Ellis Burks #12

Ellis Rena Burks...Married, wife's name is Dori...The couple has four children - three daughters, Carissa Renee (4/20/89), Elisha Rae (10/27/91) and Breanna Christina (8/25/99) - and one son, Christopher Ellis (6/24/94)...Resides in Englewood, CO...Graduated from Everman (TX) High School, earning All-Region honors as both shortstop and pitcher during his senior season...Attended Ranger (TX) Junior College for 1 year and earned all-state honors as an outfielder...Organized Giants' memorabilia and monetary donations for victims of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, CO...While with Colorado, donated substantial sum of his earnings to Rockies' field restoration program and had a pair of fields dedicated in his name, including a diamond in Colorado Springs...Ellis donated $100,000 per season to Cleveland Indians Charities during the life of the contract and was prepared to donate an additional $50,000 for each Indians pennant...served as honorary chairman of the United Way Home Run Derby in 2001.

2003

Was limited to 55 games with Cleveland due to a right elbow injury that affected the use of his right forearm and hand and his ability to swing a bat...after hitting 32 homers in 2002, hit just 6 homers in 198 at-bats in 2003, including just one over his final 93 at bats from May 6 through the end of the season...his season ended with a pinchhitting appearance June 7 at Arizona after complaining of weakness and atrophy in his right hand...was placed on the 15-day disabled list the next day...an exam and MRI revealed inflammation of his ulnar nerve in his right elbow...season-ending surgery was performed by Dr. Mark Schickendantz in Cleveland June 23...Hit .322 (19-for-59) with 3 homers and 11 RBI vs. lefties and .237 (33-for-139) with 3 homers and 17 RBI vs. righthanders...hit .280 (28-for-100) in 26 games at Jacobs Field and .245 (24-for-98) in 29 games on the road...Hit his 350th career home run May 6 at Anaheim off lefthander Jarrod Washburn...collected his 1,200th career RBI May 16 vs. Oakland...knocked his 400th career double May 17 vs. Oakland...Went 3-for-5 with a double, 2 homers and 2 RBI April 21 at Chicago, the 24th multi-homer game of his career...posted a season-best 8-game hitting streak April 9-18, hitting .414 (12-for-29)...had a season-high 4 RBI May 2 vs. Texas.his 11th game of 2004 will be No. 2,000 in his major league career...needs 7 home runs for 100 as a Red Sox.

2002

Enjoyed a very productive campaign in his second season in Cleveland, topping the 30 homer mark for the 4th time in his career and the first since 1999... The two-time All-Star (1990 & b96) finished 2nd on the team in hits (156), runs (92), homers (32) and RBI (91), the highest RBI total for Ellis in the American League since 1988 (92) with Boston...Was on fire in the second half, hitting .339 (81-239) w/16HR & 48 RBI in 62 games... The two-time Silver Slugger Award winnerbs .339 batting average in the second half was 3rd among all American League hitters behind Bernie Williams (.358) and Manny Ramirez (.354)...Ellisb 32 homers set a new club record for HR in a single-season by a designated hitter, breaking Andre Thorntonbs 1982 mark of 31b&Named ALbs top DH after the season.

Hit safely in 21 of last 24 (.398, 37-93, 20RS, 7 2B, 5HR, 18RBI) to raise average from .280 to .301...Collected a hit in 14 straight games from Sept. 9-27 (25-56, .446), one short of his career-high and 2nd longest by an Indian in 2002...His 32HR ranked T11th in the AL and his .541 slugging % ranked 10th...His .369 average with RISP was the 5th highest mark among AL hitters... His combined slugging and on-base % of .903 (.362/.541) was the 10th DL from 6/9-25, missing 15 games due to inflammation in right knee...Collected 17th career multi-HR game (3rd in b99) on 8/10 at Florida...Slugged his 10th career grand slam (1st as Giant) on 7/21 vs. San Diego, 3rd inning shot (off Sterling Hitchcock) to give SF 5-0 lead...Matched career-high with 7 RBI on 6/29 vs. Colorado, finishing 3-for-4 with 2B, 2 HRs and 2 runs scored.

