1. Welcome to SportsJournalists.com, a friendly forum for discussing all things sports and journalism.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register for a free account to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Access to private conversations with other members.
    • Fewer ads.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Jeff Bagwell retires

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Chi City 81, Dec 14, 2006.

  1. Chi City 81

    Chi City 81 Guest

    Astros slugger Jeff Bagwell retiring

    By JOE STINEBAKER
    Associated Press Writer

    HOUSTON (AP) — Jeff Bagwell, the face of Houston baseball for a generation with teammate Craig Biggio, will retire Friday after 15 years with the team.

    The four-time All Star will remain with the Astros as part of a personal-services agreement reached with the team earlier this week, according to a person familiar with the team’s plan who requested anonymity because an official announcement had not been made.

    Bagwell, the greatest power hitter in Houston Astros history, is expected to work with young Astros hitters, assisting in the front office and making appearances for the team.

    The Astros have scheduled a Friday morning news conference to announce the retirement.

    Bagwell, 38, leaves the Astros as the team’s all-time leader in home runs (449), RBIs (1,529), walks (1,401) and extra-base hits (969). He had a lifetime batting average of .297.

    Despite his unique and highly unorthodox batting stance, Bagwell displayed remarkable power at the plate, ranking among the top 15 players in home runs and RBIs throughout the 1990s. His 449 home runs leaves him three behind his childhood idol, Carl Yastrzemski.

    A Boston native, Bagwell’s minor-league contract was owned by the Boston Red Sox until August 1990, when the Red Sox traded him to the Astros for pitcher Larry Andersen. Astros manager Art Howe switched Bagwell from third base to first base to accommodate Astros third baseman Ken Caminiti, soon to become one of Bagwell’s close friends.

    Bagwell’s impact was immediate, and he was named the National League rookie of the year in 1991, hitting .294 with 15 homers and a club rookie record of 82 RBIs. He went on to win three Silver Slugger awards and one Gold Glove.

    It was in the strike-shortened season of 1994 that Bagwell had perhaps his best season, hitting .368 over 110 games, slamming 39 home runs and knocking in 116 runs to lead the Astros within a half-game of Cincinnati before a players strike ended the season Aug. 12. As a result, Bagwell was unanimously selected the National League’s most valuable player.
     
  2. buckweaver

    buckweaver Active Member

    No surprise, and a long time coming, but still: A sad day for baseball in Houston.
     
  3. GB-Hack

    GB-Hack Active Member

    Heard this migh be coming yesterday, I'd say borderline HOF, but gets in because he and Biggio were the face of the Astros for so long.
     
  4. SoSueMe

    SoSueMe Active Member

    Just 51 homers shy of 500, which is usually the ticket to Cooperstown. If he wasn't plagued by injuries, he'd have surpassed the plateau, easily.
     
  5. buckweaver

    buckweaver Active Member

    Bagwell is kind of on the tail end of the 1975-95 superstars whose career numbers aren't going to stack up favorably to the inflated numbers of the last decade.

    But I always felt I was watching a Hall of Famer when Bags was at his peak. Same goes for Frank Thomas, his contemporary among first basemen in this era and whom he will always be linked to because they share the same birthdate (5/27/68).

    Bagwell is not among the top tier of HOF first basemen -- Gehrig, Sisler, Terry, Foxx -- but he's up there with the Greenbergs, McCoveys, Cepedas, et al.
     
  6. Guy_Incognito

    Guy_Incognito Well-Known Member

    Easy, 1st ballot HOFer. A half step behind Thomas, a large one ahead of McGriff, and a moderate sized one ahead of Murray & Palmiero (even without the steroids). It's been 6 months or so, I guess we can do this again.
     
  7. Gold

    Gold Active Member

    Whoa, buckweaver...

    Greenberg and McCovey are certainly in a tier with Jimmie Foxx and Bill Terry, if not above that level. Foxx and Terry both played much of their careers in the 30s, which was a big offensive era. McCovey played in what was not a favorable era for hitter and in a park which was not favorable for hitters, and still was an incredible player. Greenberg was negatively affected by serving in World War 2, but was also incredible.
     
  8. pallister

    pallister Guest

    I enjoyed watching him in the '05 Series. :)
     
  9. broadway joe

    broadway joe Guest

    1st ballot? No way. Borderline guy.
     
  10. Flying Headbutt

    Flying Headbutt Moderator Staff Member

    Definitely borderline. And no way is he even with Eddie Murray.
     
  11. Oz

    Oz Well-Known Member

    I'm guessing there are some other guys -- guys not in the HOF -- who could say the same.
     
  12. Dude

    Dude Well-Known Member

    Is this a good enough reason to post a pic of his ex-wife?

    [​IMG]
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page