But never has he produced such eye-popping numbers at such a frenetic pace as he has through the first 36 games this year. The first baseman is on a historical run, according to several stats experts who have been carefully scouring the record books to figure out exactly where Berkman's offensive tear ranks among the best ever.
According to Trent McCotter of the Society For American Baseball Research (SABR), Berkman is one of only two players in the last 50 years to have 19 hits in 25 at-bats, which Berkman accomplished by doubling in his second plate appearance against the Dodgers on Saturday. Albert Pujols did the same from May 30-June 7, 2003.
Berkman also is the fourth player since 1957 with 16 hits in 20 at-bats. He also set a franchise record with 18 hits over a five-game span. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the previous record was 17, accomplished by Derek Bell in August 1999 and Julio Lugo in September 2000.
After Friday's opener in Los Angeles, Berkman led the National League with 35 RBIs, 38 runs scored, 101 total bases, 14 doubles and 27 extra-base hits.
"This is just incredible," manager Cecil Cooper gushed. "The guy's just a good player. I'm sure the ball's looking awful big to him. Every day, it's been something. It's been incredible. I don't know how to explain it."
Asked if he could remember any other player having such an amazing run, Cooper said he could recall just one.
"I remember a streak like that, but it wasn't with power and all that stuff," Cooper said. "It was just singles. That's the only one I can recall. And it happened in the '60s."
Asked whom he was talking about, Cooper answered, "Me!" The manager was referring to his first professional season in 1968, when he played Rookie ball in Jamestown, N.Y.
"I was 4-for-5, then I was 5-for-6, then I was 6-for-7," Cooper said. "And they never left the infield."
Don't believe him? Just ask his manager from that '68 season, current Astros bench coach Jackie Moore, who was then a 28-year-old first-year skipper.
"He could fly," Moore said. "He had a lot of base hits."
The same could not be said about Cooper's shoe collection. Moore remembered listening as he watched Cooper race down the line and wondering what the weird noise was resonating from the first baseman's feet.
"I asked him what size shoe he wore," Moore said. "He told me. I said, 'What size to you have on?' He said, 'I don't know, they're my brother's." They were about two sizes too large for him. Then he got a pair of shoes that fit him, and he was really fast."
Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
