As coach Richard Paul Burleson (born April 29, 1951), nicknamed "Rooster", is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop.

Former Boston Red Sox teammate Bill Lee once said of Burleson, "Some guys didn't like to lose, but Rick got angry if the score was even tied.

After a year of junior college, the Boston Red Sox selected Burleson #5 overall during the January secondary phase of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft.

[2] Despite the inauspicious start to his career, he would eventually end up being considered among the best defensive shortstops of his generation, earning a Gold Glove Award in 1979.

Burleson was traded along with Butch Hobson from the Red Sox to the Angels for Carney Lansford, Rick Miller and Mark Clear on December 10, 1980.

Along with backing up Dick Schofield at short, he appeared in 38 games as a designated hitter, and played second and third base for the first time since his rookie season.

Following his playing career, shortstop Rick Burleson was an Oakland Athletics Minor league infield instructor in 1989 and scout in 1990.