<sod>A graduate of [[Chatsworth High School]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.latimes.com/1996-04-28/sports/sp-63685_1_ty-van-burkleo | title=Back in Minors, Van Burkleo Preaches What He Practices | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=April 28, 1996 | accessdate=March 4, 2014 | author=Fletcher, Jeff}}</ref> he signed a minor league contract for $30, 000 with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1981.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hiserman|first1=Mike|title=Ex-Angel Reconsiders His Moves : Van Burkleo Ponders Path of His Careers|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1994-08-07/sports/sp-24608_1_van-burkleo/3|accessdate=March 19, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 7, 1994|page=3}}</ref> He was released in 1984 and signed a contract with the Angels' minor league system. He was blocked by [[Wally Joyner]] for most of his first stint with the Angels.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Henson|first1=Steve|title=Van Burkleo Seeks Texas Address|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1986-07-20/sports/sp-17385_1_van-burkleo|accessdate=March 19, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 20, 1986}}</ref> Van Burkleo's Angels contract was bought by the [[Seibu Lions]] of [[Nippon Professional Baseball]] in 1987.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hiserman|first1=Mike|title=Ex-Angel Reconsiders His Moves : Van Burkleo Ponders Path of His Careers|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1994-08-07/sports/sp-24608_1_van-burkleo|accessdate=March 19, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 7, 1994|page=1}}</ref> He was traded to the [[Hiroshima Toyo Carp]] in 1991 for cash considerations.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Penner|first1=Mike|title=Van Burkleo Enjoys Japan from Distance|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1993-03-26/sports/sp-15269_1_van-burkleo|accessdate=March 19, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 26, 1993}}</ref> Upon returning to the United States for the 1992 season, he signed with the Angels again, then played for the Rockies for two seasons, and in 1996 returned to the Angels for his last playing season. The following year, he began his coaching career with the [[High Desert Mavericks]], an [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] affiliate.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fast Fact|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1997/nov/13/sports/sp-53334|accessdate=March 19, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 13, 1997}}</ref> In 2001, he found himself working for the Angels again, as the minor league hitting coordinator.<eod>
<sod>A graduate of [[Chatsworth High School]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.latimes.com/1996-04-28/sports/sp-63685_1_ty-van-burkleo | title=Back in Minors, Van Burkleo Preaches What He Practices | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=April 28, 1996 | accessdate=March 4, 2014 | author=Fletcher, Jeff}}</ref> he signed a minor league contract for $30,000 with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1981.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hiserman|first1=Mike|title=Ex-Angel Reconsiders His Moves : Van Burkleo Ponders Path of His Careers|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1994-08-07/sports/sp-24608_1_van-burkleo/3|accessdate=March 19, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 7, 1994|page=3}}</ref> He was released in 1984 and signed a contract with the Angels' minor league system. He was blocked by [[Wally Joyner]] for most of his first stint with the Angels.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Henson|first1=Steve|title=Van Burkleo Seeks Texas Address|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1986-07-20/sports/sp-17385_1_van-burkleo|accessdate=March 19, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 20, 1986}}</ref> Van Burkleo's Angels contract was bought by the [[Seibu Lions]] of [[Nippon Professional Baseball]] in 1987.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hiserman|first1=Mike|title=Ex-Angel Reconsiders His Moves : Van Burkleo Ponders Path of His Careers|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1994-08-07/sports/sp-24608_1_van-burkleo|accessdate=March 19, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 7, 1994|page=1}}</ref> He was traded to the [[Hiroshima Toyo Carp]] in 1991 for cash considerations.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Penner|first1=Mike|title=Van Burkleo Enjoys Japan from Distance|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1993-03-26/sports/sp-15269_1_van-burkleo|accessdate=March 19, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 26, 1993}}</ref> Upon returning to the United States for the 1992 season, he signed with the Angels again, then played for the Rockies for two seasons, and in 1996 returned to the Angels for his last playing season. The following year, he began his coaching career with the [[High Desert Mavericks]], an [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] affiliate.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fast Fact|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1997/nov/13/sports/sp-53334|accessdate=March 19, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 13, 1997}}</ref> In 2001, he found himself working for the Angels again, as the minor league hitting coordinator.<eod>