Jeff Bagwell
One of the game's most consistent sluggers, Jeff Bagwell hit at least 30 homers and drove in at least 100 runs in six consecutive seasons from 1996-2001, and eight times overall. The big run producer in the Astros famous "Killer B's" offense, Bagwell helped the team to four division titles in the 1990s, and won the 1994 National League Most Valuable Player Award. A fan favorite, Bagwell's dismal post-season performances were forgiven by most of his admiring Houston fans. His .750 slugging percentage in 1994 was the second-highest in National League history at the time.
Quotes About Bagwell
"He was a superstar-caliber player who really understood what every single player, regardless of their rung on the ladder, was going through. He could relate to everybody, regardless of their status in baseball and their position on the team. He was very understanding." — teammate Brad Ausmus
"I never saw a first baseman be that agile. Crashing in on bunts, whirling and throwing to second. He was a great defender." — Houston GM Tim Purpura
Played For
Houston Astros (1991-2005)
All-Time Rankings
Jeff Bagwell ranks #18 among the Top 50 all-time at 1B. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1994
In the strike-shortened season, Bagwell drove in 116 runs in 110, scoring 104, both league-highs. He also slugged .750 and paced the league in total bases and extra-base hits, while batting .368, which ranked second behind Tony Gwynn. He was voted MVP and had 100 RBI by the end of July, the fourth highest total in NL history at the end of that month.
Factoids
Jeff Bagwell and Frank Thomas were born on the same day: May 27, 1968. Each of them won the Most Valuable Player Award in 1994, Bagwell in the NL, and Thomas in the AL. Through the 2005 season, Bagwell had hit 449 homers, and Thomas had 448.
Jeff Bagwell is the only Houston Astro to win the Rookie of the Year Award.
Leaders, MLB (1994-2003)
Most Runs Scored, MLB (1994-2003)
Jeff Bagwell... 1,051
Barry Bonds... 1,029
Craig Biggio... 997
Sammy Sosa... 944
Kenny Lofton... 927
Most RBI, MLB (1994-2003)
Sammy Sosa... 1,113
Jeff Bagwell... 1,055
Rafael Palmeiro... 1,049
Manny Ramirez... 1,031
Barry Bonds... 973
Most Hits, MLB (1994-2003)
Bernie Williams... 1,532
Craig Biggio... 1,496
Sammy Sosa... 1,496
Roberto Alomar... 1,492
Rafael Palmeiro... 1,490
Jeff Bagwell... 1,475
Where He Played
First base, though Bagwell was a third baseman in the minor leagues. Largely because of Ken Caminiti, the Astros moved Bagwell to first.
Born
Jeffrey Robert Bagwell was born on May 27, 1968, in Boston, MA.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: 1B
Primary Team: HOU
College: Hartford
Major League Debut
April 8, 1991
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1991
Jeff Bagwell
Bernie Williams
Ivan Rodriguez
Eric Karros
Jim Thome
Kenny Lofton
Royce Clayton
Rod Beck
Darryl Kile
Nicknames
Bags
Uniform Numbers
#5
Related Players
Frank Thomas, Craig Biggio, Larry Andersen... Brad Ausmus was Bagwell's best friend on the Astros.
Post-Season Appearances
1997 National League Divisional Series
1998 National League Divisional Series
1999 National League Divisional Series
2001 National League Divisional Series
2004 National League Championship Series
2004 National League Divisional Series
2005 World Series
2005 National League Championship Series
2005 National League Divisional Series
Post-Season Notes
Entering 2004, Bagwell was one of the biggest post-season disappointments in baseball history. In 14 playoff games he had batted .174 (8-for-46) with no extra-base hits. Bagwell had driven in just four runs and was largely responsible for the Astros dreadful 2-12 record in playoff games during his career. His longtime teammate and partner in Houston's "Killer B's," Craig Biggio, had similar struggles in the post-season over that stretch. The two had combined to hit .150 (15-for-100) with one extra-base hit and five RBI in the playoffs for Houston through 2003.
In 2004, Bagwell finally broke through in the playoffs, slugging a pair of homers in Houston's five-game NLDS victory over the Braves. He also stroked a pair of doubles in the NLCS gainst the Cardinals. After seven more post-season games in 2005 (including his only World Series appearance) Bagwell lifted his overall post-season average to .226, with 13 RBI in 33 games. But his career PS slugging percentage was a measly .321.
Awards and Honors
1991 NL Rookie of the Year
1994 NL Gold Glove
1994 NL MVP
Milestones
On August 19, 2000, Bagwell clubbed two home runs against the Brewers for the 299th and 300th of his career... In Cincinnati on July 20, 2003, he knocked #399 and #400 in the same game... Collected both his 2,000th hit and 400th homer in 2003.
Milestones
- July 20, 2003: 400th HR... Hit two homers in the game, his 400th came off Danny Graves.
Batting Feats
Notes
Bagwell finished in the top ten in MVP voting six times... After missing the entire 2006 season with an injury, Bagwell announced his retirement on December 15... Bagwell was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004 (along with Craig Biggio), and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
Transactions
June 5, 1989: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 4th round of the 1989 amateur draft.
August 30, 1990: Traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Houston Astros for Larry Andersen.
"They passed out the press release near the dugout at five [PM]. I rolled it up, tossed it in the trash barrell in the runway, went up the stairs and walked home." — the disgusted reaction of sportswriter Peter Gammons when Boston traded Bagwell.
All-Star Selections
1994 NL
1996 NL
1997 NL
1999 NL
Replaced
The popular Glenn Davis, who was traded after the 1990 season to Baltimore in a deal that brought Steve Finley and Curt Schilling to the Astros.
Replaced By
Lance Berkman
Best Strength as a Player
Power
Largest Weakness as a Player
His struggles in the post-season.
Learn More about Jeff Bagwell
Search Amazon.com for Books about Jeff Bagwell ⇒
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View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
