Craig Biggio hits 3000!

[Kelly]

AND I WAS THERE!​

This was the single most exciting sporting event I have ever attended! It was unbelievable! And when Bagwell came out on the field with him......I lost it.

And THEN we win the game with a walk-off Grand Slam by Carlos Lee in the bottom of the 11th??!!

AWESOME!

There will never be another player that gets to 3000 all with the same team. I am still floored by witnessing it live!

I have plenty of pics that I will post later. I'm a happy camper today.

 

[Joker]

I hear you Kelly. I am happy for Craig. He deserves it. If everyone played the game the way he does then the world would be a better place for sure. I have meet him twice and he's a really awesome guy.

Atleast last night gave us one time to actually be happy and proud of the Astros this season. This is how I am summing up this season:

I cant wait till 08.

 

[Bubba]

AND I WAS THERE!​

This was the single most exciting sporting event I have ever attended! It was unbelievable! And when Bagwell came out on the field with him......I lost it.

And THEN we win the game with a walk-off Grand Slam by Carlos Lee in the bottom of the 11th??!!

AWESOME!

There will never be another player that gets to 3000 all with the same team. I am still floored by witnessing it live!

I have plenty of pics that I will post later. I'm a happy camper today.

I am not a Astro fan, but I am a fan of baseball. Craig Biggio, man I can't believe he is still playing. He is an icon for Houston Astros baseball. When I think of Biggio I always think if the old rainbow/sunshine uniforms.

I do believe that Derek Jeter has a great opportunity to reach 3000. He has 2300+ in 13 seasons. Averaging around 175 per year. Another 100 this year and it would only take a couple more years with the Yankees to reach 3000.

 

[Kelly]

Good point about Jeter. Hopefully, he won't leave the Yanks before it happens.

Justin knows, being local....but I cannot explain to non-Houstonians how us locals feel about him as a player and as a humanitarian. He is definitely a great man as well as a great ballplayer! The fact that he plays 'all out' at his age of 41 is just amazing. I've NEVER seen him dilly-dally to 1st base no matter what the plate appearance resulted in.

This was taken on a beach in Florida when we went to Spring Training a few years ago. This happens to be my son, Dean but to me it's reflective of all Craig does with the Sunshine Kids (a foundation for sick/dying children).

 

[Toejam]

That was very Biggio of him....

 

[willy]

Glad you were there to see it happen, Kell.

How can you not like Bigg. He epitomizes class & hustle.

 

[none]

Pretty amazing that on ESPN Radio this morning they were debating whether or not Biggio is even Hall of Fame material. They sited his only hitting over .300 just four times in his career, something about hitting into the most double plays and never having won a World Series. IMO, 3,000 hits is a lot more impressive than 500 career homers.

 

[Joker]

Pretty amazing that on ESPN Radio this morning they were debating whether or not Biggio is even Hall of Fame material. They sited his only hitting over .300 just four times in his career, something about hitting into the most double plays and never having won a World Series. IMO, 3,000 hits is a lot more impressive than 500 career homers.

To me, he is a hall of famer. No doubt. I didnt know the most double plays deal. Are you sure they were saying he's hit the most doubles? I know for a fact he led the league many times in doubles but I dont know where he is on the all time list and I dont know how to exactly look it up either.

 

[Joker]

It entrigued me so I tried to look it up. Here's what I found but I could be wrong.

As of 6/25/2007 Biggio is 6th all time on hitting doubles.

On the ground into double play, the only list I found was from the end of 2005 and he wasnt even in the top 100 so I dont know. If someone could find that.

And also as him being a hall of famer, the guy played 3 positions and was an all star catcher, and then an all star 2nd base. Matter to fact, to me he is on the the best defensive second baseman the league has ever seen. Also if I am not mistaken he holds alot of records for a leadoff hitter which he's been for as long as I can remember.

 

[none]

You`re right Justin, it must be that he`s high up on the list hitting doubles and not that he`s hit into a lot double plays. I wasn`t really paying that much attention....I`m an American League fan!

 

[Johnny Mopar]

AND I WAS THERE!​

This was the single most exciting sporting event I have ever attended! It was unbelievable! And when Bagwell came out on the field with him......I lost it.

And THEN we win the game with a walk-off Grand Slam by Carlos Lee in the bottom of the 11th??!!

AWESOME!

There will never be another player that gets to 3000 all with the same team. I am still floored by witnessing it live!

I have plenty of pics that I will post later. I'm a happy camper today.

Sounds like a heck of a game! My fave was last year's World Series...there's nothing better than winning a world championship. I saw Lou Brock record the stolen base record, hit his 3,000th, Forsch's no hitters, Gibson, Carlton, McGwire...but there's nothing that beats winning it all.

Maybe my Cardinals will meet your Astros in the playoffs again this year...that would be very cool...again!

 

[vegasnitro]

Biggio's "double play" stat is actually a good one. He is the ONLY person in Major League history to play more than 150 games in a season WITHOUT grounding into a double play.

Biggio is a first ballot hall of famer, he was an All Star at 3 positions, more than once at each position (Catcher, Second Base, and Centerfield), 3,000 hits, 6th all time in doubles (he has more doubles that Aaron or Mantle), 400 stolen bases, led the league at 2 different positions in fielding percentage.

The ONLY guy not in the Hall that has 3,000 hits is Rafael Palmeiro, and he is not yet Hall eligible.