Collected his 2000th career hit on August 14 at Tampa Bay off Paul Wilson (1st inning)...The 1990 Rawlings Gold Glove made 127 starts at the designated hitter and 6 starts in left-field during inter-league play (0E, 6PO)...Reached base safely in 115 of 133 starts via a hit or walk...Hit safely in 99 of 138 games... Did not start in 8 straight games from April 30 to May 7 (strained right hamstring)...Was bothered by a strained right hamstring tendon behind his right knee most of the season...Enjoyed his 20th career 2-homer game on May 30 vs. Detroit and his 21st career 2-homer game on July 20 at KC (G2)...Had a season-high 4-hits on September 25 at Minnesota. Homered in The Ballpark in Arlington & Safeco Field in 2002, ballparks #40-41 in which he has homered in...Was tied with Fred McGriff for the most in Major League history before McGriff (42) HRbd in Pittsburgh this season...Among active players he is 12th in hits (2049), 14th in homers (345) and 13th in RBI (1177)...His .341 road average was the 4th highest total in the league and his .316 average against LHP was T9th...Favorite spot to hit in was the #3 hole, hitting .316 (137-434) w/28HR & 78 RBI in 111 games primarily in front of Jim Thome...Hit .339 (81-239) with runners on base and was 1 for 5 w/a 2B & 1RBI as a pinch-hitter...Best month was September, hitting .390 (32-82) w/6 2B, 5HR & 18 RBI in 21 games....His .500 (38-76) average when swinging at the first pitch was 2nd in the AL.

2002

Third season with Cleveland was marred by a right elbow injury that affected the use of his right forearm and hand along with his ability to swing a bat...After hitting a club DH record 32 HR in 2002, Ellis was limited to just 6 home runs in 198 at bats in 2003, including just 1 over his final 93 at bats from May 6 to the end of his season ...Season ended with a pinch-hitting appearance on June 7 in Arizona after complaining after the game of weakness and atrophy in his right hand...Was placed on the 15-day disabled list the next day and an exam and MRI revealed inflammation of his ulnar nerve in his right elbow...Surgery was performed on June 23 by Dr. Mark Schickendantz in Cleveland and ended his 2003 campaign...CAREER MARKS -- Hit is 350th career home run on May 6 at Anaheim off Jarrod Washburn...Collected his 1200th career RBI on May 16 vs. Oakland and his 400th career double on May 17 vs. Oakland...Ellis' 1205 career RBI are 12th among active players...Did not HR in a new ballpark in 2003 (still holding at 41 different fields)...Is 1 of 5 active players with HR against all 30 teams and is 13th among active players with 1205 career RBI...SEASON HIGHLIGHTS b Hit in a season-high 8 straight games from April 9-18....Made 51 starts at DH and 2 in LF during interleague play...At the time of his injury on June 7 his 28 RBI were tops on the team...Best month was April, hitting .279 (24-86) with 4HR & 13 RB in 23 games... Average was .365 (31-85) with runners on base...Collected his 22nd career two-homer game on April 21 at Chicago...From May 19 thru the end of his season he hit .204 (11-54) w/a 2B & 2RBI in 17 games.

2001

Was on his way to a very productive first season in an Indians uniform before a broken right thumb in mid-July slowed his productivity the second half of the season...At the time of the injury he was hitting .290 (84-290) with 19 doubles, 22 homers and 55 RBI in 78 games...At the time he was on pace for 100 RBI...Suffered a fractured right thumb on 7/15 in Houston after being hit by a pitch thrown by Octavio Dotel...Was placed on the 15-day disabled list on 7/21 (retroactive to 7/16) for the ninth time in his career...Was activated off the DL on 8/1 and hit .262 (39-149) the remainder of the season with 10 2B, 6 HR & 19 RBI in 46 games....Did not homer from 7/ 14-8/29, a span of 82 at bats with out a homer...From 6/24-8/26 he had just 5 RBI in 132 at bats...Hit his 300th home run on 6/19 vs. Minnesota off Eric Milton...In the game he collected his first career three homer game and his second career 5-hit game in the 10-9 Tribe loss...His 15 total bases in the game (5-7, 2B, 3HR, 3RBI) were a season-high by an Indian and propelled him to American League Player of the Week honors (6HR, 7RBI on week)...Hit his 20th homer of the season on 6/23, the 6th straight season in which he eclipsed the 20-homer barrier since 1996...On the year he made 121 starts - 17 in left field, 102 at DH and 2 in right field...His home run ratio of 15.7 (AB/HR) was the 10th best ratio in the AL...Hit .330 (63-191) batting 6th with 14 HR & 42 RBI and .390 (23-59) on the first pitch (5HR)...Hit .206 (27-131) from 7th inning on (3rd lowest in AL).

