The Big Puma

You may know him as “The Big Puma,” “Fat Elvis,” or just plain old Lance Berkman. No matter the moniker there is no doubt that Berkman has become not only one of the most recognizable faces but one of the best performers in the National League over the last decade.
Lance Berkman’s record-breaking success didn’t just start in the majors. After graduating from Canyon High School in New Braunfels, he attended Rice University in Houston and led the Owls baseball team to their first appearance in the College World Series. His college career batting average stands at .385 with 67 home runs and 272 RBIs. Of those home runs, 41 were hit in 1997 alone, ranking third-most in NCAA history.
Berkman has played his entire career as an Astro, and after being drafted in the first round of the 1997 amateur draft, he began his major league career on the Astros’ Class A Advanced Florida State League team in Kissimmee. His potential was easily recognizable and his talent translated from college to professional baseball without a hitch. He began his second minor league season at Dounle-A Jackson where he excelled, hitting .306 with 24 HR and 89 RBI in just 122 games. He quickly received a mid-season promotion to the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs where he spent his last full season in the minor leagues. He was called up to the Astros in 1999, and although he spent his entire baseball career playing first base, the position was already held down by Jeff Bagwell, Berkman was placed in the outfield. He roved from left to right field, and eventually in 2002 agreed to hold down a spot at center field.
Over the following few seasons, Berkman’s numbers wavered, and hit one of the lowest points in his career. His batting average slowly dipped, while his on-base percentage still remained high. He lost a bit of the power in his swing, but he made his comeback at the plate in 2004, when his average bolted to .316 with 30 HR and 109 RBI. He made his career high of 160 game appearances, was voted to the All-Star team for the third time, and with 21 homers earned the title of runner-up in the Home Run Derby to Miguel Tejada.
In 2005, the much of the Astros’ success in the NL Divison Series against the Atlanta Braves could be owed up to Lance Berkman. He played a major role in Game 4, which also went on to be the longest game in Major League Baseball playoff history, lasting 18 innings. Berkman brought the game within reach to make the score 6-5in favor of the Braves in the 8th inning with a grand slam. They eventually won the game, and the series, on a Chris Burke home run. Although they were swept in the 2005 World Series by the Chicago White Sox, he contributed with a .385 batting average and 6 RBI.
Lance Berkman easily had the best season of his career in 2006, with 45 home runs and 136 RBI, breaking Jeff Bagwell’s single-season record. His batting average dominated at .315, while also holding an on-base percentage of .420. He finished third in the MVP voting that year behind Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols.
The switch-hitting Texan has accomplished more than many major leaguers can say throughout their entire career. He’s a five-time All-Star, and also holds a place in the top 15 among active players in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, and he is the current record holder for the most single season RBIs (136) as a switch hitter. Berkman has broken countless records and hit many milestones in his career, but most recently, he hit is 300th home run off of former Arizona Diamondback Jon Garland on June 13, 2009. To many Reds fans, these numbers come as no surprise, as he also holds the record for most home runs at Great American Ball Park by an opposing player, with 20 crushed over the ballpark walls.
Berkman has played 143 games against Cincinnati, in which he holds a .327 batting average with 48 homeruns and 133 RBIs. The only player to hold more home runs against the Reds than Lance Berkman is his Astros predecessor at first base, Jeff Bagwell, with 29. Standing just one home run behind the all-time leader, it’s more than likely that Berkman will overtake the title. You could owe it up to the Reds’ overabundance of right-handed picthing over the years, or just to the fact that statistics show some players do extremely well against specific teams. Although Great American Ball Park has proved to be a great hitter’s park, Berkman has held nearly the same batting average in his career at both GABP and Riverfront Stadium, which both currently stand at .345 and .395 respectively. Whether it be confidence Lance Berkman shows when he takes on the Reds or a lack thereof on Cincinnati’s part, or even just a statistical happening, Berkman is one player who can claim his is dominant against Reds baseball.
Lance Berkman is adored by fans, and so much so that Astros diehards took it upon themselves to create a fan club stemming from his loving nickname, “Big Puma.” If you’ve watched an Astros game on television, or visited Minute Maid Park, you’ve seen “The Little Pumas.” These Berkman fanatics have purchased puma suits and appear in standing room sections of every game. They have grown from a few members to nearly 20. What will happen to those puma suits when Berkman decides to hang up his hat, no one knows. But the Big Puma seems to have a plan for himself after retirement.
In May 2009, Lance Berkman anounced that after his retirement, he would love to coach baseball at the University of Texas at Austin. He spent most of his childhood in Austin and wasn’t a fan of either of the Major League teams in Texas, but loved watching the Longhorns play. He has said that he doesn’t expect the current coach Augie Garrido to retire for a few more years, but when the time comes, he may be ready to retire himself and would love consideration for the position.