a former player in Major League Baseball. From 1970 through 1985, he played for the Washington Senators (1970-71), Texas Rangers (1972-76), Atlanta Braves (1977-80), Seattle Mariners (1981), Oakland Athletics (1982-84) and Toronto Blue Jays (1985). Burroughs batted and threw right handed. He is the father of major league third baseman Sean Burroughs.

In a 16-season career, Burroughs posted a .261 batting average with 240 home runs and 882 RBI in 1689 games.

Burroughs was selected by the Washington Senators in the 1st round (1st pick) of the June 1969 draft. Late in the year, he joined the Senators at age of 19. Considered a "good bat-no field" kind of player, Burroughs was a considerable slugging threat during his playing days. Defensively, he was capable but slow.

In four full seasons with the Texas Rangers, Burroughs averaged 25.5 home runs a year with a high of 30 homers in 1973. His most productive season came in 1974, when he batted .301 with 25 home runs and a league-leading and career-high 118 RBI, being selected the American League MVP. During the 1974 season, Burroughs was at the center of the violent Ten Cent Beer Night debacle in Cleveland, where Burroughs was one of the targets of thrown objects and a few punches by unruly and inebriated Cleveland fans, in a game that was forfeited to Texas.

Burroughs was selected an All-Star in both 1974 with the Rangers and 1978 as a member of the Atlanta Braves, when he entered the All-Star break with a National League leading .324 Batting Average. Burroughs was also named AL Player of the Year and selected as an OF on the AL All-Star team by The Sporting News his MVP season of 1974.

As a member of the Atlanta Braves, in 1977 Burroughs collected 114 RBI and hit 41 home runs, the latter number surpassed only by Cincinnati Reds outfielder George Foster (52). Burroughs had a popular following while in Atlanta, including two diehard fans who attended every home game and maintained a large permanent banner, draped below the right field seats. This banner was titled "Jeff's Jackpot" and displayed a number which equaled Burroughs' home run total for the season plus one, giving him a "target" for every at-bat.

Late in his career, Burroughs was still a valuable hitter, being used mainly as a DH and to pinch-hitting duties.

Burroughs later coached Little League baseball when his son Sean was playing, and successfully coached the Long Beach All-Stars to the 1992 and 1993 championship.

[edit] Trivia

Jeff Burroughs is one of only four Major League Baseball number-one draft picks to win the MVP award. The others are Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Baseball Library - profile and chronology
Baseball Reference - career statistics and analysis

Preceded by Tim Foli	First overall pick in the MLB Entry Draft 1969	Succeeded by Mike Ivie
Preceded by Reggie Jackson	American League RBI Champion 1974	Succeeded by George Scott
Preceded by Reggie Jackson	American League Most Valuable Player 1974	Succeeded by Fred Lynn