2000

Spent his second full season with the San Francisco Giants...Is a two-time All-Star (1990 and '96) and was a Rawlings Gold Glove recipient in 1990...Also owns two Silver Slugger Awards and has been named to two Post-Season All-Star Teams by The Sporting News.

Despite playing in 122 games, he hit .344 with 24 HRs and 96 RBI...The Giants posted a record of 73-37 (.664) in his 110 starts (108 RF, 2 DH) and he was honored with the club's 2000 Willie McCovey Award as the club's most inspirational player as voted on by Giants players and coaches... Ellis fell 4 RBI shy of becoming the first National League player to drive in 100 runs with less than 400 at bats, a feat he nearly accomplished in 1999 (390AB, 96RBI)...His 4.1 RBI ratio (AB per RBI) and .344 batting average would have ranked 3rd and 4th, respectively, in the NL had he not fell 44 plate appearances short of qualifying for the batting title.

Was consistent contributor entire season, maintaining batting average above .300 since April 12 (.280) and above .333 after June 27...Went 41-116 (.353) with 21 runs, 6 2Bs, 3B, 10 HRs and 40 RBI over his final 36 games of season...Went over career 1,000-RBI barrier on Sept. 7 with 3-run homer (off Padres' Todd Erdos) which gave him 1,002... Scored 1,000th career run July 1 vs. Los Angeles.

On the year he hit .348 (48-138) with runners in scoring position and hit .360 (36-100) off left-handed pitching...Also enjoyed sea-level Pacific Bell Park, hitting .362 (67-185) with 15 HR and 52 RBI on the year...With HRs at Pac Bell and Enron Field in Houston in 2000, has homered in 36 different Major League parks during career to rank 3rd on all-time list...Only STL's Mark McGwire and TB's Fred McGriff have homered in more ballparks in ML history (37 each)... Has not HR'd in Jacobs Field, The Ballpark in Arlington, Safeco Field, Comerica Park and Tropicana Field.

Reached 20-homer plateau for 5th straight year and 7th season of his career (1987, '89, '96-00)...Had 12-game hitting streak from Aug. 14 - Sept. 1, going 20-for-45 (.444) with 4 2Bs, 6 HR, 21 RBI and 11 runs scored during span...Streak matched season-high, as he also had 12-gamer, July 5-21...Produced back-to-back 2-homer games Aug. 19 and 20 vs. Braves, finishing combined 4-for-8 with 8 RBI...The 2-homer contest on Aug. 20 was 19th of his career...Hit 6 HRs in 5 games played during 7-game homestand from Aug 25-31, while going 9- for-19 (.474) with 13 RBI.

Had stellar showing in 1st half, posting .363 batting average with 10 home runs and 40 RBI...However, due to knee problems was limited to just 61 of Giants initial 85 games...Was on the 15-day disabled list from May 13-23, having been placed on 15-day DL (retro to May 9) with strained left quadriceps muscle...Has been on the DL eight times in his career...Went 3 for 13 (.231) in the Division Series vs. the New York Mets with a 2B, HR and 4 RBI (4BB) in 4 games... Hit game 1, three-run homer off Mike Hampton.

1999

Posted impressive offensive numbers in 1st full season with Giants despite being limited to 120 games due to ailments in both legs...While playing with sore knees when active, still managed 31 homers and 96 RBI...Was part of Giants' record-setting 20-plus homer and 80-plus RBI quintets. Hammered 30th home run of year on 9/24 vs. Arizona, 3-run blast off Randy Johnson...Clout marked 3rd 30-homer campaign, having hit career-high 40 in 1996 and 32 in '97...Slugged 250th career home run on 8/8 at Atlanta (off Kevin Millwood).

With runners in scoring position, hit .378 (37-for-98) with 13 HR and 45 RBI...Batting average with runners in scoring position ranked 3rd in NL...Ranked 7th in senior circuit with .345 (40-for-116) average vs. left-handed pitching...Was on Disabled List from 6/9-25, missing 15 games due to inflammation in right knee...Collected 17th career multi-HR game (3rd in '99) on 8/10 at Florida...Slugged his 10th career grand slam (1st as Giant) on 7/21 vs. San Diego, 3rd inning shot (off Sterling Hitchcock) to give SF 5-0 lead...Matched career-high with 7 RBI on 6/29 vs. Colorado, finishing 3-for-4 with 2B, 2 HRs and 2 runs scored.

