The "Big Puma" Calls it Quits

Lance Berkman, one of the best Houston Astros hitters in franchise history, and one of the finest switch-hitters in baseball history, has announced his retirement. The first baseman just broke the news this afternoon. Berkman has been dealing with knee problems for the past 2 seasons, playing only 73 games in 2013 with Texas and 32 games for St. Louis in 2012. His first season in the bigs was in 1999 with Houston, where he played until 2010 after a mid-season trade to the Yankees. He signed with the Cardinals as a free agent in 2011, and won the only championship of his career that year. That was his last healthy season. Berkman is 37, which is not that old, but the injuries have been too much. In 15 seasons, Berkman has 1, 905 hits for a .293 average, and has 366 home runs. But if you look at some of the other stats that aren't paid attention to as much, you will see his value goes way beyond the power. Berkman has only 1,300 strikeouts his entire career, which is only 99 more than his walk total (1,201). Not many hitters can avoid the K and walk often at the same time, the way Berkman did. Still not quite hall-of-fame numbers, but we won't forget the Big Puma.

Berkman from both sides of the plate: