MLB pitcher Ryan Burr pays tribute to Pat Tillman with custom kicks
Jul 5, 2019, 8:31 AM | Updated: 8:32 am
For the Fourth of July, players across MLB don the stars and stripes in honor of the United States.
White Sox pitcher and former ASU Sun Devil Ryan Burr went a step further, however, rocking custom Pat Tillman cleats on Thursday.
“This 4th of July I wanted to to honor a true American Hero. Unfortunately because of my injury I wasn’t able to wear these today. However, I couldn’t be any prouder to honor Pat Tillman with these amazing cleats done by [KD Custom Kicks],” the pitcher’s Instagram post read.
“Pat Tillman is the definition of a selfless patriot.”
Talk about awesome.
Even though the former Sun Devil, who was also a 2015 MLB draft selection by the Arizona Diamondbacks, couldn’t properly show off his cleats as he’s working his way back from Tommy John surgery, the pitcher made it a point to recognize Tillman.
One shoe shows Tillman in his No. 40 Cardinals uniform, while the other has the PT 42 shield with his U.S. Army photo. The shoes are covered in camo, white, blue and — some Cardinal — red, while the back of the cleats read “75 Ranger RGT” and “2D Ranger BN.”
Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004.
He turned his back on his professional football career with the Cardinals to join the Army after the 9/11 attacks.
The ASU standout was the first pro football player killed in the line of duty since 1970.
At ASU, Tillman helped lead the Sun Devils to the 1997 Rose Bowl, winning Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year that season, and was selected three straight times to the Pac-10 All-Academic team.
He was inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in 2018, while he and his brother, Kevin Tillman, received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2003 Espys.
Tillman was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart medals.
