01:00 AM EDT on Friday, September 24, 2004

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Ellis Burks was activated off the disabled list by the Red Sox yesterday, and the veteran outfielder made it clear that the last 11 days of the regular season would bring his long and outstanding career to a close.

"I'm not coming back," said Burks.

Burks, who turned 40 on Sept. 11, thus will have begun and ended his career in a Red Sox uniform.

He was Boston's number-one draft pick in 1983, playing his first six big-league seasons for the Red Sox, making it to the big leagues in 1987. And he signed with Boston as a free agent this past offseason, but two knee surgeries limited him to nine games early on.

Burks, a veteran of 18 seasons, is a career .291 hitter with 352 homers and 1,206 RBI in 1,998, prior to being reactivated.

He has been praised all year by the Sox for his diligence in trying to overcome his injuries and for his leadership as he stayed around the team all year, working hard with the training staff.

"I was away from [Boston] for a long time but once I came back I was pretty excited about the thought of playing here. Not being able to contribute was depressing, but at least I can say I was here every day," he said.

Burks said he would like to manage or coach, preferably in the Red Sox' system, in the future.

Manager Terry Francona was happy to give Burks a chance for at least one last curtain call in Boston and said he thought Burks would make a good coach.

"I know it means a lot to him [to be activated]," said Francona. "It means a lot to us. He worked hard all year to get back. He probably could have given up 10 or 11 times, but he stayed, and somehow he pulled off being a leader. That's pretty amazing [for someone who wasn't active much]. He has an aura. The way he presents himself. I hope he does [coach or manage]. The game will be better off if guys like him stay in it."

To make room on their 40-man roster for Burks, the Sox released left-hander Phil Seibel, who will need Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in the offseason.

Burks was called on to pinch hit in the ninth. He was given a standing ovation as he walked to the plate and was announced, and he was given a second standing ovation, and even louder cheers after dunking a single to center in his first plate appearance since April 24.

Those cheers grew even louder when he trotted to the dugout after being replaced by pinch runner Ricky Gutierrez.

Williamson 'not the same'

Scott Williamson pitched a scoreless inning Wednesday night, but it didn't sound like Francona was terribly impressed that the right-hander has completely rebounded from the forearm woes that sent him to the DL for about 2 1/2 months.

"He's getting people out, but he's not quite the same, not like he was last year in the playoffs," said Francona. "He's not as devastating."

Foulke's woes downplayed

Francona said he wasn't concerned that Keith Foulke's troubles in the first three games of the series were anything but a few mistakes and the Birds jumping on those mistakes for ninth-inning homers by Melvin Mora (Monday), Javy Lopez (Tuesday, blown save) and Rafael Palmeiro (Wednesday, blown save).

"I think he's throwing really well," said Francona.

Attendance record set

The sellout crowd of 35,026 pushed Boston's attendance to a single-season record of 2,732,844, eclipsing the old mark of 2,724,162, with three dates against the Yankees remaining . . . Byung-Hyun Kim made his first appearance for Boston since May 10. There were boos for the submarine-style right-hander when he entered the game, cheers when he fanned Miguel Tejada for the second out of the ninth and boos when he surrendered two runs in the inning . . . Derek Lowe, who is winless in his last three starts, was nicked for another unearned run last night, bringing his season total to 28 unearned runs, tops in the majors. . . .

Jason Varitek swiped second base in the second inning, his ninth stolen base, extending his career-high . . . The double for Baltimore's Brian Roberts in the first was his 48th, setting a team record. He had been tied at 47 with Cal Ripken Jr., who had established the mark in 1983 . . . Trot Nixon, who had played the previous two nights, was out of the starting lineup last night. Nixon, who spent much of the year on the DL, said his body is sore and tired . . . Johnny Damon, who Francona said is a bit banged up, was replaced in the starting lineup by Dave Roberts . . . Country music star Tracy Byrd was Kevin Millar's guest in the clubhouse prior to batting practice.