Lance Berkman

Last updated

Times
Lance Berkman
Astros Opening Day-24 Lance Berkman.jpg
Berkman with the Houston Astros in 2009
Outfielder / First baseman
Born: (1976-02-10) February 10, 1976 (age 48)
Waco, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Switch
Threw: Left
MLB debut
July 16, 1999, for the Houston Astros
Last MLB appearance
September 17, 2013, for the Texas RangersDatesRef
National League champion 2 2005, 2011
World Series champion 1 2011
Honors received
TitleDateRef
Texas Sports Hall of Fame inductee2009
Awards
Statistical achievements

Notes: Per Baseball-Reference.com.

National League statistical leader
CategoryTimesDates
Doubles leader 2 2001, 2008
Runs batted in leader 1 2002
National League top-ten ranking
CategoryTimesSeasonsCategoryTimesSeasons
Adjusted on-base plus slugging 62001, 2004−06, 2008, 2011 Home runs 42002, 2006, 2007, 2011
Bases on balls 102001−09, 2011 On-base percentage 92001−06, 2008, 2009, 2011
Batting average 42001, 2004, 2006, 2008 On-base plus slugging percentage72006–08, 2010–13
Runs batted in 52001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008
Doubles 22001, 2008 Runs scored32002, 2003, 2008
Extra base hits 42001, 2002, 2004, 2008 Slugging percentage 52001, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2011
Games played32002, 2004, 2008
Hits 12001 Times on base 72001−04, 2006, 2008, 2011
Total bases 42001, 2002, 2006, 2008


Personal life

Berkman and his wife, Cara, live in Houston with their four daughters. Berkman has been very outspoken about his Christian beliefs throughout his career. [50] [51] Berkman uses his position as a professional athlete to discuss his religious beliefs with others. He told The 700 Club in May 2007: "What you’re running after, what you’re trying to find will not provide you with any lasting fulfillment. The only place you can find that is Jesus Christ. It's in the service of God you’ll find that lasting fulfillment." [52]

In 2001, Berkman began leading a charity called "Berkman's Bunch" where 50 underprivileged kids could meet Berkman before each Saturday home game for autographs and other gifts. [53] In April 2012, Forbes named Berkman one of the 30 most generous celebrities as he and his wife had donated $2,412,245 to a foundation they established called To The Lord's Fund. [54]

In July 2013, Berkman purchased a fire truck and had it overhauled by the City of Arlington. He then donated it to the City of West, Texas, in the wake of the West Fertilizer Company explosion that took place earlier in the year. The fire truck is white with a red Maltese cross on the doors and the name Berkman over the cross with his number "17" encircled within the cross. [55]

Berkman filmed an advertisement against the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, which was aimed at protecting LGBT individuals from discrimination. The ordinance sought to ban discrimination on a variety of levels, including sex, race, color, ethnicity and other classifications. Despite the wording of the ordinance, HERO's opponents including Berkman, instead honed in on the sexual orientation and gender identity protections. Berkman took to the airwaves to repeat a popular stance of HERO’s critics, arguing that the law would allow male predators dressed in drag to enter women’s bathrooms, rather than open public accommodations to transgender people. Berkman’s appearance garnered criticism from many, including former Minnesota Vikings kicker Chris Kluwe. The controversy flared when Houston Mayor Annise Parker stated of Berkman, "That someone who made his name in our city would inject himself into this debate by taking to the airwaves to discredit an effort to ban discrimination in all forms did upset me. This ordinance protects all Houstonians and his remarks diminished it to something trivial." The ordinance was rejected by Houston voters in a ballot initiative in November 2015. [56] [57] [58]

Nicknames

He is most popularly known as "Fat Elvis" and "The Big Puma." Before the 2006 season started, in an interview with a local Houston sports radio station, Lance joked "I'm more like a puma so I'm not sure why people call me Fat Elvis." [59] The show's hosts, John Granato and Lance Zierlein, ran with the moniker and Houston fans and media latched onto "The Big Puma." When questioned further, Berkman explained the nickname is simply logical. "Agile, athletic, sleek ... all the things that describe my game", he said, somewhat tongue-in-cheek. [60] With his outstanding start in 2008, this nickname also became known on a national level. [61] That same year, a Lance Berkman fan club calling themselves "The Little Pumas" emerged. During Berkman's long tenure with the Astros, they could be seen wearing puma costumes and foam puma paws at most Astros home games near the Conoco Pump in left-center field. The group became relatively well-known among Astros fans, as they were shown often during Astros broadcasts on Fox Sports Houston. [62]

Berkman was also one of the Astros' "Killer B's" in the mid-2000s, along with Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Derek Bell. [63]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Beltrán</span> Puerto Rican baseball player (born 1977)

Carlos Iván Beltrán is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 1998 to 2017 for the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers. A right-handed thrower and switch hitter, Beltrán stands 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighs 215 pounds (98 kg).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Cruz</span> Puerto Rican baseball player

José Cruz Dilan, nicknamed "Cheo", is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player, coach and baseball front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from 1970 to 1988, most prominently as a member of the Houston Astros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Bagwell</span> American baseball player

Jeffrey Robert Bagwell is an American former professional baseball first baseman and coach who spent his entire 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) playing career with the Houston Astros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Biggio</span> American baseball player (born 1965)

Craig Alan Biggio is an American former baseball second baseman, outfielder and catcher who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros, from 1988 to 2007. A seven-time National League (NL) All-Star often regarded as the greatest all-around player in Astros history, he is the only player ever to be named an All-Star and to be awarded Silver Slugger Award at both catcher and second base. With longtime teammates Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman, he formed the core of the "Killer B's" who led Houston to six playoff appearances from 1997 to 2005, culminating in the franchise's first World Series appearance in 2005. At the end of his career, he ranked sixth in NL history in games played (2,850), fifth in at bats (10,876), 21st in hits (3,060), and seventh in runs scored (1,844). His 668 career doubles ranked sixth in major league history, and are the second-most ever by a right-handed hitter; his 56 doubles in 1999 were the most in the major leagues in 63 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Lee</span> Panamanian baseball player (born 1976)

Carlos Noriel Lee, nicknamed "El Caballo", is a Panamanian former professional baseball left fielder and first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1999 to 2012 with the Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, and Miami Marlins. He had 17 career grand slams, ranking him seventh in MLB history ; his seven grand slams hit with the Astros is a club record he shares with Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Aspromonte</span> American baseball player (born 1938)

Robert Thomas Aspromonte is an American former professional baseball player and business entrepreneur. He played as a third baseman in Major League Baseball in 1956 and then from 1960 to 1971, most prominently as a member of the newly formed Houston Colt .45s expansion team where, he became the regular third baseman for the first seven seasons of the young franchise. As well as being the first-ever batter for Houston, he was also the last Brooklyn Dodger to appear in a major league game. He also played for the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Easler</span> American baseball player

Michael Anthony Easler, nicknamed "the Hit Man", is an American former professional baseball outfielder, designated hitter, and coach, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, California Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies, from 1973 to 1987.

The 2005 Houston Astros season was the 44th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas. They qualified for the postseason for the second consecutive season and it was the sixth time they had done so in a span of nine seasons. Expectations had been raised since the Astros had come one win away from a pennant the previous year. However, they got to a sluggish 15–30 start. They then went on to win 74 of the next 117 games to claim the wild card playoff spot, and would go on to win the National League pennant to advance to the World Series for the first time in franchise history, which gave them the privilege of hosting the first World Series game in the state of Texas. However, they were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the World Series.

The 2004 Houston Astros season was the 43rd season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas. Five years removed from opening Minute Maid Park, the Astros hosted the All-Star Game, which was the first held in Houston since 1986. Having limped into the All-Star break with a 44–44 record, Phil Garner was named to replace Jimy Williams as manager. The Astros finished second in the American League Central and captured the NL Wild Card. The Astros won a postseason series for the first time in franchise history by defeating the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series (NLDS), scoring an NLDS-record 36 runs. Roger Clemens won the NL Cy Young Award, becoming the fourth pitcher to win the award in both leagues, and the only one with seven overall.

The 2001 Houston Astros season was the 40th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas.

The 2000 Houston Astros season was the 39th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas. This was the first season for the Astros at Minute Maid Park.

The 1997 Houston Astros season was the 36th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas. In their fourth season in the National League Central and first under former player/broadcaster-turned manager Larry Dierker, the Astros finished in first place, giving them their first playoff berth in eleven years. They clinched the division title eleven years to the day of their last title on September 25.

