Ellis Burks Coming to NB Stadium Saturday Night

Published on August 2, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT- The New Britain Rock Cats Baseball Club, the Double-A Eastern League Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, announced today that after his induction into the Red Sox Hall of Fame on Friday, August 3 at Fenway Park, Ellis Burks will be at New Britain Stadium on Saturday, August 4 as part of the 30th Anniversary Celebration. He will be available to the media in the Press Box between 7:00 and 7:30 as the Rock Cats battle the Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh-NL) that evening.

Burks will be available for a special meet-n-greet prior to the game as part of a publicly available ticket package benefitting the New Britain-Berlin YMCA. Afterwards, Burks will throw out a Ceremonial 1st Pitch, spend an inning on the Rock Cats live broadcast on Fox Sports Radio 1410AM and sign autographs on the main concourse for fans from 7:30 to 9:30.

Burks used New Britain as a training ground before he began his 18 year MLB career, while playing for the New Britain Red Sox in 1985 and 1986. In 1986, his final full season in the minors, Burks batted .273 with 14 home runs, 55 RBI and 31 stolen bases in 124 games as a 21 year old prospect. He led the club in homers and tied for the club lead in stolen bases.

He was called up to the Red Sox in 1987 and became the third Boston player to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in the same season. He was voted to the Baseball Digest and Topps "All Rookie" team. Burks played with the Red Sox between 1987 and 1992 and during his All-Star season of 1990, he became the second ever Red Sox player to smash two home runs in the same inning.

The Vicksburg, Mississippi native went on to play for the White Sox in 1993 and then played the next 5 years with the Rockies where he became a National League All-Star. In 1996, he batted .344 with 40 home runs and 128 RBI and led the N.L. in runs, slugging, total bases and extra base hits. After playing with the Giants and Indians, Burks returned to the Red Sox during their World Series Championship season in 2004.

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Eastern League Stories from August 2, 2012


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