tshof.org: Inductees

Berkman, Lance

Bio:
LANCE BERKMAN. Waco native and New Braunfels Canyon graduate Lance Berkman has spent the majority of his entire baseball career within the state of Texas. At Rice University from 1995-1997, under fellow Texas Sports Hall of Fame member Coach Wayne Graham, Berkman earned All-America honors as an outfielder. Berkman’s career numbers at Rice - .385 average, 67 homeruns & 272 RBIs. In 1997 he was named the National College Player of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. That season he hit 41 homers (third most in the country) and his 134 RBIs was the second-highest single-season total in NCAA history. The 6’1”, 220 lb. Berkman was the No. 1 pick of the Houston Astros in the 1997 MLB draft. “The Big Puma” quickly adjusted to life in the majors joining Mickey Mantle, as only the second switch-hitter in Major League history to hit 40 or more homers in multiple seasons. He recently finished his 11th season with the Astros as an outfielder and 1st baseman. In an effort to rebuild the team, the Astros traded Berkman to the New York Yankees on July 31, 2010. His career major league statistics stand at an impressive 1,655 hits, 326 home runs, 1,094 RBIs and a .296 batting average. Berkman is a member of the TSHOF Class of 2009.

Berkman, Lance

TSHOF Inductees