In a pre-game ceremony, Berkman's number seventeen was officially retired and hung beneath the Jumbotron in center field. Former teammates, including Jeff Bagwell, Bernie Williams, Todd Helton, and Mark Teixeira, joined in the ceremony and congratulated Berkman as he strode onto the field with his family. The Salem fans greeted each former star with a roar of applause, and saved their loudest for former World Series hero Mike Magnante.
Berkman played a franchise-record eight seasons with the Cowtippers -- three more than any other player in history. In those eight seasons, he averaged a .290/.406/.512 triple-slash line (a .918 OPS), with 209 home runs (an average of 26 per season), 773 RBI's (an average of 97), and 932 runs created (an average of 117.)
He currently holds the all-time Salem franchise career records for hits (1,224), runs scored (787), RBI's, doubles (282), home runs, extra base hits (512), walks (829), intentional walks (63), strikeouts (800), sac flies (42), and runs created.
Berkman was among the first players selected in the inaugural BDBL farm draft. He was acquired (along with Adam Piatt) by the Cowtippers in a 2001 trade with the Litchfield Lightning in which Salem sacrificed pitcher Darren Dreifort. He played his first season in Salem that year and hit .323/.462/.617 in limited (338 PA) time. He enjoyed arguably his greatest season two years later when he hit .321/.442/.566 in a full season, with 54 doubles, 26 home runs, 120 RBI's, 119 walks, and 150.7 runs created.
