Houston Astros Mount Rushmore
By David Hill
Jose Cruz (1975-1987)
The Houston Astros made a number of great moves over their history. Acquiring Jose Cruz for cash considerations from the Cardinals after the 1974 season was one of their best.
While it took a bit of time for Cruz to become a star, he emerged as one of the best outfielders in Astros history. He became an excellent hitter, batting over .300 six times in his 13 years in Houston. Cruz would become a two time All Star, won two Silver Sluggers, and finished in the top ten in the MVP vote three times. For a time, he trailed only Robert Clemente as the most popular baseball player to come out of Puerto Rico.
His brilliance was apparent during his time in Houston. Despite playing in a ballpark that often limited offense, he had a solid .292/.359/.429 batting line, hitting 138 homers and 335 doubles. His 80 triples remain an Astros record, and when he retired, Cruz held most of the franchise records for batters.
Understandably, Cruz has been honored by the Astros. His number 25 was retired in 1992, making sure that he would forever be associated with the number he wore with so much pride. Cruz has also remained a part of the Astros, both in a coaching and front office capacity. Interestingly, he has been a part of every postseason run in Houston.
For a time, Jose Cruz was one of the bigger stars in the game. His star still shines brightly for the Astros, as he has been an important part of their success since he joined the organization.