Astros’ All-Time Best Seasons: First Base

This is the 2nd article in a series we at Climbing Tal’s Hill are doing for “Astros’ All-Time Best Seasons.” We are looking for the top-5 seasons for a player at each position. For this article we will be looking at first base. Unlike the catching position, some star players have worn the Houston uniform at first base.

Have you ever thought about the “All-Time Best Seasons” for a Houston Astro first baseman? We decided to look into which first baseman had the best seasons in the history. The writers set a criteria that the players have to have played at least 100-games with the Astros that year.

While all 5 seasons could be dedicated to Jeff Bagwell, who is a hall of famer in any Houston fans eyes, other first basemen will be mixed in as well. However the national media has a different view of Bagwell.

Links to Other Positions in Series

Catcher

First Base

Second Base

Third Base

Shortstop

Left Field

Center Field

Right Field

Starting Pitching

Relievers

Managers

Challenge:

Besides Bagwell, name 4 other first basemen that have played for the Astros. Take your time, when you finish your list move on to the next slide to find out which first basemen had the best seasons as an Astro.

Next: 1977: Bob Watson

1977: Bob Watson

Bob Watson had called Houston home since his debut in 1966 at 20 years old. In 1966, in only their second season as the “Houston Astros”, the franchise finally got over the 70-win mark (72-90). Watson’s nickname was “Bull,” and he came up through the minor leagues as a catcher.

He was a great overall hitter, and one has to wonder how his home run totals were affected by playing in the spacious Astrodome for his Houston career.He appeared in two All-Star games during the 1973 and 1975 seasons.

Watson was used at first base, the outfield, and even at catcher. In 1976, Bob Watson finally settled into a set position of first base after 9 years of being a utility player. With Lee May at first base from 1972-1975, Watson played sporadically at first base. Throughout Watson’s early career, he hit for average, 20-25 home runs, above 90 runs batted in, while scoring runs at a good clip.

In 1977, Bob Watson appeared settled in at first base after Lee May went to Baltimore. He had his best season that year while playing first base.

His stats (from Baseball Reference):

• .289 BA/.360 OBP/.498 SLG/.858 OPS
• 160 hits
• 76 runs
• 38 doubles
• 3 triples
• 22 HRs
• 110 RBI
• 57 walks
• 5.4 WAR

The 1977 season was Watson’s best. He set career marks in home runs and runs batted in. He finished 5th that season in doubles hit with 38 and in runs batted in with 110. Bob Watson finished his career with a career WAR of 28.2.

Did You Know: Bob Watson was the GM of the Yankees when they won the World Series in 1996. He served as vice president of major league baseball over discipline until 2010.

Next: 1986: Glenn Davis

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

1994: Jeff Bagwell

Jeff Bagwell was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 4th round of the 1989 draft. He was traded to the Astros for reliever Larry Anderson in oneofthemostlopsideddealsinMLB history. 1994 was a weird year in baseball. Jeff Bagwell won the NL MVP award even after having his hand broken by being hit by a pitch after only 110 games.

How was that possible? That was the year on the work stoppage by the player strike. The season ended on August 12, 1994, and baseball did not return until 232 days later. Bagwell had his hand broken on August 10th, 2 days before the strike.

The following quote is from Bobby Husley from the article Bagwell Breaks Two Team Records, Bombs Giants.

“The 1994 season was Jeff Bagwell’s coming out party. Sure, the 1991 National League Rookie Of The Year had exceeded all expectations since the time he arrived from Boston in a deadline deal for reliever Larry Andersen but, in 1994, Bagwell went on a hot streak that has not been seen by a Houston player before or since. The only regret was that it ended two months too soon.”

If Bagwell had not broken his hand or the strike didn’t cancel the season, had a chance to take the triple crown in 1994. The late Tony Gwyn finished with a 0.394 batting average that denied Bagwell the triple crown. Here is Bagwell’s 1994 stats.

His stats (from Baseball Reference):

• .368 BA/.451 OBP/.750 SLG/ 1.201 OPS
• 47 hits
• 104 runs
• 32 doubles
• 39 HRs
• 116 RBI
• 65 walks
• 8.2 WAR

Behind manager Terry Collins and Bagwell’s MVP season, the Astros finished in 0.5 game behind the Reds for second place in the NL Central. Other familiar names on the team were Craig Biggio, Ken Caminiti, Luis Gonzalez, Doug Drabek, Darryl Kile, Mike Hampton, and one of my favorites Shane Reynolds.

On a personal note, I remember this season very well because some company through the Houston Chronicle did a simulation of the rest of the 1994 season, like a strike never happened. Fans were able to follow along with what could have happened. I think the Expos beat the Astros to go to the 1994 simulated World Series. Bagwell did end up coming back from the broken hand in the simulation in time for playoffs.

Did You Know: Along with winning the MVP award in 1994, Bagwell received the only Gold Glove award of his career, a Silver Slugger award, and was selected to the 1994 All-Star game.

Next: 1997: Jeff Bagwell

1997: Jeff Bagwell

Jeff Bagwell had plenty of great seasons for the Astros, but as I mentioned earlier, I can’t devote entire post to just Bagwell. Just going by Bagwell’s WAR, his 1997 season was his second best season ever.

While he may have hit more home runs and drove in more runs in other seasons, 1997 represented one of his better overall seasons.

His stats (from Baseball Reference):

• .286 BA/.425 OBP/.592 SLG/1.017 OPS
• 162 hits
• 40 doubles
• 2 triples
• 43 HRs
• 135 RBI
• 127 walks
• 31 stolen bases
• 7.7 WAR

Craig Biggio’s WAR in 1997 was far larger than Bagwell’s, 9.2 compared to 7.7 respectively. This is what made them such a dynamic duo, because of the way they were able to carry the team.

Under manager Larry Dierker, the Astros finished 1st in the central division after scoring 777 runs while giving up 660 runs. They fell short in the NL Division Series 3-0 to the Atlanta Braves.

This was also the year of the “Killer B’s,” with Bagwell, Biggio, Sean Berry, and Derek Bell. The pitching staff included Darryl Kile, Mike Hampton, Shane Reynolds, