HOUSTON (AP) — Six-time All-Star Lance Berkman is retiring after 15 seasons in the major leagues.
Berkman almost left the game last offseason before signing with the Texas Rangers. He then had another injury-plagued season that limited him to 73 games.
The 37-year-old Berkman was the first overall pick by Houston in 1997 out of Rice, and played 12 seasons for the Astros. He played 1,879 career games, all but 287 of them for Houston.
The Astros said in a release Wednesday night that Berkman was one of the greatest players in team history.
He finished the 2010 season with the New York Yankees before two years in St. Louis, where he was part of the 2011 World Series champions.
Berkman finished a .293 career hitter with 366 home runs and 1,234 RBIs.
