JockBio: Lance Berkman Facts

JockBio Vital Stats
• St. Louis Cardinals	• Outfield/First Base	• #12
• Height: 6' 1"	• Weight: 220	• Born: 2/10/76

Lance once hit six home runs in a college doubleheader.
Lance was nicknamed “Fatty Kruk” in college.
Lance was voted 1997 College Player of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. He was also a Baseball America and Sporting News First Team All-American.
Lance’s .385 career average at Rice shattered the old mark of .376, set by Jose Cruz, Jr.
After Lance signed withe Astros, he worked with instructor Bill Virdon on his transition to the outfield.
Despite paying just 53 games in 1998, Lance was rated as one of the Top 10 prospects in the Florida State League.
Lance’s three-homer game in the 1998 Triple-A World Series was his second of the year. He had hit three against Oklahoma City that August.
Lance was the starting left fielder in the 1999 Futures Game at Fenway Park.
In 2001, Lance became the first switch-hitter in history with 50 doubles and 30 homers in the same season.
Lance’s 55 doubles and 94 extra-base hits in 2001 were the most ever by a switch-hitter.
Lance is one of only four switch-hitters to hit 30 homers and bat .330 in the same year (2001). The others are Mickey Mantle, Chipper Jones and Ripper Collins.
From 2001 to 2007, Lance hit a homer in September 21st each season. He and Lou Gehrig are the only players to homer on the same date seven seasons in a row.
Lance hit his 100th home run in his 452nd game, becoming the fastest Astro to reach that plateau.
In 2002, Lance joined Mickey Mantle as the only switch-hitters to club 10 homers in their teams’ first 20 games.
Despite having moved to first base, Lance started the 2006 All-Star Game as a center fielder for the National League.
In 2006, Lance finished third in the MVP voting behind Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols.
Lance’s .621 slugging percentage in 2006 was the best of his career.
Lance tied for the NL lead in doubles in 2008 with 46.
Lance hit seven homers right-handed in 2008 to set a new personal high. He also established new personal records with 18 steals and 114 runs scored.
Lance hit his 300th homer off Jon Garland in 2009. Carlos Lee and Ivan Rodriguez also reached 300 home runs that year. It marked the first time in history three teammates hit their 300th homer in the same season.
Lance was voted NL Comeback Player of the Year for 2011.
Lance was an All-Star for the sixth time in 2011.
Lance holds the modern-day NL mark for RBIs by a switch-hitter with 136. Hall of Famer George Davis also drove in 136 for the New York Giants in 1897.
Lance’s first highlight play came on a missed diving catch that enabled Tony Womack to circle the bases for an inside-the-park grand slam.
Lance suffers from a fear of flying.
Lance is an avid fan of the Golf Channel.
Lance sponsors Berkman’s Bunch in conjunction with Methodist Hospital in Houston. The program arranges free trips for kids to the ballpark to see the Astros.
Lance once took batting practice wearing a sumo wrestling costume.
Lance’s first car was a 1977 pickup with no air conditioning or radio. He nicknamed it “Paps.”
Lance and his wife Cara were married in 1998. They have four kids—Hannah, Carly, Katie and Abigail.
Lance’s favorite chew is Dubble Bubble.
Lance says the best barbecue in Houston is served at Goode & Co.
Lance hopes to coach baseball at Texas after he retir. He will need to finish the business degree he started at Rice University.

Jose Cruz, Jr.,
1997 Baseball America

Lou Gehrig, 1973 TCMA

George Davis, 1909 Polar Bear