Ellis Burks is insightful, introspective and full of captivating stories from his illustrious playing career.
He’s already shining as a Red Sox analyst just five days into the job.
Burks made his debut on NESN as a Red Sox studio analyst May 7, and was immediately thrust into rain delay duty. Luckily, Burks arrived to the station with plenty of anecdotes. He reminisced about playing his 2,000th-career game in Baltimore, where the Red Sox were playing last Friday, and reflected about his role in the historic 2004 championship run. Though Burks only played 11 games for the ’04 Red Sox, astute observers will remember he was the first player to emerge with the World Series trophy when they landed back in Boston from St. Louis — thanks to a thoughtful suggestion from Pedro Martinez.
It was a sweet capper for Burks’ return to Boston. The speedy outfielder was an immediate star when he debuted with the Red Sox in 1987, swatting 20 home runs and stealing 27 bases in his rookie season, along with offering elite center-field defense. He played six seasons in Boston, but when he left, he doubted he would ever return. When Jim Rice retired in 1989, Burks became the only Black player on the Red Sox.
The pressure was difficult to handle.
That backstory is one of the reasons why it was illuminating to hear Burks, Rice and Mo Vaughn hold an extended conversation Monday about their experiences playing in Boston. When Burks got called up, Rice told a clubhouse manager to put Burks’ locker next to his, since they were the only two Black players on the team. The Hall of Famer took Burks under his wing, and when Vaughn got called up in 1991, Burks returned the favor.
The discussion took place under the cloud of MLB's diversity crisis. Right now, only 7.6 percent of players identify as Black. Back in 1981, the figure peaked at 18.7 percent.
Burks surfaced one possible way to increase representation.
“Why don’t we implement academies in the United States in warm states like Florida, California, Arizona?,” he said. “Get some of these kids to come to these different academies and develop their skills and everything else just like you do in the Dominican [Republic], just like you do elsewhere.”
Burks presented a lighter side of himself when he joined the Red Sox booth Tuesday, enjoying great chemistry with Dennis Eckerlsey. It was especially amusing to hear Eckersley remind the two-time All-Star how many times he had taken him yard in his career (three times, for those keeping score at home).
Burks also regaled viewers with a story about how Nolan Ryan once plunked him in the head — only to tell him he was aiming for his ribs.
“I had a concussion,” Burks said. "He said, ‘I wasn’t trying to hit you in the head. I was trying to hit you in the ribs.’ That made me feel better.”
It sure feels good to have Burks back in Boston. Here’s hoping for an extended third run.
