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.
In 2003 Biggio hit his 500th career doubles and kept climbing up the all-time list
In 2003 Biggio hit his 500th career doubles and kept climbing up the all-time list
On July 10, 2003, Craig Biggio reached a milestone reserved for baseball’s most prolific doubles hitters. His two-bagger gave him 500 career two-base hits, joining just 40 players who had reached that mark before him.
Biggio quickly continued his climb up the all-time leaderboard. One week later, he collected number 501 and moved past Hall of Famer Goose Goslin. Back-to-back doubles on July 20 and 21 pushed his total to 503.
Four after that on July 25th, Biggio returned to Minute Maid Park with Andre Dawson in his sights. He lined a fifth-inning double into left-center against Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano. The hit gave Biggio 504 doubles and moved him past Dawson on the all-time list.
Biggio finished the 2003 season ranked 33rd all-time with 513 doubles. He spent four more seasons in Houston, adding 151 doubles before retiring in 2007. His final total reached 688, which ranked fifth in baseball history when he left the game.
Shown here is the lineup card from the night Biggio passed Dawson. His name appears in his familiar leadoff spot in center field. Dawson signed the card and added an inscription commemorating the milestone: “Craig Biggio’s 504th double passes me.”
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.
