Ellis Burks: The Fifth Bomber

Denver — Longtime fans of the Colorado Rockies look back on the 19990’s with many fond memories, most of which revolve around a group of men known as the Blake Street Bombers. Larry Walker, Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla, and Andres Galarraga became household names, and in Denver they still are. But there was a fifth Bomber just as there was a fifth Beatle, and his name is Ellis Burks.

Burks played four-and-a-half seasons in the Colorado outfield from 1994-1998, earning his spot in the middle of the lineup alongside those other names. He put up some gaudy numbers, posting a .303 batting average and hammering 111 home runs during that stretch. In 1996, he hit .344/.408/.639, launching 40 home…