







window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' });









window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' });









window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-15', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 15', target_type: 'mix' });









window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-20', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 20', target_type: 'mix' });





window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-22', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 22', target_type: 'mix' });

































Photo: Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close Image 2 of 23 College During his college days at Rice, Berkman was named the 1997 National College Player of the Year and helped lead the Owls to their first College World Series appearance in 1997. less College During his college days at Rice, Berkman was named the 1997 National College Player of the Year and helped lead the Owls to their first College World Series ... more Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle Image 3 of 23 1999 season The Astros selected Berkman with 16th overall pick in the 1997 draft. He made his MLB debut for the team on June 16, 1999. In 34 games, he hit 237 with four homers and 15 RBI. less 1999 season The Astros selected Berkman with 16th overall pick in the 1997 draft. He made his MLB debut for the team on June 16, 1999. In 34 games, he hit 237 with four ... more Photo: Kerwin Plevka / Houston Chronicle Image 4 of 23 2000 season Berkman played in 114 games, batting .297 with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs. He finished sixth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. less 2000 season Berkman played in 114 games, batting .297 with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs. He finished sixth in the National League Rookie of the Year ... more Photo: Kevin Fujii / Houston Chronicle Image 5 of 23 Image 6 of 23 2001 season In Berkman's first full season, he makes the first of five National League All-Star teams. He finished the season with a .331 average, 34 home runs and 126 RBIs. less 2001 season In Berkman's first full season, he makes the first of five National League All-Star teams. He finished the season with a .331 average, 34 home runs and 126 ... more Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle Image 7 of 23 <center><strong>2002 season</strong></center> Berkman finishes the year with a league-leading 128 RBIs and would finish third in the MVP voting that season. <center><strong>2002 season</strong></center> Berkman finishes the year with a league-leading 128 RBIs and would finish third in the MVP voting that season. Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 8 of 23 <center><strong>2003 season</strong></center> Berkman's production slipped, as he hit only .288 and finished with 25 home runs and 93 RBIs. <center><strong>2003 season</strong></center> Berkman's production slipped, as he hit only .288 and finished with 25 home runs and 93 RBIs. Photo: Christobal Perez / Houston Chronicle Image 9 of 23 <center><strong>2004 season</strong></center> Berkman bats .316 with 30 homers and 106 RBIs and makes his third All-Star Game appearance. <center><strong>2004 season</strong></center> Berkman bats .316 with 30 homers and 106 RBIs and makes his third All-Star Game appearance. Photo: Kevin Fujii / Houston Chronicle Image 10 of 23 Image 11 of 23 <center><strong>2005 season</strong></center> Berkman helps the Astros win their first-ever pennant. The team is swept by the Chicago White Sox in the World Series. <center><strong>2005 season</strong></center> Berkman helps the Astros win their first-ever pennant. The team is swept by the Chicago White Sox in the World Series. Photo: Mark Humphrey / Associated Press Image 12 of 23 2006 season Berkman hit .315 with 45 home runs and 136 RBIs. He was named an All-Star for the fourth time and finished third in the National League MVP voting. less 2006 season Berkman hit .315 with 45 home runs and 136 RBIs. He was named an All-Star for the fourth time and finished third in the National League MVP ... more Photo: Kevin Fujii / Houston Chronicle Image 13 of 23 <center><strong>2007 season</strong></center> Berkman finished the season with a .278 average, 34 home runs and 102 RBIs. <center><strong>2007 season</strong></center> Berkman finished the season with a .278 average, 34 home runs and 102 RBIs. Photo: Billy Smith II / Houston Chronicle Image 14 of 23 2008 season Berkman finished the season with a league-high 46 doubles, 29 home runs and 106 RBIs. He was named to his fifth All-Star team and finished fifth in the National League MVP voting. less 2008 season Berkman finished the season with a league-high 46 doubles, 29 home runs and 106 RBIs. He was named to his fifth All-Star team and finished fifth in the National ... more Photo: Steve Campbell / Houston Chronicle Image 15 of 23 Image 16 of 23 <center><strong>2009 season</strong></center> Berkman had one of his poorest major league campaigns, finishing with a .274 average, 25 home runs and 80 RBIs. <center><strong>2009 season</strong></center> Berkman had one of his poorest major league campaigns, finishing with a .274 average, 25 home runs and 80 RBIs. Photo: Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle Image 17 of 23 2010 season In his final season with the Astros, he hits 13 homers and drives in 49 runs in 85 games. On July 31, 2010, The Astros send Berkman to the Yankees in a trade for righthanded reliever Mark Melancon and infielder Jimmy Paredes. less 2010 season In his final season with the Astros, he hits 13 homers and drives in 49 runs in 85 games. On July 31, 2010, The Astros send Berkman to the Yankees in a trade ... more Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 18 of 23 <center><strong>2010 season</strong></center> Berkman struggles in his short stint in Yankee pinstripes. <center><strong>2010 season</strong></center> Berkman struggles in his short stint in Yankee pinstripes. Photo: Al Bello / Getty Images Image 19 of 23 2011 season Back in the National League, Berkman flourishes again. He hits 31 homers and has 94 RBI to help lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series title. less 2011 season Back in the National League, Berkman flourishes again. He hits 31 homers and has 94 RBI to help lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series ... more Photo: Eric Gay / Associated Press Image 20 of 23 Image 21 of 23 <center><strong>2012 season</strong></center> Berkman was limited to 81 at-bats because of a knee injury. <center><strong>2012 season</strong></center> Berkman was limited to 81 at-bats because of a knee injury. Photo: Charles Krupa / Associated Press Image 22 of 23 <center><strong>2013 season</strong></center> Back in the Lone Star State, Berkman was limited by injuries in his final season. <center><strong>2013 season</strong></center> Back in the Lone Star State, Berkman was limited by injuries in his final season. Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 23 of 23 Astros great Berkman retiring after 15-year career 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

