Houston Astros Carlos Beltran Caps off Stellar Career with World Series
By David Hill
Carlos Beltran has spent the last few years looking for a World Series ring. On Wednesday night, he finally got his wish with the Houston Astros.
Baseball can be a strange game sometimes. Quite a few of the greatest players in the history of the game, such as Ernie Banks, Ted Williams, and Barry Bonds never won a World Series. The greatest players in this history of the Houston Astros never won a championship. It can be a pursuit that drives the all time greats later in their careers, yet is often met with disappointment.
For a time, that appeared to be Carlos Beltran’s fate as well. An aging veteran, Beltran had been a star in his younger days. Now, he was valued as a veteran presence as much, if not more, than for his remaining ability with the bat. He had been a baseball vagabond over the past few years, moving from team to team in search of that elusive World Series.
On Wednesday night, Beltran finally got that ring. Even though he barely played, managing just three hitless at bats during the World Series, he was a part of the Houston Astros championship roster. Beltran may have been a shadow of his former self, but he still had a bit of pop left in his bat, hitting 14 homers. But more than that, he had been through those postseason battles before. As a free agent signee by the younger Astros, that part was vitally important.
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Now that Beltran has that ring, it is fair to wonder if he has played his last game. At 40 years old, and coming off his worst season since 2000, he may not have many suitors this offseason. And, now that he has that ring, he may not want to pursue those opportunities anyway.
This championship would be a great way for Beltran to ride off into the sunset. It would be easy to make a Hall of Fame case for the outfielder, who has posted a lifetime .279/.350/.486 batting line with 435 homers and 312 steals. He was a nine time All Star, the 1999 Rookie of the Year, and won three Gold Glove awards. Beltran compares favorably to players like Andre Dawson and Billy Williams, both Hall of Famers in their own right.
Carlos Beltran was missing only one accomplishment in his impressive career. He finally got that elusive ring with the Houston Astros on Wednesday.