Houston to Cooperstown: The Houston Astros' Biggio and Bagwell Years

by Greg Lucas

Overview

The Houston Astros went 50 years without a Hall of Fame inductee until Craig Biggio became their first, followed two years later by Jeff Bagwell, arguably the two most influential and memorable players in Astro history. They helped lead the team to their first ever, and only, World Series game. Both spent their entire careers with the team and had amazing batting statistics that would make them memorable on any team. To the Houston Astros, though, they weren't just memorable, they were part of the Killer B's, a group of players that all had last names beginning with B that helped make the Astros famous in Texas.

The author explores both Biggio and Bagwell's legacies with stories from the stands, teammates, his own announcing days, and the players themselves. The book chronicles the two men as they traveled with the team and made Houston history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681570549
Publisher:	Blue River Press
Publication date:	04/01/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	850,780
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

For over 45 years Greg Lucas has been a sportscaster and play by play announcer heavily involved in Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association with the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers. He has called over 4000 sporting events including major college football, basketball, baseball plus his work with the pros and a total of 25 different sports.

His first book, Baseball-Its More Than Just a Game was based on materials he had collected and used in broadcasts and telecasts and as part of pre-game and other special programs over his long active career.

A native Midwesterner from Kokomo, Indiana, Greg got his career started while getting his undergraduate degree from Butler University in Indianapolis.

Table of Contents

Foreword v

Author's Introduction xi

1 Craig Biggio Achieves Baseball Immortality 1

2 Houston's Major League Start Is Unimpressive 7

3 The Dome Starts a Change 17

4 Astros Tastes First Success in 1980 25

5 Craig Biggio Arrives in the Major Leagues 33

6 Bagwell Joins The Astros-at First Base 51

7 The Glory Era of Astro Baseball Starts 71

8 Dierker Takes Over in the Final Days of the Dome 85

9 A New Ballpark Starts a New Astro Era 105

10 Jimy Keeps 'Em near the Top 115

11 Andy and Roger Come Home 131

12 Baggie and Bidge Reach Big Numbers as the End Nears 167

13 The Golden Era Ended as McLane Sold the Astros 179

14 Hitting Bottom and the Plan to the Top 193

15 The New Era of Astros Baseball: Rocky Start 201

16 Things Aren't Pretty on the Field Until 2015 207

17 Biggio Makes Hall of Fame as Astros Return to Postseason 213

18 Bagwell Joins Biggio on Same Team Again 219

Craig Biggio Lifetime Statistics 237

Jeff Bagwell Lifetime Statistics 238

Bibliography 239