Yankees for minor leaguers Jimmy Paredes and Mark Melancon. He served as both a designated hitter and back-up first baseman during his tenure with New York. During the 2010 ALCS, Berkman served first base for the rest of the post-season when Mark Teixeira went on the disabled list due to a hamstring injury. The Yankees eventually lost the ALCS to the Texas Rangers in 6 games. The Yankees announced on October 27 that the club declined to exercise their option for Berkman for 2011. St. Louis Cardinals (2011–2012) 2011 season: Comeback and World Series championship Berkman was under contract with the Cardinals for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. An advertisement was made of him because he was unable to wear no. 17, and many other numbers, as they were all retired. On July 5, 2011, Berkman hit his 350th career home run, and his long-ball was the second farthest home run ever hit in the new Busch Stadium. 2011 became a comeback year for Berkman, as he was one of the team leaders in batting average, home runs and RBI. He was named the NL Comeback Player of the Year. Berkman would also finish 7th in NL MVP voting, the sixth and final time he would finish inside the top ten in MVP voting. Berkman made key contributions in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series against the Texas Rangers. He hit his first home run in a World Series game in the first inning and in the ninth, with St. Louis down to their final strike before elimination, Berkman was driven home followed by Albert Pujols after a game-tying 2-run triple by David Freese. After Texas scored two runs in the top of the tenth and Ryan Theriot hit a run-scoring groundout, Berkman hit a two-out two-strike RBI single scoring Jon Jay to tie the game. Berkman won his first World Series championship as the Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers in the series in 7 games. 2012 season On April 22, 2012, Berkman was placed on the disabled list due to a calf injury. On May 21, 2012, Berkman was again placed on the disabled list due to right knee injury. An MRI revealed that there was significant cartilage damage to both sides of the knee and a torn meniscus, requiring arthroscopic surgery. Berkman returned on July 14, 2012. He was then placed on the 15-day disabled list on