Rick Burleson

Richard Paul Burleson, nicknamed "Rooster," was born April 29, 1951, in Downey, California, where he graduated from Warren High School before attending Cerritos Junior College. The Minnesota Twins drafted Burleson in 1970, but he did not sign; the Boston Red Sox then selected him fifth overall in the January secondary phase of that same draft. A shortstop, Burleson spent 13 seasons across three American League clubs and was known for a fierce competitive streak. Former Red Sox teammate Bill Lee captured it plainly: "Some guys didn't like to lose, but Rick got angry if the score was even tied."