Astros’ All-Time Best Seasons: First Base

1986: Glenn Davis

Glenn Davis was another Astros player who probably had his home runs numbers hindered by the Astrodome. Glenn Davis was drafted in the first round (5th overall) of the 1981 draft. He made his debut with the Astros in 1984 when he was 23 years old. In Davis’s first full year in 1985, he finished 5th in votes for National League Rookie of the Year. Davis hit 0.271/ 20 HRs/ 64 RBI during his first full season as the everyday first baseman for the Astros.

Glenn Davis’s best season was his second full season (1986) with the Astros, where he made the NL All Star team and finished in second place for NL MVP, losing to Phillies 3rd baseman Mike Schmidt (85% to 69%).

His stats (from Baseball Reference):

• .265 BA/.344 OBP/.493 SLG/.837 OPS
• 152 hits
• 91 runs
• 32 doubles
• 3 triples
• 31 HRs
• 101 RBI
• 64 walks
• 3 stolen bases
• 4.5 WAR

Just remember that during Glenn Davis’s era, home runs were not as prevalent as they are now days. Glenn Davis finished tied with the second most home runs in the National League with 31 homers in 1986. Davis hit a home run once every 18.5 at-bats, while winning the silver slugger award.

The Astros won the NL West division by ten games over the Reds to face the Mets in the 1986 National League Championship Series. The only scoring in the game one pitchers’ duel between Mike Scott and Dwight Gooden was a solo home run by Davis in the second inning. Glenn Davis’s baseball career ended when he was 32 after 10 years in the majors.

His last year with the Orioles was one to forget, he hit 0.177/ 1 HR/ 9 RBI. He was released after a head injury and getting into arguments with manager over playing time.

Did you know: Glenn Davis attended spring training with Mets in 1994, but failed to make the team. He tried to play in independent ball, but never made it back to MLB.  

Next: 1994: Jeff Bagwell