1998

Produced another stellar season, splitting year between Colorado and San Francisco...Was acquired by Giants on 7/31...Hit safely in 27 of his 42 games with Giants, including 13 of last 22 contests (26-for-84 .310, 4 HRs, 16 RBI)...Proved versatile in both field and batting order with Giants...Appeared in 36 games in CF, while logging 10 contests in RF...Finished with 21 home runs on campaign, including 5 with SF...Reached 20-HR plateau for 5th time in his career (3rd consecutive)...However, was plagued by pair of ailments near end of regular season, suffering from ulcers and twisted left knee...He started in CF (76 games, 2 errors) and LF (17, 3 errors) for Rox, while hitting safely in 65 of 100 games overall (65%)...Following season, had arthroscopic procedures performed on both knees...Had his left knee operated on 9/30 to repair irregularities to patella ligament, while his right knee had similar procedure on 10/28...Both surgeries were performed by Dr. Richard Steadman.

1997

Was Rockies' Opening Day centerfielder but variety of injuries limited him to 106 starts...Sprained left wrist and then sprained ankle caused him to miss 5 of 1st 14 games...Bounced back to play in 61 of next 65 contests despite strained right groin...Groin injury finally forced him onto Disabled List on 6/28...Missed next 27 games before returning to active roster on 7/29...His average had dipped to .198 on 5/19 when hot week earned him his 4th career N.L. Player of Week honors...Pushed his average up 39 points during 7-game stretch, going 10-for-23 with 5 HRs and 11 RBI...Homered in 4 consecutive games, 5/20-23...When he was placed on DL, was hitting .253 with 17 HR and 49 RBI in 70 games...When he returned, hit at .326 clip over his final 49 games with 14 HR and 31 RBI...His home run on 8/20 at Cincinnati off Scott Sullivan was 200th of his Major League career...Voted Rockie-of-the-Month in Sept., hitting .385 (35-for-91) with 7 HRS and 19 RBI in 22 games...Had terrific season with runners in scoring position, hitting .324 (36-for-111) and was .317 hitter with 2 outs and runners in scoring position.

1996

Produced finest campaign of his career to date, establishing personal best in every offensive category while finishing 3rd in National League MVP balloting...Became just the second player in Major League history to accumulate 40HR, 200 hits and 30 steals in the same season, joining Hank Aaron of the 1963 Milwaukee Braves....Led the National League in runs scored (142), total bases (392), extra base hits (93) and slugging % (.639)...Also finished 2nd in the league in batting average (.344), hits (211), T2nd in doubles (45)...He was 5th in RBI (128), T5th in triples (8) and homers (40)...For his efforts he was named to the National League All-Star Team (2nd career) and won his 2nd career Silver Slugger Award...Also named to The Sporting News All-Star Team after the season...Also earned Player of Year honors from Colorado chapter of BBWAA...Was 1 of just 2 players in majors to achieve at least 200 hits and 40 home runs, joining Boston's Mo Vaughn (just 6th time it has occurred in National League)...392 total bases were most in senior circuit since Hank Aaron had 400 in 1959 with Milwaukee...Was 1 of Rockies' foursome that broke 100-RBI mark, tying NL record...His home run total, combined with Andres Galarraga and Vinny Castilla, grouped him with most prolific threesome in history when they totaled 127 HRs...Burks was 1st Rockie to reach 30/30 status, swiping his 30th base on 9/ 12, 1 day before Dante Bichette hit his 30th home run...Was named NL Player of Week on 3 occasions.

1995

Was slowed by off-season wrist surgery...Finally returned to action on 5/5...Collected career hit # 1,000 on 7/6 at Coors Field off Montreal's Greg Harris...Appeared in 2 games in N.L. Division Series vs. Atlanta, going 2-for-6 with 2B and 2 RBI.

1994

Signed with Colorado as free agent prior to season...Promising start turned to disaster, as his 1st year in NL was ruined by severe left wrist sprain...Injury occurred on 5/17 on check swing that forced hand into immobilization for 2 months...At time of injury, led league with .738 slugging pct. and was 3rd in hitting (.354)...Made great 1st impression, homering in 1st NL at-bat in Mile High Stadium off Philadelphia's Curt Schilling...Hit safely in 1st 14 games, batting .453 with 6 HR, 14 RBI, 17 runs scored and .925 slugging pct...Finished April with .413 mark, 9 home runs and 24 RBI to earn N.L. Player of Month honors...His inside-the- park home run on 4/15 off Montreal's Jeff Fassero was 1st in Rockies history...After missing 70 games he returned to action as pinch hitter on 7/31 in San Francisco...Injury never properly healed, and after cancellation of b94 season, had surgery to fuse 2 bones in his wrist on 9/20.

