Craig Biggio
| Birthdate | 12/14/1965 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1988 |
| Year of Induction | 2015 |
| Teams | Astros |
| Positions | Catcher, Second Base |
Perhaps the greatest all around player in the history of the Houston Astros, Craig Biggio is the first player in the Hall depicted as an Astro.
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Craig Biggio is the Astros all-time leader in games, hits, runs, doubles and total bases
Craig Biggio is the Astros all-time leader in games, hits, runs, doubles and total bases
Houston great Craig Biggio signed this contract just 50 games into his big league career. A lifelong member of the Houston Astros, Biggio holds the Houston franchise career record for hits, doubles, and runs.
During the term of the contract, Biggio would earn his first two All Star selections and make the defensive switch from catcher to second base.
A member of the 3,000-hit club, Biggio was a model of durability and longevity. Fifteen times he 600 or more plate appearances and in nine seasons he had 700 or more.
The seven-time All Star earned five Silver Sluggers and four Gold Glove Awards. Since 1900 no player was hit by more pitches than Biggio.
On the all time MLB the leaderboard Biggio ranks 5th in doubles, 15th in runs scored, 17th in game played, 25th in hits and 38th in total bases.
Biggio and Jeff Bagwell teamed to form Houston's Killer B's; here's Bagwell's Topps contract
Biggio and Jeff Bagwell teamed to form Houston's Killer B's; here's Bagwell's Topps contract
Jeff Bagwell played all 15 of his big league seasons with the Houston Astros and teamed with Craig Biggio to anchor the team for more than a decade.
From 1991-2005 Biggio and Bagwell captured the hearts of baseball fans in Houston by forming the “Killer B’s”. For seven of those seasons the Lance Berkman joined them to terrorize opposing pitchers.
Six other Astros players whose last name started with the second letter of the alphabet played filtered onto the Houston roster during that time. Among them are Derek Bell, Sean Berry, Geoff Blum, Carlos Beltran.
Bagwell signed this Topps extension on March 3, 1992 after finishing his Rookie of the Year campaign just five months earlier. Over the duration of the contract, Bagwell would play in his first All Star game and his lone Most Valuable Player Award.
Less than 1.5% of baseball's major leaguers reach Cooperstown's Baseball Hall of Fame
Less than 1.5% of baseball's major leaguers reach Cooperstown's Baseball Hall of Fame
Baseball crowns its immortals in the Hall of Fame, the sport’s highest honor. Only a sliver of major leaguers ever reach Cooperstown. More than 98.5% fall short of that dream. The few who earn a plaque reach the summit of a lifetime journey.
In 2015 Craig Biggio claimed his place among the game’s legends.
Each summer, Hall of Famers return for induction weekend and sign the official roll call sheets. This sheet from 2024 captures a special gathering. Biggio came back to honor Adrian Beltré, Todd Helton, Jim Leyland, and Joe Mauer. His name sits alphabetically between Johnny Bench and Bert Blyleven, in a lineup of greatness on paper.
The weekend buzzes with stories, laughter, and shared history. Legends reconnect and swap memories from long seasons past. Fans line the streets and chase autographs. Cooperstown turns into baseball’s beating heart, and every inductee feels the game’s full embrace.
