Randy Burden Memorial
 Randy Burden (1979-2002) |
Randall Joseph Burden was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Anaheim Angels on June 28, 2002. Randy appeared in only ten games, all with the Pioneer League (Rookie-A) Provo Angels, but was looking forward to his first full professional season when he unexpectedly passed away in his sleep on December 6, 2002.
This Web page is a permanent memorial in his memory. Any thoughts, reminiscences or other comments you may have about Randy can be added to this page by e-mailing home@futureangels.com.
| PROFESSIONAL CAREER STATS | |||||||||||||||||
| Year | Affiliate | League | Level | W-L | PCT | ERA | G | GS | CG | GF | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| 2002 | Provo | Pioneer | Rookie-A | 0-0 | .000 | 7.45 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9.2 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 9 |
The following articles are reprinted with permission from the Chowan College News Services.
Former Chowan Pitcher Signs with the Angels
Randy Burden Heads to Rookie League in Provo, Utah
 Randy Burden as a member of the Chowan College Braves. |
July 1, 2002
CHARLOTTE, NC — Recent Chowan College graduate and former Chowan College pitcher Randy Burden finally saw his life long dream come true this past Friday afternoon in Charlotte, NC when he was signed by the Anaheim Angels as a free agent. Burden, a native of Suffolk, Virginia, drew the attention of many professional clubs this season but it was the Angels who finally inked him to a one-year deal. The Angels sent Burden off to Rookie League in Provo, Utah early Saturday morning where he was expected to start working out with the team as early as Sunday. Burden was a four-year starter for the Braves where he served primarily as a closer but also saw some time in a starting role this season. Burden had a record of 5-2 this past season and helped the Braves to a 25-16 overall record and 4th place finish in the Dixie Conference. Burden led the team in innings pitched (66), strike outs (76), while holding opponents to a .196 batting average. Burden graduated from Chowan this past spring with a degree in Graphic Arts and Design. He is a 1997 graduate of Nasemond River High School in Suffolk, Virginia.
Former Chowan Student/Pitcher, Randy Burden Passes Away
By Stephen Dunn, Sports Editor, Editor RC New Herald
December 9, 2002
MURFREESBORO — Back on June 28th, tears of joy rolled out of 23 year old Randy Burden's eyes. The right handed pitcher had just fulfilled his dream of playing professional baseball, signing a one year deal with the Anaheim Angels organization.
Tragically, Friday afternoon tears of sadness flowed freely here in the small town of Murfreesboro as word quickly spread that the former Chowan pitcher had died in his sleep in the early hours of Friday morning.
An autopsy revealed that Burden, who had returned to his hometown of Suffolk back in September after his first season with the Provo Angels (rookie league farm club of Anaheim), died of an apparent heart attack.
Burden was living at home during the offseason working out and fine tuning his pitching in preparation for spring training in February.
During Burden's four year stay in Murfreesboro, he worked diligently on his game, especially in his final two years according to Chowan head coach Steve Flack. Flack reminisced about Burden saying, “Randy was truly a success story. His work ethic was unbelievable. He was kinda what it was all about.”
Flack continued, “ When Randy first arrived, he had never pitched. He played third base in high school (Nansemond River). I suggested pitching to him and he didn't really show a lot of interest. I finally convinced him to give it a try and after a semester of work, he accepted his new role and ultimately excelled at it. By his senior year he had become a leader of our team and a valuable asset to the Chowan baseball program. Randy stood for everything, as coaches, we try to preach.”
When Burden realized that he wanted to play professional, he accepted the fact that he would have to work harder than he had never worked before. According to Flack that's exactly what he did. “Randy worked so hard the last year and a half he was at Chowan. He was a mature young man doing what it took to reach a goal. With his dedication, he made a big impact on our club.”
Burden excelled on the mound in his final two years wearing the Chowan blue. He was named Chowan Invitational MVP in 2001 and 2002. In his final two seasons on the mound the right hander struck out 113 batters on his way to posting six wins (lost three decisions) and nine saves in 93 2/3 innings of work.
With the added pressure of pitching in front of scouts, from such organizations as the Angels, Orioles and Indians over the course of his senior year, Burden excelled.
Despite not being drafted in the Major League Draft in early June, Burden continued to pursue his dream of playing in the big leagues. His hard work and dedication finally paid off when Angels scout Chris McCallum offered Burden a one year contract. After signing his name, Burden became the first Chowan baseball player to sign professional in recent years.
