It’s taken me more than a day to say this fond farewell to a magnificent man, and perhaps the most beloved player in Houston Astro’s history. For twenty years this five foot eleven, one hundred eighty-five pound player, won the hearts of his fans with his gritty, hustling style of play, along with his pine tar and dirt coated batting helmet.
I was able to watch most of his last professional game on Sunday, 30 Sep 07, against the Atlanta Braves, a game the Astros won, with Biggio doubling in a three run first inning, for his 3060th and final hit of his career. All of his twenty years in major league baseball were played with the Astros, an unusual accomplishment in this day of free agent mercenary athletes.
I was living in Houston when Biggio played his first game, as a very small catcher, with blazing base running speed, and was enthralled with his old-school attitude for playing the game. He was tough, an over achiever, always hustled, but was a clean player, and always a gentleman. Yes, there were tears in my eyes, each time he came to the plate, especially his last appearance, as the record crowd cheered loudly their admiration and respect for his last appearance in uniform. When it was his last at bat, the finality of it really struck him, and I could feel my throat tighten with his realization.
From the Astros webpage:
“You’re standing in the on-deck circle, looking down at your shoes and just going, ‘This is your last at-bat, ever,’” Biggio said.
He took a few extra moments before stepping into the box, but upon hearing the cheers cascading from all parts of Minute Maid Park, Biggio backed away from the plate one more time, tipped his helmet to the fans and stepped back in.
Mahay took several steps off the mound in order to give Biggio a little bit more time. Again, Biggio stepped out, waved to the crowd and finally dug in for the last at-bat of his career.
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“It was one of those special moments today. I’m going to miss it. This is all I really know. But the fans have made it worthwhile. That’s what the game’s about.”
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“Emotions are an amazing thing,” Biggio said. “As we get older, we cry all the time. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s a good emotion.
“When you sit and think about it and all these people are standing up, going crazy, you’re thinking, this is pretty special. These people are here to say goodbye to you, and it’s a great feeling. When I told the fans that I want to thank you for accepting me in the state of Texas for 20 years, I sincerely mean it. I am a very lucky man.”
Yes, he was a lucky man, and those of us who enjoyed watching him year after year, as the Astros struggled and succeeded, throughout his career, were lucky to have been able to enjoy his career as fans.
His accomplishments during his twenty year career were many, and some are in the rarefied categories, that only Hall of Fame players have achieved, and I, as well as many others, will be very surprised if he isn’t selected on his first ballot in 2012.
Besides being a fan favorite, and skilled player, Biggio is a loving husband and father of three children, and a prominent contributor to the Sunshine Kids program, for many years.
In an age where so many self-centered and decadent people get all of the attention, I just had to take the opportunity to make this post about a man who has given of himself for the past twenty years, using a game he loved to play, to show how good people can feel about another decent human being.
Thanks for all the wonderful memories, Craig Alan Biggio, for the past twenty summers of my life.
Player Profile.
Career Statistics.
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