Houston Sports Hall of Fame Welcomes Berkman
11/3/2023 10:52:00 AM | Baseball
One of three in the Class of 2024
Lance Berkman, a two-time, All-American at Rice while leading the Owls to their first appearance in the College World Series before going on to a stellar career in major league baseball, has been selected for induction into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame. The announcement was made by the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority on Thursday.
Berkman will join Houston Comets icon Cynthia Cooper and one additional member to be named as members of the 2024 induction class.
Berkman set Rice career records in home runs, RBI, runs scored, slugging percentage, and total bases from 1996-97. Over those three years, the Owls won 132 games, including a Southwest Conference title in the league's final year (1996), a WAC title the following year, and made their first three appearances in the NCAA baseball championship, capped by a trip to Omaha in 1997. He was named the national player of the year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after setting school records by hitting .431 with 41 homers and 134 RBI and was the first Owl inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.
He was drafted by the Astros with the 16th pick in the first round of the 1997 draft and by 2000, the switch-hitting outfielder became a dominant player in the National League. He led the NL in RBI in 2002 and was a six-time All-Star selection. He slugged 366 home runs in his career, including a career-best 46 in 2006 which allowed him to become the only player to top 40 home runs at both the collegiate and major league levels.
In 2005, he hit .358 during the Astros' first appearance in the World Series, and six years later while playing for St. Louis, he hit .423 to help lead the Cardinals to a World Series title. In 11 career World Series games, he hit .410 with 11 RBI.
After retiring from professional baseball, Berkman began a coaching career at the University of St. Thomas and then Second Baptist School, where he led the team to a TAPPS state title in 2016. He will enter his third season at the head coach at Houston Christian University this spring.
Berkman will join Houston Comets icon Cynthia Cooper and one additional member to be named as members of the 2024 induction class.
Berkman set Rice career records in home runs, RBI, runs scored, slugging percentage, and total bases from 1996-97. Over those three years, the Owls won 132 games, including a Southwest Conference title in the league's final year (1996), a WAC title the following year, and made their first three appearances in the NCAA baseball championship, capped by a trip to Omaha in 1997. He was named the national player of the year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after setting school records by hitting .431 with 41 homers and 134 RBI and was the first Owl inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.
He was drafted by the Astros with the 16th pick in the first round of the 1997 draft and by 2000, the switch-hitting outfielder became a dominant player in the National League. He led the NL in RBI in 2002 and was a six-time All-Star selection. He slugged 366 home runs in his career, including a career-best 46 in 2006 which allowed him to become the only player to top 40 home runs at both the collegiate and major league levels.
In 2005, he hit .358 during the Astros' first appearance in the World Series, and six years later while playing for St. Louis, he hit .423 to help lead the Cardinals to a World Series title. In 11 career World Series games, he hit .410 with 11 RBI.
After retiring from professional baseball, Berkman began a coaching career at the University of St. Thomas and then Second Baptist School, where he led the team to a TAPPS state title in 2016. He will enter his third season at the head coach at Houston Christian University this spring.
WBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02