Lance Berkman: Baseball Career

A Texas boy born February 10, 1976, Berkman attended (and played baseball for) Rice University in Houston, where he was named National College Player of the Year in 1997. Throughout college, he batted a collective .385 with 67 home runs and 272 RBI's (Runs Batted In). His 41 home runs in 1997 ranked third-most in NCAA history.

Drafted by the Astros in the 1st round in 1997, Lance Berkman spent just two-and-one-half years in the Astro's minor league system before his major league debut on July 16, 1999. During that short time, Berkman hit 44 home runs and had 173 RBIs, with an overall batting average of .307.

• *Image from an August 3, 2010 web-story by DailySkew

Lance Berkman's entire baseball playing in high school, college, and minor league was as a first baseman, but with Jeff Bagwell the Astro's solid First Baseman when Berkman arrived, Lance began his major league playing in the outfield as a way to get him into the starting lineup.

When first baseman, Jeff Bagwell, was injured in 2005, Lance began playing the first base position. He ended the 2005 season with 24 home runs and 82 RBIs. In Game 4 of the 2005 National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, Berkman hit a grand slam in the 8th inning, a feat he describes as his most exciting baseball moment. The Astros went on to the World Series, where they were 'swept' in 4 games by the Chicago White Sox. But, Berkman's six RBIs during that series were the most of any of the Astros' hitters.

Berkman is a switch hitter, and by September, 2006 he became only the second switch hitter in Major League history to hit 40 or more homers in multiple seasons (Mickey Mantel was the first). He taught himself to 'switch-hit' by swinging from both sides of the plate against a tire hanging from a tree in his backyard.

In 2006, Berkman hit 45 home runs and had 136 RBIs, breaking the Astros single season record, (135 set by Jeff Bagwell in 1997). .

• *Image of Lance Berkman as a Houston Astro: Shared as cc 2.0 by Wikipedia. Original photo was entitled Astros Opening Day and was taken in 2005 by Mojo Denbow as seen on Flickr.

Lance Berkman had some impressive records established while a member of the Houston Astros.

* He was a 5x All-Star.
* Hit his 300th career home run on June 13, 2009.
* Astros 'Player of the Week' twice.
* ASTROS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER 6x between 2001 and 2008.
* Participated in the All-Star Game Home Run Derby 4x while with Houston.
* Was 'First' in the National League in RBIs in 2002.

• *Image is of the Houston Astros emblem taken by Mojo Denbow as seen on Flickr.

The Killer Bs were a group of Houston players who all had names starting with the letter "B" and outstanding playing performances. The original Killer Bs were nicknamed in the '90s, and consisted of Craig Biggio, Derek Bell, Jeff Bagwell, and Sean Berry. Other players have been added and some have been dropped as they have left the Astros. Other players of mention are Lance Berkman, Carlos Beltran, Chris Burke, Brandon Backe, Eric Bruntlett, Michael Bourn, and Geoff Blum.

The truth is former Houston general manager Gerry Hunsicker coined the phrase Killer B's in December 1994 when he acquired Derek Bell. Bell was key to the deal for the Astros. The outfielder would hit second behind leadoff man Biggio and ahead of Jeff Bagwell.

The killer bee scare was in the news in those days. Hunsicker, at the press conference to announce the deal, said Bell would "give the Astros a Killer B lineup," and he was proven right.

• *Image of fans dressed as the 'Killer Bees' at the Astros (vs. Pirates) Opening Day game on April 2, 2007. Photo is shared by cc by 2.0 and belongs to M Glasgow's photostream on Flickr.

Lance Berkman began the 2010 baseball season, with the Astros, on the 15-day disabled list, recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee performed in March. He virtually missed Spring Training altogether. After a couple rehab appearances, he returned to Houston.

Berkman had a few playing highlights, such as collecting five RBIs in the Astros June 1st. win vs. the Washington Nationals, providing the walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the ninth, and homered and tripled in the 4th of July loss at San Diego. That home run was to be his only one of the entire 2010 season. Whether due to injuries or age, the 'Berkman of the Killer B's' era was sadly lacking.

Berkman was acquired by the Yankees on 7/31 and continued to be plagued by injuries (15-day disabled list in August for a sprained right ankle). He batted .299 (20-for-67) in 25 games following his return from the D.L., hitting safely in 11 of his 17 starts over the remainder of the season. In the Postseason, he played in just one game of the Division Series where he was 2-4 with a double and HR in Game 2, as the DH, in a 5-2 NY win over MIN.

At the end of the 2010 season, New York declined to exercise their option for Berkman for 2011. At the time, it had appeared as though the Yankees made the smart choice. Berkman was a 34 year old player who had just had the worst season of his career. Paying $15 million for an out-of-shape role player didn't appear to be a good choice.

• *Image of Lance Berkman with the New York Yankees. Shared as cc 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons. Original photo shared by dwhartwig on Flickr.

When the St. Louis Cardinals signed Berkman to a one-year deal for the 2011 baseball season, I don't think anyone foresaw the resurgence of his playing ability he would show from Opening Day onward. Berkman had 8 home runs and 22 RBI's in April alone. And that was just the beginning! During his short tenure thus far as a 'Redbird'. Berkman's stats have included "Player of the Week" twice, 2011 All-Star (6th time in his career), and, as of the end of July, 2011, a batting average near .300, with 88 hits, 28 home runs, and 73 RBIs.

The 'talk' around baseball at the beginning of the season of Berkman being 'too old' [at 35] or 'all washed up' in baseball is being silenced by a consummate baseball player who believes in who he is and what he does on the ball field.

• *Image: Lance Berkman, Outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals. Photo taken by Keith Allison and shared on Flickr.

August Stats

In the month of August, Berkman had 25 hits, including 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 2 more home runs, with 9 runs batted in (RBIs). This brings his 2011 season totals to 30 home runs and 84 RBIs. Way to go, Berkman!

September Stats

In September, 2011, Lance Berkman had 34 hits, including 5 doubles, 1 triple and 1 home run, with 13 runs batted in (RBIs).

Lance Berkman's season totals for his first year as a Cardinal Right Fielder is: 147 Hits, 23 doubles, 2 triples, 31 home runs and 94 RBIs. Not bad for a player some said was at the tail end of his baseball career. Berkman has had a fantastic 'comeback' year!

Congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals for winning the 2011 World Series! Lance Berkman played a pivotal role in the Cardinals' post-season play, having 20 hits (11 of them in the World Series), 11 RBIs (runs batted in) and 2 Home Runs! Berkman and the 'Redbirds' combined to show us baseball-at-its-best!

Perhaps the St. Louis Cardinals fans would rather have a World Series championship than a player be named MVP, but they came close to having both!

This year the Cardinals had two players in the top 10 in the MVP voting. First baseman Albert Pujols finished 5th and outfielder Lance Berkman finished 7th in the balloting.