Houston Astros: All-Time Great Top 25 Roster
By Ron Juckett
JEFF BAGWELL – 1B
He came to Houston as a prospect in August of 1990. The return for the Boston Red Sox needing a bullpen arm during their playoff push, whoever missed Larry Andersen consoled themselves when Jeff Bagwell made the club in 1991.
Fifteen years and six trips to the postseason later, Bagwell retired an Astro with a strong Hall of Fame case and as a legend. The franchise leader in WAR with 79.6, he made four All-Star teams, won two Gold Gloves at first and finished six times in the top 10 for MVP. Winning that award in 1994, he also won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1991.
With a great eye for the strike zone, he drew over 100 walks a season seven straight times. A vital cog in the offense, he drove in over 100 runs nine times. His two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves helped salt that series away.
The franchise leader in home runs, RBI and walks, he was the only Astro to break the 40-homer barrier at the Astrodome. Swatting 43 in 1997 at the old dome, his 47 in 2000 remains the franchise record.
A first baseman his entire career, Bagwell’s mark in Houston goes well beyond his numbers. Sure, his 2314 career hits and .297 batting average are impressive, but as part of the memorable “Killer B’s”, he goes down in Houston history as a legend.
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