Lance Berkman

William Lance "Elvis" Berkman (born February 10, 1976) is a Major League Baseball player for the Houston Astros. Berkman is known as "The Big Puma," a nickname he coined in jest while on a sports talk radio show. His official listed height is six feet, one inch, and his weight is 220 pounds (100 kg). Berkman is a switch-hitting outfielder/first baseman who throws left-handed. Berkman was born in Waco, Texas. He graduated from Canyon High School i... more

William Lance "Elvis" Berkman (born February 10, 1976) is a Major League Baseball player for the Houston Astros. Berkman is known as "The Big Puma," a nickname he coined in jest while on a sports talk radio show. His official listed height is six feet, one inch, and his weight is 220 pounds (100 kg). Berkman is a switch-hitting outfielder/first baseman who throws left-handed. Berkman was born in Waco, Texas. He graduated from Canyon High School in New Braunfels, Texas in 1994. He then attended Rice University playing on the Owls baseball team, where he was named the 1997 National College Player of the Year, playing for the legendary Wayne Graham, as well as named a first team All-America by Collegiate Baseball Magazine, Baseball America and The Sporting News. He was invited to visit the White House and dine with President Clinton along with the rest of the Baseball America honorees. Throughout college, he batted a collective .385 with 67 home runs and 272 RBI. His 41 home runs in 1997... less