Burden then packed his bags and journeyed out to Provo, Utah where he joined the Provo Angels, a rookie league team. During his short stint as a professional pitcher, the former Chowan fireballer appeared in nine games, pitching 7 2/3 innings allowing 11 hits and eight earned runs. He also fanned five batters in his 7 2/3 innings of work. The adjustment from college baseball to professional isn't always easy. Despite not putting up numbers that Chowan baseball fans were use to seeing, Provo manager Tom Kotchman commented that, “Burden was the hardest working kid on the club.”
The Angels will never get to see the potential that the hard throwing right hander from Suffolk really had to offer. Burden who was as much a student of the game, as he was a player, is a prime example of what hard work and dedication will bring someone. He made his dream of becoming a professional baseball player a reality. Unfortunately the professional baseball world will never get to see what baseball fans in Suffolk and Murfreesboro took for granted. Burden will be laid to rest in a service conducted in Portsmouth, Virginia tomorrow.
This article appeared in the Suffolk News-Herald on July 8, 2002.
Former Warrior becomes an Angel
By Jason Norman
Last Thursday, recent Chowan College graduate and Nansemond River High School alumnus Randy Burden got a call from a baseball scout.
“He asked, 'Are you ready to leave?'” Burden says. “I just said, 'Sure.'”
From Suffolk, Burden headed down to Charlotte to sign his contract with the Provo (Utah) Angels, an Anaheim Angels farm team in the Pioneer League. At 7:30 a.m. Saturday, he caught a plane to Provo.
“I've been working out with the team since I got here,” he said from Provo. “As soon as I get my physical, hopefully today or tomorrow, I'll do something more in-depth.”
Though he was drafted as a pitcher, Burden had been a mainstay at third base during his time on the NRHS baseball field. He was a member of the team that finished second in the state in 1995, and received All-District honors in 1996, his senior year.
“He was just a big, strong kid,” remembers NRHS head coach Phil Braswell. “He had a big uppercut; if he got under the ball, he'd knock it over the scoreboard. He also had a cannon for an arm.”
At Chowan, Burden's coaches noticed the cannon. “They saw how hard I could throw, so they moved me to pitcher,” he recalls. “It was kind of scary, because I'd never pitched before.”
He handled it well: Burden set a school record in closings. In 2002 alone, he led the team in innings pitched (66) and strike outs (76), while holding opponents to a .196 batting average. His picture currently graces the Web site for Chowan Athletics, at http://www.chowan.wdu/athlet/. For his performance, Burden was named the 2002 Male Athlete of the Year.
But baseball didn't take up too much of Burden's time at Chowan. He received a degree in graphic design, and was named the 2002 Outstanding Graduate in that subject.
“I'd always liked drawing when I was younger,” explains Burden, who painted the “Nansemond River” display that can be seen on the NRHS dugout. “When I got to college, I realized that there really wasn't a market for drawing pictures, so I decided to focus on graphic design.
“Someday, I'd like to design freelance ads that could circulate throughout the country. During a baseball season, I'll be spending a lot of time traveling, so I'm going to spend some of it working on my laptop. I think it will be a good source of side income.”
Though his accomplishments at Chowan were remarkable, Burden had several strikes against him pertaining to major league selection. “I was a 22-year-old fifth-year senior, and that can be kind of old for a new player,” he says. “I'd also had shoulder surgery on my pitching arm.”
Fortunately, a scout called him, and told him to come to Wilmington, N.C. to try out. “I didn't have a car, because mine had broken down,” said Burden. “I had to call a bunch of my friends. Finally, I found a freshman catcher who took me down there.
“I had asked a lot of him - to take off time from classes, the team, lots of things. So the whole time there, I was thinking, 'Don't make this a waste of his time. Don't let anyone down.'”
Burden didn't; when he and his friend reached Wilmington, they performed well for scouts from Cleveland, Kansas City, and Anaheim. “We went to McDonald's afterwards, and the scouts from Cleveland and Kansas City told me that they probably wouldn't want someone who had had surgery.” Fortunately, the Angels came calling, and signed Burden to a one-year contract.
Burden still has a long way to go before he can think about taking the mound at Edison Field in Anaheim. After the Pioneer League, he'll have to go through Single A, Double A, and Triple A ball. But a recent incident showed him how quickly those steps can be taken.
“We were in Cedar Rapids, and one of our pitchers had a great game. Right after the game, a Single A team called him right in the clubhouse. The next day, we dropped him off at the airport, and he was already on the way to play for them.
“That just shows that if you keep proving you can get people out, you'll move up fast. And I think that if I throw like I can, I won't be here long.”