Lance Berkman 2002 Upper Deck Baseball Card - Houston Astros Outfielder

Ah, the Astros. Another team I have respect for despite their pretty recent cheating scandals.

The Astros were one of my little league teams growing up. My brother was once a fan of the Astros but he's also a Phillies fan nowadays like myself. We both have similar trajectories in that regard when it comes to our baseball teams. So I'd say the Astros make my top five or so favorite baseball teams other than the Phillies.

Growing up in the early 2000's, Lance Berkman was an absolute BEAST of a player. He could hit for average, and power. Definitely one of my favorite players to watch growing up. Year in and year out Berkman was very consistent. If Berkman was healthy, Berkman was effective!

Berkman was unique in his own way too. Whenever his face was shaved, especially early in his career, the dude looked so unassuming and sort of baby faced. You wouldn't guess this guy was an elite major league baseball player. He just seemed like a dude you would have a beer with or something. In addition to his facial appearance, Berkman's physical stature was always sort of extremely average, at times he almost looked out of shape, but maybe that's going a little too far. You could definitely tell he had muscle but also, he was very slightly overweight at times. Lastly, Berkman's batting stance was almost goofy looking. Not that ugly or weird, just a little odd. I guess you could just say his batting stance was unassuming, just like his face and stature.

But man, when Lance Berkman swung, it was a smooth thing of beauty. Whenever Berkman homered it looked effortless. You couldn't believe that someone could make a homerun look so nonchalant. Literally didn't even look like he was trying sometimes. You could tell he had a lifetime of hitting behind that swing. A baseball ninja.

All in all, Berkman just had his own brand of swagger that I, and baseball fans won't forget. Just a silent killer. A baseball guy through and through.

This is a solid card to own of Berkman finishing his great swing, wearing that Astros jersey most will remember him wearing whenever they think of Berkman.

Berkman has strong career numbers, but not elite of the elite career numbers. But I believe he had quite a long prime of consistent elite play. I watched a lot of baseball back then, and I can't remember many players that were as good as him for as long as him for basically the entire decade of 2000-2010 and even slightly beyond. The guy just produced.

Add on his clutch post season moments I really believe Berkman should be a Hall of Famer! Maybe it's nostalgia, but this guy was great in my eyes!

Berkman played in the MLB for fifteen years, from 1999-2013! The majority of them (12) with the Astros. After his legendary run with the Astros, Berkman went on to play for the Yankees, Cardinals, and Rangers in that order.

In that time, here's some of Lance Berkman's great career stats and accomplishments:

• 1,879 Games Played
• .293 Batting Average
• 366 Home Runs
• 1,905 Hits
  • 422 Doubles
  • 30 Triples
• 1,234 Runs Batted In (RBI)
• 1x WORLD SERIES CHAMP
• 6x All-Star
• 1x NL Comeback Player of the Year
• 4x Top 5 in MVP Voting
  • 2x Top 7
• 1x NL Leader in RBI
• Houston Astros Hall of Fame

Berkman has a tremendous 162 game (one full MLB season) average of:

• .293 Batting Average
• 32 Home Runs
• 106 RBI

Berkman's Career Playoff Stats

• .317 Batting Average
• 52 Games
• 9 Home Runs
• 41 RBI

I personally believe that's a Hall of Fame career!

Not just a big bat. Berkman could make some nice defensive plays at times too.

Fan reaction when Berkman returned to Houston as a member of another team. Astros LEGEND!

An epic, clutch WORLD SERIES moment by Berkman as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011!

Berkman's first career home run. 7/31/1999.

Astros Hall of Fame.

Some clips of Berkman off the field!

What are your thoughts on Berkman and his career? Should he be in the Hall of Fame?

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