DBU Report Winter 2020-2021 - Page 32

DBU REPORT 32 Major League Baseball legend and World Series champion, Lance Berkman, was the keynote speaker at the 29th annual Patriot Baseball Banquet at Dallas Baptist University on January 29. Berkman, who spent 12 seasons as a Houston Astro and guided the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series title in 2011, was joined on stage by DBU's Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations, Reagan Ratcliff, and shared his journey through professional baseball, reliving some of the highlights of his career and his personal testimony with the audience at the Pilgrim Chapel. Following an All-American season at Rice University in 1997 in which he hit .431 with 41 home runs and 134 RBI, Berkman was a first round selection and the 16th overall pick of the Houston Astros in the 1997 Major League Draft. Two years later, Berkman broke into the Big Leagues with the Astros. In 2005, Berkman was a key figure in the Astros' lineup that helped guide Houston to their first World Series appearance in franchise history. After 12 seasons with the Astros and a short-stint with the New York Yankees in 2010, Berkman signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2011, Berkman and the Cardinals won the World Series over the Texas Rangers in seven games. Berkman shared with the audience his memories of one of the iconic moments in baseball history as his base hit in the 10th inning of Game 6 with two outs tied the game before the Cardinals eventually won the game in the 11th. Beyond Berkman's memorable moments on the field, the 15- year Major League veteran spoke about his faith in Christ and how his life was transformed during his college years. He also discussed how his relationship with Christ influenced who he was as a teammate and how it has impacted his role as a husband and a father to four daughters. Berkman said that growing up in a Christian home and building relationships with other believers helped him keep an eternal perspective early on and throughout his career. “I was fortunate in my career to have 29th annual Patriot Baseball Banquet Lance Berkman, keynote speaker, with Reagan Ratcliff, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations