Books and articles about Jeff Bagwell

In 1997, Bagwell became the first full-time first baseman to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases, leading the Astros into the playoffs for the first time since 1986. (Joe Carter reached the 30-30 plateau with Cleveland in 1987, but he split his time between first base and the outfield.) But Bagwell didn't need the 30-30 feat to establish himself as the league's premier first baseman, one of the game's best clutch hitters, and probably the best player in Astro history. In 1994 he became only the fourth National Leaguer to be named unanimous MVP; Carl Hubbell (1936), Orlando Cepeda (1967), and Mike Schmidt (1980) were the others. And all this despite suffering from bad eyesight (Bagwell wears contacts during games) and broken hands in three consecutive seasons.

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Bagwell accomplishes his feats with one of the most unusual batting styles in baseball history. The vast majority of batters step into a pitch -- toward the pitcher with their front foot -- as the pitch is thrown. Bagwell, with his exaggerated wide stance, actually steps back with his front foot as he makes contact.

Being selected by his hometown Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the 1989 free-agent draft was a thrill for Bagwell, who had idolized Carl Yastrzemski growing up. But he was devastated a year later, when he was traded to the Astros for pitcher Larry Andersen after winning the Eastern League MVP award at Double-A.

The young slugger was an immediate sensation at the Astrodome in 1991. After switching from his natural third base position to first base to accommodate Ken Caminiti, Bagwell hit .294 (second only to Craig Biggio's .295) and led the Astros in home runs (15), RBI (82), walks (75), slugging (.437), and on-base percentage (.387). After the season he was named club MVP and also became the first Houston player to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award, capturing all but one of the 24 first-place votes.

Despite a short sophomore slump in 1992 that saw his average lingering at .227 in late June, Bagwell continued to improve, raising his average, cutting down his strikeouts, steadying his defense, and hitting for more power. This progress culminated in his MVP year in 1994 when he won a Gold Glove and became the first player in the NL to finish first or second in the league in average, runs, RBI, and homers since Willie Mays in 1955. He also set club records and career highs with 39 homers -- 23 in the spacious Astrodome -- 116 RBI, 300 total bases, and a league-leading 104 runs scored, all despite having the season cut short due to the strike and a broken hand after he was hit by an Andy Benes pitch on Aug. 10.

Bagwell broke his hand for the third straight season in July 1995, cutting short another fine campaign. Bagwell's unusual stance was responsible for his strange string of injuries. "I just don't turn my shoulder into the ball," Bagwell explained. "I'm up there, and they throw that fastball at my shoulder and I just don't turn my shoulder in. I kinda just lean back and it forces my hand up and that's where I get hit." Rather than change his stance, Bagwell now wears a protective glove on his left hand while batting.

The slugger returned in 1996 with career highs in runs (111) and RBI (120) and a league-leading 48 doubles. In the process, Bagwell eclipsed the .300-30-100 barrier for the second time in his career. He also became only the second player (Willie Stargell was the first) to hit two balls into the upper deck at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh and, two weeks later, tied a major-league record with four doubles in a game. With second baseman Craig Biggio and rightfielder Derek Bell, Bagwell was the core of Houston's "Killer Bs." He made a run at a second MVP, but he and the Astros both faded down the stretch.

Bagwell's 43 homers and 135 RBI in 1997 were new career highs, but another MVP run was thwarted by Larry Walker's near-.400 season for the Rockies. Bagwell drew 27 intentional walks during the season, including three consecutive free passes issued by the Cincinnati Reds during a fourteen-inning marathon late May. After Reds coach Dennis Menke (subbing for suspended manager Ray Knight) ordered the final walk with two outs and nobody on in the fourteenth, Bagwell promptly stole second, scoring the winning run minutes later when Luis Gonzalez singled to left. "I knew Bagwell wasn't going to beat us with his bat," Menke said after the game. "He didn't. It just didn't work out like I'd hoped." The key steal was one of Bagwell's career-high 31. He had swiped 21 the year before.

Despite his early mishaps, Bagwell shrugged off concerns about his health and by the turn of the century had become one of the most durable players in the league. "So long as I can put my uniform on with both hands, I'll be out there," he asserted, and his consistent excellence backed him up. Bagwell's streak of 389 consecutive games played through May 1998 was the third-longest in the majors behind those of Cal Ripken, Jr. and teammate Craig Biggio until he injured his knee in a collision with Florida catcher Charles Johnson on May 12. Bagwell finished the game but missed the next two weeks in his first trip to the DL since 1995. (SW/JGR)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 5, 1991: Rookie Jeff Bagwell of the Astros clobbers a 456-foot home run into the upper left field seats in Three Rivers Stadium in a 6-4 victory over the Pirates. He is the 9th player to reach the upper deck at Three Rivers. » November 3, 1991: Jeff Bagwell is named the National League Rookie of the Year and is the first Astro to win the award. He hit .294 with a team-leading 15 homers and 82 RBIs. His 82 walks also led the Astros. Bagwell was picked in the 4th round of the 1989 draft by the Red Sox, then traded in the 1990 stretch drive for pitcher Larry Andersen. » September 15, 1992: Houston 1B Jeff Bagwell gets five hits in the Astros' 9–6 victory over the Giants. His 3–run homer in the 11th inning is the deciding blow. » September 23, 1992: The Padres celebrate "Unemployment Night" by firing manager Greg Riddoch. He is replaced by Jim Riggleman. It doesn't help as the Astros beat San Diego, 7–6. Eric Anthony and Jeff Bagwell each hit their 17th home run for Houston, while Guillermo Velasquez pinch hits a 2–run homer for the Pads. » September 12, 1993: In a 9–2 win, Houston's Jeff Bagwell is struck on the left hand by a pitch from the Phils Ben Rivera. He suffers a broken bone and will miss the last 20 games, snapping his consecutive game streak at a club-record 304. » June 24, 1994: Aided by a 9-run 6th inning, Houston goes on to defeat the Dodgers, 16-4. 1B Jeff Bagwell drives home six of the Astros' runs as he slugs three homers, including two in the 6th inning. He is the 28th player in major league history to homer twice in the same inning. » July 31, 1994: Jeff Bagwell's 36th homer is the only Astro score in their 7–1 loss, but he ties a club record with 29 RBIs for the month. His 105 ribbies through July is the 4th best in NL history. » August 5, 1994: In the Astros' 12–4 win over the Giants, Jeff Bagwell is 3-for-4 to set several club records. His 38th homer is a new mark, his two extra base hits give him 71, and his five RBIs give him 112 to pass Bob Watson. Bagwell will hit his 39th tomorrow. » June 25, 1995: The Astros pound out 19 hits in scoring a 19-6 win over the Cubs. 1B Jeff Bagwell leads the way for Houston with five RBIs. » July 30, 1995: The Astros Jeff Bagwell suffers a broken hand when his is hit by a pitch in the 4th from Brian Williams in the Astros 7–1 win over the Padres. It is the same bone that he broke last year when he was hit by a pitch from Andy Benes on August 10, two days before the strike. » September 5, 1995: The Astros defeat the Reds, 10-1, in a game marked by a bench-clearing brawl that will lead to suspensions for Xavier Hernandez (8 games), Doug Drabek (5), Pat Borders (5), Ron Gant (4), Davey Johnson (2), and Terry Collins (2). Intentional walks backfire twice for Cincy. Ahead 1–0, they walk Jeff Bagwell in the 3rd (with Craig Biggio on 2B and one out)and Mike Simms homers. Undeterred, the Reds gave a free pass to pinch-hitter Dave Magadan in the 7th (with men on 2B and 3B and one out) and the score just 4–1. Derrick May then hits a grand slam. » June 14, 1996: In San Francisco, the Astros Jeff Bagwell hits four doubles as the Astros beat the Giants, 9–1. Bagwell's four ties the ML record. » August 25, 1996: The Cards' Alan Benes, 1–7 in his first eight decisions, loses 4–1 to the Astros. It is Benes' 1st loss after reeling off 10 straight wins. Jeff Bagwell hits his 28th home run and drives in his 100th run for Houston, now up by one 1/2 over the Cards. Donne Wall is the winner. » April 6, 1998: Houston trounces Colorado, 13–4, despite five hits by Rockies' RF Dante Bichette. Jeff Bagwell homers and drives home three runs for the Astros. » June 24, 1998: Despite Jeff Bagwell's two homers—#200 and #201—the Astros lose to the Rockies, 8–6. » September 26, 1998: Sammy Sosa has no homers but a pair of hits and scores the game–winning run as the Cubs edge Houston, 3–2. Gary Gaetti has two RBIs while Jeff Bagwell hits his 34th for the Astros. » April 21, 1999: The Astros defeat the Cubs, 10–3, as 1B Jeff Bagwell clouts three home runs and drives home six runs. It is Bagwell's 2nd career 3–homer game. The 4–baggers give Bagwell 225 for his career with the Astros, surpassing Jimmy Wynn as the team's career leader. » May 11, 1999: The Astros pound out 18 hits in defeating the Pirates, 19-8. CF Carl Everett drives home five runs for Houston, while 1B Jeff Bagwell and 3B Ken Caminiti plate four apiece. Pirate backup catcher Keith Osik takes one for the team when manager Gene Lamont puts him on the mound in relief instead of his overworked relief corp. With the Pirates down 15-8 in the 8th, Osik walks two, strikes out one, hits a batter and gives up two hits. He allows four runs in his inning of work. » June 9, 1999: Houston defeats the White Sox, 13-4, as 1B Jeff Bagwell hits three home runs and drives home six runs for the Astros. In doing so, Bagwell joins Johnny Mize and Ralph Kiner as the only players in history to hit three homers in a game twice in the same city in the same season. Bagwell is the 1st to perform the feat in a city on the road. » August 20, 1999: This'll give managers grey hairs. Houston defeats Florida, 6-4, in 16 innings, despite blowing a 4–0 lead, striking out 17 times, and stranding 20 runners. Astros 1B Jeff Bagwell walks six times to tie a major league mark held by Jimmie Foxx and Andre Thornton. » August 13, 2000: The Astros defeat the Phillies, 14-7, in the process hitting six home runs to tie a club mark. 1B Jeff Bagwell ties another club record by driving home seven runs. » August 19, 2000: The Astros defeat the Brewers, 10–8, as Jeff Bagwell hits two home runs and drives home five runs. Bagwell becomes the first Houston player to reach 300 homers in his career. » May 6, 2001: The Astros defeat the Expos, 13-7, as Julio Lugo gets five hits, including a pair of doubles. Jeff Bagwell has four hits, including a grand slam, and five ribbies. Geoff Blum has four hits for the Expos. » July 7, 2001: Houston 1B Jeff Bagwell drives home seven runs to tie a team record in the Astros 10–8 win over Kansas City. » July 8, 2001: Lance Berkman has three hits to extend his streak to 21 games. It'll end here, but Moises Alou reaches 16 straight game today on his way to a 23-game streak. Jeff Bagwell and Mendy Lopez collect three RBIs for Houston as they outslug the Royals, 10–8. Scott Elarton is tossed in the first after plunking leadoff hitter Rey Sanchez in retaliation for Craig Biggio being hit. » July 18, 2001: Houston batters St. Louis, 17–11, as 3B Jeff Bagwell hits for the cycle. He is the 212th major-league player since 1901 to cycle, 106 in the NL. The Cardinals score six runs in the 5th inning, but the Astros answer with eight in their next at bat. Batting notables include Moises Alou, who has a 3-run home run to stretch his hit streak to 23 games, and Bobby Bonilla, with his 2,000th career hit. McGwire, with his 564th, and Pujols also homer for the Birds. » September 28, 2002: At San Francisco, the Giants clinch the National League wild card over LA by defeating the Astros, 5–2. The two clubs set a major-league record by using 16 pitchers in the game. Barry Bonds has two RBIs, including a splash homer, his 46th of the year. It's the 20th he's plopped in the bay; only 26 have been hit there. Jeff Bagwell and Lane homer for the Astros.