Hall of Fame
JEFF BAGWELL
CLASS OF 2021
There have been many notable lopsided trades in MLB history, arguably none more so than the 1990 Reds Sox trade of third base prospect Jeff Bagwell to the Houston Astros for veteran reliever Larry Anderson.
Bagwell was a fourth-round pick of the Boston Red Sox out of the University of Hartford in 1989. The thrill of being drafted by the team he grew up idolizing was a dream come true… until that infamous trade.
Jeff Bagwell at the 2021 Houston Sports Awards watching his HOF classmate and former teammate Craig Biggio.
Upon joining the Astros in 1990, it didn’t take Baggy’ long to realize that the Astros already had a third baseman in Ken Caminiti. Instead of assigning Jeff to their AAA affiliate Tucson team, the Astros saw potential and threw him a curveball by moving him to first base.
Although reluctant, Bagwell accepted the challenge, and in 1991, he became the first player in the Astros franchise to be named the NL Rookie of the Year. With a .294 batting average, 15 home runs, and 82 RBI, it was nearly a unanimous vote, and Jeff ultimately spent his entire 15-year career in an Astros uniform.
Watch Jeff Bagwell interview with Kevin Eschenfelderon, the "Red Carpet" at the 2021 Houston Sports Awards.
"Baggy" was a powerhouse, and his numbers showed it. By 1994, those numbers continued to climb, and Jeff was named the National League MVP with a .368 batting average, 39 home runs, and 116 RBI in a 110-game season cut short by an MLB strike.
With that iconic wide stance and an aggressive style at the plate and in the field, Baggy could do it all. His power, dedication, and consistency racked up impressive numbers, especially in the Astrodome, traditionally known as a pitcher's ballpark. From 1996 to 2001, Bagwell averaged a minimum of 30 homers, 100 runs, and 100 RBI per season.
Jeff Bagwell signs commemorative trading cards on the day his induction into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame is announced.
This was during the peak of the "Killer B" era, consisting of Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Derek Bell, and Lance Berkman. This combination of Astros players helped take the Astros team to the playoffs six times from 1997-2005, leading the Astros to a World Series run in 2005. Bagwell and Biggio both went on to receive Baseball America's Lifetime Achievement Award.
As one of the greatest Houston Astros of all time, Jeff holds the club record of 449 home runs and 1529 RBI with a .408 on-base percentage and a .297 batting average.
Watch the introduction of Jeff Bagwell by Trae the Truth and Moises Alou at the 2021 Houston Sports Awards.
Throughout his 15-year MLB career with the Astros, Bagwell was a four-time All-Star, won three Silver Slugger Awards, one Gold Glove Award, and earned his way into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017. His #5 Jersey is retired and hangs in the rafters at Minute Maid Park.
Jeff Bagwell with his plaque on the Walk of Fame.
Jeff Bagwell on stage at the 2023 Houston Sports Awards.
On the day of his Hall of Fame announcement, Bagwell received balloons courtesy of the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority staff.
Knot Standard was on hand at Bagwell's Hall of Fame announcement to fit him for his HOF jacket. From it's inception, Knot Stanard has been the sole provider of all the Houston Sports Hall of Fame jackets that each recipent receives at their induction during the Houston Sports Awards.
