Hall of FamE
KEN HOUSTON
CLASS OF 2025
Waco, Texas, native Lance Berkman has spent most of his baseball days playing in the state he calls home. After graduating high school, Berkman played at Rice University, where he made a name for himself by helping lead the Owls to their first College World Series appearance in 1997.
Drafted by the Houston Astros later that year, Berkman made his MLB debut with the team in 1999. During his time in Houston, he became one of the most beloved players in franchise history. In 12 seasons with the Astros, he batted .296 with 326 home runs and 1,090 runs batted in.
Watch Kenny Houston the moment he found out he had been selected for the Houston Sports Hall of Fame.
Earning All-Star recognition five times while in an Astros uniform, Berkman’s batting prowess earned him the distinction of one of the Astros' "Killer B's" alongside Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio.
After his years in Houston, Berkman went on to play with the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, and Texas Rangers. In 2011, he was named NL Comeback Player of the Year and helped guide the Cardinals to a World Series championship.
See a sneak peek of the HOF ring created for Lance Berkman by Diamond Cutters International as well as the custom HOF jacket talored by Knot Standard.
Berkman officially retired as a member of the Astros on April 5, 2014.
Off the field, the 6-time All-Star has committed himself to philanthropic and community-centric endeavors. He has been involved with many charitable organizations in Houston, leaving a lasting impact on the community.
Former teammate Chris Burke presents Lance at the 2024 Houston Sports Awards as well as introduces a special surprise.
Berkman’s passion for the game has extended into coaching. From 2021 to 2024, the Astros legend served as the head baseball coach at Houston Christian University (HCU) after coaching stops at the University of St. Thomas and Second Baptist School, where he managed the team to a TAPPS State Title in 2016.
Texas Country Music Legend Robert Earl Keen performes for Lance Berkman at the 2024 Houston Sports Awards.
With the help of former teammate Andy Pettitte, the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority surprised Lance Berkman with the announcement of his selection into the Houston Sports Hall of Fam.
Watch Lance Berkman's acceptance speech at the 2024 Houston Sports Awards