1993

Member of the AL West Champion Chicago White Sox...Hit .304 (7-23) w/4 RS, a homer and 3 RBI in 6 games in the ALCS vs. Toronto...Hit his first career post-season homer off Juan Guzman in game 5...Played right field for A.L. West champion Chicago White Sox after signing as free agent during off-season...Finished 3rd on club with 74 RBI, while his 17 home runs ranked 4th best...Collected career grand slams #'s 7 and 8, taking Kenny Rogers deep at Arlington Stadium on 5/16, then hitting one on 6/26 off Seattle's Erik Hanson...The slam of 5/16 marked 100th clout of his career and gave him 6 RBI in game for 2nd time in his career. (1st as Giant) on 7/21 vs. San Diego, 3rd inning shot (off Sterling Hitchcock) to give SF 5-0 lead...Matched career-high with 7 RBI on 6/29 vs. Colorado, finishing 3-for-4 with 2B, 2 HRs and 2 runs scored.

1992

Final year with Boston was cut short after season-ending back injury on 6/24 at Detroit...Hit his 6th career grand slam on 5/20 vs. Seattle, game-winning blast off Mike Schooler.

1991

Tied career-best with 15-game hitting streak, 5/7-26...Missed some playing time in May with right hamstring injury, then tendonitis in both knees limited his time in July...Appeared sparingly in last 23 games after bulging disc was discovered in his back.

1990

Was named to the American League All-Star Team (missed game w/hamstring pull), won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, his first Silver Slugger and was named to The Sporting News All-Star Team after the season...Tied major league record by hitting two homers in 1.0 inning (4th inning) at Chicago (AL) on 8/27...Hit .267 (4-15) w/2 2B & 1 SB in the ALCS vs. Oakland... Ranked among AL top 10 in 7 different categories...Led Boston with 21 home runs.

1989

Became 1st Red Sox player since Tommy Harper (1972-74) to swipe 20-or-more bases in 3 straight seasons...Accomplished feat despite missing 63 games due to injuries to both shoulders...Season ended when collision in Oakland caused moderate shoulder separation on 9/6...At time of injury, had tied his career best with 15-game hitting streak...Hit 5th career grand slam Aug. 27 vs. Detroit.

1988

In his first taste of post-season action, he went 4-17 (.235) w/2RS in 4 games in the ALCS vs. Oakland...Led Red Sox with 25 stolen bases while driving in 92 runs...Hit pair of grand slams (6/15 vs. New York and 7/27 at Texas)...Had 5-RBI contest on 7/17 vs. Kansas City...Established his career-best 15-game hitting streak, 5/22-6/7...Season started late (4/12) due to arthroscopic surgery in Spring Training to remove bone chips in his right ankle...Was member of Major League All-Star team that toured Japan, homering twice during visit.

1987

Was named to Baseball Digest and Topps All-Rookie teams...Started year at Pawtucket, but was recalled on 4/29...Made his Major League debut on 4/30 at Seattle...Homered twice on 6/10 at Baltimore, including grand slam to go with career-high 7 RBI...Swiped club-best 27 bases, most by Boston rookie since Tris Speaker stole 35 in 1909...Was 1st Boston rookie and 3rd Red Sox player to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in same year...Tied Major League rookie mark with 2 grand slams (5/25 vs. Cleveland and 6/10 at Baltimore).

1986

Spent entire year at double-A New Britain, leading team in home runs, runs, at-bats and total bases... Swiped 31 bases and was starting center fielder in Eastern League All-Star Game.

1985

Was named to the Eastern League Post-Season All-Star Team...In 1st year at AA, tied for 2nd in Eastern League with 25 doubles...Hit 9 of his 10 home runs by 6/20.

1984

Showed ability to hit grand slams, with 2 of his 6 clouts coming with bases loaded while playing for Winter Haven.

1983

Was Boston's 1st pick (20th player overall) in now-defunct January Free Agent Draft...Started pro career in Elmira, scoring 30 runs in 52 games.