Burleson sparked the Red Sox with his aggressive play at shortstop and as a lead-off hitter. He overcame a three-error debut in 1974 to become one of Boston’s favorite players, relying on a tremendous arm to make up for anything he lacked in range. A Gold Glove winner in 1979, he set the ML record for double plays by a shortstop in 1980 with 147. Traded to the Angels in December of 1980, he injured the rotator cuff of his throwing arm in 1982, then retired it in ’84. After a year off, he was voted AL Comeback Player of the Year in 1986, when he hit .284 in 93 games for the Angels.