It is truly unfortunate that Biggio toiled for so long in obscurity in Houston.

 

[willy]

That's what I loved about him, Chris. Regardless..he was all out..all the time..smiling..enjoying the game for what it's supposed to be.

There are bunches of all stars that toiled with teams that didn't win it all.

 

[Kelly]

AND within his doubles stat....he's the only right handed hitter in that top 6 all time. AMAZING!

And let's not forget the dubious title he holds for most 'hit by pitches'. Oh, btw...I don't see many of those as of late. In fact, he quit wearing his extra protective gear. Scary moment tonight when he got hit VERY near his elbow.

 

[Kelly]

It is truly unfortunate that Biggio toiled for so long in obscurity in Houston.

You know, Houston has the most fickle fans. They are very 'faddish'. Some will say they are fans simply to get along in water cooler conversation. For those of us that are diehard, we have held his praises since he moved to 2nd base from catcher. Not to mention moved from 2nd to the outfield to make room for Kent (p#@&y) and then back to 2nd. The boy is the definition of GAMER for those that know the sport. Easily my favorite all-time player, followed closely by Nolan Ryan.

 

[lmhb oyf]

Congrats to "Pigpen". He's the only Astro I've ever liked.....scrappy player who comes to play every day. Reminds me a lot of Lenny Dykstra in his work ethics.

Too bad he and the 'Stros are looking up at the RED HOT Cubbies!

Seriously though, it's cool that you got to be there to see that milestone in person. Things like that make for good memories.

I've been fortunate enough to witness a few big ones myself over the years and I always made sure to keep the ticket stub from those moments in history.

I saw Michel Goulet's 500th NHL goal at the old Chicago Stadium when he was with the Blackhawks.

I also saw Petr Bondra's 500th NHL goal last season at the United Center in Chicago while he played for the Blackhawks.

But the two biggest ones for me was being at the Bears/Saints game in Chicago when he broke Jim Brown's rushing record. Of course what made that even more special later on was that turned out to be their Super Bowl year and I was fortunate enough to be at every home game that season including the playoffs. What a ride!

Lastly, although not a milestone, I got to be at Wrigley Field for the first night game ever that ended up getting rained out after a few innings and then going back the next game for the first Official night game there. That was surreal to walk up to that ballpark and see lights on the roof and then being inside with the field all lit up for the first time. It was hard to believe.

Unfortunately, I got to be a part of two sad events too. I saw former Yankee great, Thurmon Munson's last game before he died tragically against the White Sox at the old Commiskey Park and I also saw Philadelphia Flyers goalie, Pelle Lindbergh's last game before he died in an auto accident. He was destined to be one of the greatest ever if not the greatest. Young kid with amazing talent.

Sports are great for memories and moments like that. Thankfully they allow us for a brief moment to see past the many spoiled egomaniacs and highly overpaid, self-centered athletes that seem to get the most headlines these days. Instead the great players that reach these milestones respect their sport for its beauty, competition, tradition, teamwork and most importantly for the love of the sport instead of trying to just market themselves.

Congrats again to "Pigpen" (I'm just glad it wasn't against the Cubs!)

PS - Kelly.....PM or call me.

 

[Johnny Mopar]

The boy is the definition of GAMER for those that know the sport. Easily my favorite all-time player, followed closely by Nolan Ryan.

Another great Texan...Nolay Ryan. My favorite gunslinger of all time! My wife and I flew to Arlington 11 years ago for "Nolan Ryan Appreciation Weekend" at The Ballpark. Each night of the four game series the Rangers had a pre-game ceremony for Nolan. Each fan received momentos each night. I still have my stuff...including a video of his career including rare high school footage. His high school coach noted his velocity, but said "the only thing that concerned us about Nolan was we didn't know where the darn ball would go when he'd throw it"! I seem to remember in his early years as a NY Met he led the league in walks and strikeouts...pretty incredible.

There are two great statues in baseball....the Stan 'The Man' Musial statue outisde Busch stadium which reads..."Here stands baseball's perfect warrior"...a quote by Bowie Kuhn, and Nolan's statue in the outfield 'mall' in Arlington which reads..."when he came here he was a hero, when he left here he was a legend"! I couldn't say it any better than that....

 

[Johnny Mopar]

Kelly...here's an article from this morning's St Louis Post...and here's the link;
STLtoday - Sports - Cardinals

Springer on Biggio
By Joe Strauss
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
06/30/2007
During three seasons with the Houston Astros, Cardinals reliever Russ Springer once had a locker next to second baseman Craig Biggio, who reached 3,000 career hits Thursday night.

Biggio became just the ninth player in the game’s history to reach the milestone while spending his entire career with one team.

"It’s a really neat thing. It’s amazing to me he’s done all that, and stayed productive as long as he has, while playing in one place," Springer said. "He’s a huge part of that community and franchise. He and (retired Jeff) Bagwell are as big as it gets down there. He’s been doing it for about 19 years. It’s great to see."

 

[Kelly]

I always liked Russ Springer. Thanks so much for sharing that. And hey, my kiddo's middle name is Ryan....and that aint no accident!

Drew! Way special experiences there skippy! And you got it.....

 

[Johnny Mopar]

Thanks Kelly. I found a new set of Nolan Ryan career achievment baseball cards from his retirement weekend I attended back in '96 at The Ballpark. If you'd like them, drop me a note with your address and I'll send 'em your way.

Happy 4th...

John