Lance Berkman, who starred at Rice before becoming one of the most clutch hitters in Astros history, is retiring after a 15-year career in the major leagues.

“He’s going to go down as one of the great players in Astros history,” said Phil Garner, who managed Berkman during the team’s playoff runs in 2004 and 2005. “A local Texas kid, goes to Rice, makes good, comes to the big leagues. He’s been a fabulous player in the big leagues, and he’s done it all with a touch of class.”

It was at Rice where Berkman’s smooth swing first got noticed. He hit 41 homers in 63 games as a junior and was drafted in the first round (No. 16 overall) by the Astros in 1997. Just two seasons later, Berkman was in the majors to stay.

From 2000-09, Berkman hit .300 for the Astros, averaging 31 homers and 103 RBIs.

“There aren’t many better in this generation,” baseball historian/statistician Bill James said at the time.

Among switch hitters, Berkman ranks among the best of all time. His career on-base-plus-slugging percentage of .943 is second only to Mickey Mantle’s .977 among switch hitters, and he ranks third among switch hitters in on-base percentage (.406, behind Mantle and Roy Cullenbine) and fourth in home runs (366, behind Mantle, Eddie Murray and Chipper Jones).

Playing in one of the best eras in team history — with Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell welcoming him as a worthy addition to the Killer B’s — Berkman reached the postseason three times with the Astros. He wielded the most potent bat during the 2005 playoffs, leading the franchise to its only World Series appearance.

After hitting .286 with one home run and three RBIs in the 2005 NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals, Berkman hit .385 with six RBIs in the World Series, but the Astros were swept in four games by the Chicago White Sox.

In 2010, the Astros parted ways with Berkman, sending him to the Yankees at the trade deadline as the team began getting rid of high-priced, aging players.

Berkman was in the midst of his worst season in Houston — batting .245 with 13 homers and 49 RBIs as the team slumped.

“I didn’t perform like I should have performed … and a big part of the reason the organization is where it is is because of me.” Berkman said at the time.

Berkman hit .255 the rest of the way for the Yankees, who lost in the ALCS to the Rangers, and became a free agent.

With that somewhat sour taste in his mouth, Berkman dedicated himself to a rigorous offseason program and got himself in great shape. The Cardinals signed him for one season at $8 million, and he responded at age 35 with 31 homers, 91 RBIs and a .300 average.

In return, he got what he didn’t get with the Astros: a World Series title.

Berkman once called Game 6 of the 2011 World Series the greatest game in which he ever played. He extended the game for the Cardinals in the 10th with a two-out RBI single on a 2-2 pitch from Scott Feldman (now with the Astros). The Cardinals won the game 10-9 on David Freese’s 11th-inning homer, which grabbed the headlines, but Berkman had laid the groundwork, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs (two on a homer) and four runs scored. The Cardinals then beat the Rangers in Game 7 for the title.

“The only thing that would have made winning a world championship better is if we would have done it here (in Houston),” Berkman said a few days later. “I still consider myself a Houston Astro even though I’m not playing for them anymore.”

Berkman was never really a factor after the 2011 World Series as knee injuries took their toll. He signed with the Cardinals for another season at $12 million but played in only 32 games. He gave it another shot with the Rangers last season but was able to play in only 73 games.

“Physically, I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t feel like I can compete at a level that I’m used to competing at,” Berkman told KRIV-TV on Wednesday. “I don’t want to hang on just to hang on.

“I’m excited about (retirement), to be honest with you. I think it’s going to be great.”

Berkman, the only player to hit 40 homers in an MLB season (2002 and 2006) and a college season (1997), hit 326 of his 366 major league home runs with the Astros and is one of only 17 players in MLB history with more than 350 homers, 400 doubles and a .400 on-base percentage. Seven of those players are in Cooperstown.

“He’s got a great legacy,” said Wayne Graham, his coach at Rice. “He’s a legitimate candidate to eventually enter the Hall of Fame.”

Whether Berkman makes it to the Hall remains to be seen — he won’t be on the ballot until he’s been retired for five years — but even a relative newcomer to the Houston baseball scene like Astros manager Bo Porter knows the cap that should be associated with him.

“I think he’s an Astro for life,” Porter said.

Joseph Duarte and David Barron contributed to this report.