LANCE BERKMAN HALL OF FAME SPEECH
Commissioner John “Stray” Corrado’s Introduction Speech for Lance Berkman:
Born Lance William Berkman on February 10, 1976, in Waco, TX. Nickname: “Big Puma”
Northridge Quakes 2000-01; Tijuana Traffic 2002; Tijuana Bottle Rockets 2003-07; Midland Mud Hens 2008; Pittsburgh Lumber Company 2009-10; Owensboro Onslaught 2011-12; New York Outlaws 2013-14
Played 15 years for six franchises, making it to the postseason six times. He hit a robust .389 with six RBI, three doubles and two HRs in the 2003 Division Series for Tijuana. He represented his team in the All-Star Game seven times, five times as a starter.
Lifetime stats: .292 BA, .403 OB%, .541 SLG, .943 OPS, 1846 G, 1835 hits, 1257 RBI, 355 HR, 438 doubles
An extra-base machine, Lance Berkman topped 30 doubles nine times, smashed 50 or more homers twice, and knocked in more than 100 runs six times (topping 150 RBI twice). Despite not having a lot of speed, he also managed 30 career triples.
His prolific power won him the Rookie of the Year Award in 2001, the Christmas Classic Home Run Derby in 2003, and the league lead in Home Runs in 2003 and 2007. He also led the league in RBI in 2002 and 2003 with 158, and again in 2007 with 133. He ranks eighth all-time in the MWBL in On Base Percentage.
It is my pleasure and honor to present the newest member of the MWBL Hall of Fame, Lance Berkman.
Lance Berkman’s Speech:
Thank you, Mr. Commissioner. Whew! It still doesn’t seem real that I’m a part of this amazing collection of talent. I am also humbled to be inducted with the great Andy Pettitte. What an amazing competitor.
This is the culmination of a lot of dreaming, hoping, hard work, practice, a lot of fun, and many sacrifices on the part of family and friends. I am so glad to share this day with my parents, Cynthia and Larry, who did everything to make my major league dreams come true. Thank you, mom and dad! I couldn’t have done anything without the love and support of my family: my beautiful wife Cara and my daughters, Hannah and Carly.
Looking back over my career, I know that none of us do this alone. So many coaches, managers, teammates, and others provided help and advice, friendship and camaraderie along the way. Although I wasn’t there very long, The Northridge Quakes took a chance on drafting me, and I am eternally grateful. I had my longest tenure, and greatest success, in Tijuana, and loved every minute of it. Thank you to owner Dave Myers for believing in me.
I am most proud of the fact that I wanted to be up in the big spot in the game, to drive in that big run, get that clutch hit. Even if I didn’t always succeed, I always accepted that challenge, and best to come through. Through all the awards, the accolades, the wins, the losses, the ups, and downs, that’s what matters: that your teammates know that they can count on you and that you’ll give your best effort.
Thank you MWBL, and thank you fans!