One of the most beloved players in the history of St. Louis Cardinals baseball is celebrating a birthday today.
Lance Berkman played the vast majority of his career with the Houston Astros, but certainly made the most of his time in St. Louis.
After a difficult 2010 season, Berkman signed a deal with the Cardinals.
Though his heroics during the team’s championship run may get lost in what David Freese was able to accomplish, they were just as important to the team.
On Twitter, a Cardinals fan wished Berkman a happy birthday and recalled some of his best moments in a Cardinals uniform.
#OTD 1976 – Lance Berkman was born in Waco, TX.
The Cardinals wouldn't have won the 2011 World Series without Berkman's game-tying base hit in the 10th inning of Game 6. (He also batted .423!)
Happy 47th Birthday "Big Puma"! #STLCards pic.twitter.com/nN6ynbEhBb
— Augie Nash (@AugieNash) February 10, 2023
Berkman hit .301 with 31 home runs, 94 RBI, and a .959 OPS in 2011.
His most memorable moments came during Game 6 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers.
The Cardinals had fallen into an early 1-0 hole, but Berkman began the seesaw battle with a two-run homer to give St. Louis a lead.
After the Cardinals had rallied from being down to their last strike on Freese’s triple, they found themselves in the same position in the bottom of the 10th inning, this time with Berkman at the plate.
Like Freese, Berkman came through with the Cards one strike away from elimination to tie the game at nine, setting the stage for Freese’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th.
The next night, St. Louis defeated the Rangers by a final of 6-2 in Game 7 of the World Series, securing their 11th World Series title and earning Berkman his first and only ring.
NEXT: Cardinals Fan Shares A Pleasant Reminder As The Season Nears