The Houston Astros' 1996 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Houston Astros attempting to win the National League Central. The Astros finished in second place in the NL Central with an 82–80 record, six games behind the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Houston Astros' 1994 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Houston Astros attempting to win the inaugural season of the National League Central; they finished in second place. First baseman Jeff Bagwell was a unanimous selection for the National League Most Valuable Player Award. Despite nearly the last two months of the being cancelled due to the 1994–95 strike, Bagwell set a then-club record for home runs with 39 and a club record for batting average (.368) and slugging percentage (.750).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killer B's (Houston Astros)</span> Players in the Houston Astros baseball team

The Killer B's were players on the Houston Astros whose surnames started with the letter B. It also refers to the era of Astros baseball from 1997 to 2005 that saw the team reach the postseason six times in nine seasons with four National League Central division titles, two Wild Card appearances and one National League pennant, which was the most successful era in team history until the 2010s. In fact, from 1994 to 2006, the Astros finished first or second in their division in each year except 2000. Two Killer B's, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame as members of the Astros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Altuve</span> Venezuelan baseball player (born 1990)

José Carlos Altuve is a Venezuelan professional baseball second baseman for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). Having played for the Astros since 2011, he is the longest-tenured current member of the team, and the only one to have been with the Astros since they were in the National League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Tucker</span> American baseball player (born 1997)

Kyle Daniel Tucker is an American professional baseball right fielder for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Astros selected Tucker with the fifth pick in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2018 and his nickname is King Tuck.

The 2017 Houston Astros season was the team's 56th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas, their 53rd as the Astros, fifth in both the American League and American League West, and 18th at Minute Maid Park. The Astros won the World Series in seven games over the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first World Series championship in franchise history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yordan Álvarez</span> Cuban baseball player (born 1997)

Yordan Ruben Álvarez is a Cuban professional baseball designated hitter and left fielder for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2019 for the Astros. Nicknamed "Air Yordan", Álvarez stands 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), weighs 225 pounds (102 kg), bats left-handed and throws right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Houston Astros season</span> Major League Baseball team season

The 2021 Houston Astros season was the 60th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas, their 57th as the Astros, ninth in both the American League and American League West, and 22nd at Minute Maid Park.

