The ordinance was rejected by Houston voters in a ballot initiative in November 2015. Letterman books a real star. An advertisement was made of him because he was unable to wear no. Wi… [56], 2011 season: Comeback and World Series championship, Western Athletic Conference Baseball Player of the Year, National League Comeback Player of the Year Award, List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders, List of Major League Baseball career bases on balls leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders, "San Antonio Express-News, Archives | mySA.com", "NewsBank for Statesman | www.prod.statesman.com", "Lance Berkman, 37, retires after 16 big league seasons", "Berkman's back in the game as a student at Rice", "Astros Legend Lance Berkman Inducted into College HOF", "1999 Houston Astros: Batting, pitching, & fielding statistics", Lance Berkman wants instant replay. [12], 2002 saw his batting average drop to .292, although he kept his OBP high at .405. He hit 25 home runs, and drove in 93 runs, scoring 110. 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. When Lance Berkman reached out to see if his Second Baptist (Houston) baseball team could play in the Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.) national tournament, it didn’t take long for Huskies coach … In May 2004, Berkman produced a .785 slugging percentage with 24 RBI winning the National League Player of the Month honors for the first time in his career. The ordinance sought to ban discrimination on a variety of levels, including sex, race, color, ethnicity and other classifications. The Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB) selected Berkman in the first round, with the 16th overall selection, of the 1997 MLB draft. On January 5, 2013, Berkman agreed to a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers for approximately $10 million. In 2001, Berkman hit .331, fourth in the National League (NL), posted a .430 on-base percentage (OBP) (5th in the NL), and drove in 126 runs (7th in the league). "It's a beautiful park," Berkman said. He joined the Astros' vaunted "Killer B's" lineup that included Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio as all three players were instrumental in the club's playoff success. [21] He finished third in the MVP voting behind Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols.[22]. [49][50][51], He is most popularly known as "Fat Elvis" and "The Big Puma." Former Astros All-Star Lance Berkman has resigned from his job as head coach for a high school baseball team in Houston. The Lions are coached by New Braunfels Canyon graduate and former major league slugger Lance Berkman, whose pitching coach is former Houston Astros and New York Yankees teammate Andy Pettitte. [31] After Texas scored two runs in the top of the tenth and Ryan Theriot hit a run-scoring groundout, Berkman hit a two-out two-strike RBI single scoring Jon Jay to tie the game. [39], Berkman and his wife, Cara, live in Houston with their four daughters. In fact, it’s the very definition of a “good problem to have” as mentioned on today’s KHOU video highlighting the Emery baseball team. Berkman was born in Waco, Texas, the son of Cynthia Ann (née Thomas) and Larry Gene Berkman. Six-time MLB All Star Lance Berkman is joining the the University of St. Thomas baseball program as an assistant coach, the school officially announced on their website. Moving from left field to right field, he dramatically increased his offensive production by hitting .297 with 21 HR and 67 RBI, resulting in him becoming a starter for the rest of his career in Houston. [7], Berkman returned to Rice in 2014 to finish his degree.[8]. Berkman won his first World Series championship as the Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers in the series in 7 games. In the 2005 World Series, Berkman's first, the Astros were swept by the Chicago White Sox in four games, though Berkman compiled a .385 average with two doubles. Throughout his entire high school, college, and minor league career, Berkman had almost exclusively played first base. Rice coach Wayne Graham has long said that star pupil Lance Berkman was welcome to return as a coach whenever he desired. The former MLB … On July 31, 2010, Berkman was traded to the New York Yankees for minor leaguers Jimmy Paredes and Mark Melancon. "While we are excited to be a small part of that legacy, there is no question that he's been brought on staff because he's a tremendous coach and a true baseball guy.". Burke had replaced Berkman as a pinch runner in the 10th. Former Astros star Lance Berkman has been hired as the new head baseball coach at Second Baptist, Fox 26 reported Saturday. On July 5, 2011, Berkman hit his 350th career home run, and his long-ball was the second farthest home run ever hit in the new Busch Stadium. Reply. 43rd all-time in on-base percentage (.406). [54] That same year, a Lance Berkman fan club calling themselves "The Little Pumas" emerged. Second Baptist recently announced the hiring of Lance Berkman, a former Major League Baseball All-Star, as the Eagles' new head baseball coach. Former Major League Baseball star Lance Berkman admits he still has a lot to learn as a high school baseball coach. Berkman was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year in 2011 and hit .423 with a home run and five RBIs during the 2011 World Series, all at age 35, and claimed his only World Series ring that season. [4] Berkman graduated from Canyon High School in New Braunfels, Texas, in 1994. Berkman made key contributions in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series vs the Texas Rangers. [55], Berkman was also one of the Astros' "Killer B's" in the mid-2000s, along with Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Derek Bell. [36] With Berkman's retirement in 2014, however, it is at his alma mater, Rice, that the former Owl has spent time assisting young hitters. The Astros, who called him up to the major leagues for the first time in 1999 and already had Jeff Bagwell entrenched at first, shifted Berkman to the outfield so he could regularly hit in the starting lineup. [29], Berkman was under contract with the Cardinals for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Lance Berkman Joins Athletic Program as Assistant Baseball Coach. "One other thing I think is important to note is that Lance is a first-class person through and through" VanderLaan said. When he retires from playing baseball, Lance Berkman has a job lined up. After some years after his retirement, Berkman found himself back in baseball coaching at the high school level. [20] He also had a .315 batting average, an on-base percentage of .420, as well as a slugging percentage of .621. And Berkman, finishing up his … '"[10] The eight included Bagwell, Paul Bako, Glen Barker, Derek Bell, Sean Berry, Berkman, Biggio, and Tim Bogar. Lance Berkman has a new job: head baseball coach at Second Baptist. He hit 30 home runs, drove in 106, and scored 104 runs. [6], In 1996, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he won the league's Thurman Munson Award for leading all hitters with a .352 batting average. [12], In 2003, Berkman's batting average dipped to .288, but his OBP remained high at .412. [25], Berkman hit his 300th home run against Arizona Diamondbacks starter Jon Garland on June 13, 2009.[26]. In 1998, his second minor league season, the Astros promoted Berkman to the Jackson Generals of the Class AA Southern League. [1] He has led a group called "Berkman's Bunch," an outreach for 50 underprivileged kids to meet Berkman before each Saturday home game for autographs and other gifts. All Rights Reserved. Berkman then attended Rice University playing on the Owls baseball team, where he played for the legendary Wayne Graham, and was named a first team All-America by Collegiate Baseball Magazine, Baseball America and The Sporting News. The former MLB player is familiar with the Houston area after spending the majority of his professional career with the Houston Astros. Berkman’s appearance garnered criticism from many, including former Minnesota Vikings kicker Chris Kluwe. The Emery Jaguars have now made school history by making it to this level. 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