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HOUSTON ASTROS
AGE: 28
POSITION: Outfield
BIRTHPLACE: Waco, TX
RESIDES: Houston, TX
COLLEGE: Rice University
PERSONAL: Wife Cara, 2 daughters
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For
the fifth consecutive season, Lance Berkman is teaming
with The Methodist Hospital for “Berkman’s
Bunch,” allowing hundreds of Houston-area children
and their families the opportunity to come to the ballpark,
visit with Lance and enjoy a ball game, complete with
a hot dog and a drink. The “Bunch” meets every
Saturday during home games in the summer. The kids are
part of a number of charities chosen by Lance and the
hospital. In 2003, he donated $100,000 to the “Astros
in Action” Foundation to support Yellowstone Academy,
whose goal is to reach out to young people with dysfunctional
lives and give them the environment and tools necessary
to lead to a high probability of success in life. Lance
makes numerous visits to patients and employees of local
hospitals. He is also a frequent participant in the Astros
community outreach programs, including making visits to
schools on the Astros Caravan. Lance is a long-time supporter
of “Sunshine Kids,” an organization for kids
with cancer. He visits with the kids and signs autographs
during their visits to the ballpark.
Lance
Berkman was selected to the 2001 and 2002 AL All-Star
teams. He was one of 24 minor league players selected
to represent the United States in the 1999 Pan American
Games. In 1997, he was named the National College Player
of the Year. He also received first-team All-American
honors. In three seasons at Rice, he batted a collective
.385. In 2004, Lance batted .347 for the Astros. His career
batting average in the Majors stands at .304.
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