References

  1. ↑ "Career Leaders & Records for On-Base Plus Slugging".
  2. ↑ Antunes, Anderson. "The 30 Most Generous Celebrities". Forbes. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  3. ↑ "San Antonio Express-News, Archives | mySA.com". Nl.newsbank.com. June 15, 1996. Retrieved April 3, 2013.(subscription required)
  4. ↑ "NewsBank for Statesman | www.prod.statesman.com". Nl.newsbank.com. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "William Lance BERKMAN: SweAme". Swedesintexas.com. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  6. ↑ Wild, Danny (October 16, 2009). "Path of the Pros: Lance Berkman". MLB.com . Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Rice University Records" (PDF). Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Lance Berkman, 37, retires after 16 big league seasons". capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  9. ↑ "2023 CCBL Hall of Fame Class Announced". capecodbaseball.org. June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  10. ↑ Duarte, Joseph (October 12, 2014). "Berkman's back in the game as a student at Rice". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Astros Legend Lance Berkman Inducted into College HOF". Climbing Tal's Hill. March 4, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  12. ↑ Perry, Dayn (December 23, 2012). "Remembering the 'Killer B's'". CBSSports.com . Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  13. ↑ "1999 Houston Astros: Batting, pitching, & fielding statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  14. ↑ "2000 Awards Voting". Baseball-Reference.com . Sports Reference . Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Lance Berkman statistics & history". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  16. ↑ Lance Berkman wants instant replay. "We have the technology," Archived June 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine The Faster Times
  17. ↑ "Astros most comical moments". MLB.com .
  18. ↑ "Tower of Twinkies power". Chicago Tribune . June 3, 2003.
  19. ↑ Footer, Alyson (June 2, 2004). "Berkman NL Player of the Month". MLB.com. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Home Run Derby (2000–2008)". baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
  21. ↑ Antonen, Mel (July 12, 2004). "Tejada blasts way to victory in Derby". USA Today. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  22. ↑ Footer, Alyson (March 19, 2005). "Astros, Berkman reach six-year deal". MLB.com . Retrieved August 1, 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  23. ↑ Lance Berkman Pink Louisville Slugger Bat for Breast Cancer Awareness Big Time Bats
  24. ↑ "BASEBALL: NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP; Peavy Is Dominant As Padres Rout Reds". The New York Times. September 14, 2006. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  25. ↑ "Houston Astros Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 22, 2008.
  26. ↑ Lance Berkman Player Profiles
  27. ↑ Molony, Jim (November 20, 2006). "Berkman finishes third in MVP voting". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  28. ↑ Lance Berkman's long slump. Letterman books a real star. SportsJustice, by Richard Justice
  29. ↑ Splash Hits List MLB.com
  30. ↑ Leach, Matthew (November 17, 2008). "Crowning achievement: Pujols NL MVP | MLB.com: News". MLB.com . Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  31. ↑ Ortiz, Jose de Jesus (June 14, 2009). "Berkman, Tejada put milestones to good use". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Yankees make Berkman Deal Official". Yankees.lhblogs.com. July 31, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  33. ↑ McTaggart, Brian (July 30, 2010). "Astros finalize Berkman deal with Yankees". Pressbox.mlb.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
  34. ↑ Yankees decline options on Berkman, Wood, Johnson The LoHud Yankees Blog
  35. ↑ "St. Louis Cardinals - "Berkman's Number" Commercial - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  36. ↑ Thriving Berkman marvels at Series' drama MLB.com
  37. ↑ "Rangers Reach Deal With Lance Berkman". CBS Dallas/Fort Worth. January 5, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Texas Rangers decline $12 million contract option for Lance Berkman". Dallas Morning News. Associated Press. October 31, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  39. ↑ Durrent, Richard (January 29, 2014). "Lance Berkman decides to retire". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt retire". ESPN.com. April 5, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Berkman has dreams of coaching at UT". MLB.com . Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  42. ↑ "Wayne Graham on Lance Berkman: 'A great legacy'". Ultimate Astros. January 29, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Former Astros great Lance Berkman hired as Second Baptist baseball coach". Sports Update. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  44. ↑ "Berkman, Oswalt fall off Hall of Fame ballot". MLB.com. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  45. ↑ "Baseball". Archived from the original on May 31, 2021.
  46. ↑ "Astros legend Lance Berkman named head baseball coach at Houston Baptist University". www.abc13.com. ABC. May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  47. ↑ Lance Berkman Athletic Celebrity Marketing
  48. ↑ Berkman plays despite sore hand MLB.com
  49. ↑ Stark, Jayson. "Really fun record for most consecutive years homering on the same date in the regular season". The Athletic. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  50. ↑ "Berkman's Just Fine As Is". chron.com. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  51. ↑ "Faith and America's Favorite Pastime". chron.com. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  52. ↑ "Lance Berkman: True Satisfaction – The 700 Club". Cbn.com. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  53. ↑ Baldwin, Tony. "Berkman is clutch both on and off the field". EveryJoe. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  54. ↑ Pollock, Bill (April 18, 2012). "Berkman makes Forbes' list of 30 Most Generous Celebrities". MissouriNet. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  55. ↑ "Lance Berkman to donate fire truck to West". Houston Chronicle. July 4, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  56. ↑ "Lance Berkman appears in controversial ad over Houston's equal rights bill – For The Win". For The Win. September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  57. ↑ "Annise Parker hits back at Lance Berkman for anti-HERO advertisement". Houston Chronicle. October 6, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  58. ↑ Peralta, Eyder (November 4, 2015). "In Houston, Voters Reject A Closely Watched Equal Rights Ordinance". NPR. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  59. ↑ "The Z Report: I am partly responsible for the nickname "Big Puma"...well, kind of". chron.com. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  60. ↑ "Mailbag: Berkman the 'Big Puma?'". MLB.com. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  61. ↑ "Berkman enjoying fruits of labor". MLB.com. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  62. ↑ "Little Puma Roster". Thelittlepumas.com. May 23, 2008. Archived from the original on June 3, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  63. ↑ "MLB Pro Blog: NLCS: Astros v Cardinals". Birth of the B's. Major League Baseball. October 19, 2005. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by National League Player of the Month
May 2004
May 2008		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.