Rick Burleson

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Richard Paul Burleson (born April 29, 1951 in Lynwood, California), nicknamed "Rooster", is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball. In a 13-year career, Burleson played for the Boston Red Sox (1974-80), California Angels (1981-84, 1986) and Baltimore Orioles (1987). He batted and threw right-handed.

A strong-armed shortstop, Burleson turned more double plays than any Red Sox shortstop in history and still holds the major league single season record for most double plays (147 in 1980). He was selected an All-Star in four seasons and a Gold Glove Award winner in 1979.

Traded to the Angels before the 1981 season, he injured his throwing arm a year later; he played only 51 games over the next three seasons, and was out for the entire 1985 season. He finished his career with the Orioles in 1987.

Burleson was a .274 hitter with 50 home runs and 449 RBI in 1,031 games. After retiring, he managed in the minors for the Red Sox.

In 2002, Burleson was selected for the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.

As of 2006, Burleson finished his 5th year as manager of the Billings Mustangs, the Pioneer League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. It was mentioned in the Billings Gazette soon after the season that he didn't plan on returning to managing and was interested in a minor league instructing job within the Reds organization.

[edit] Highlights

4-time All-Star (1977-79, 1981)
Voted by fans as the starting shortstop in the 1977 All-Star game
Gold Glove Award (1979)
Silver Slugger Award (1981)
Set a major league season record for double plays by a shortstop (1980)
Set a major league record for assists in a game (15, 20 innings, in April 14, 1982)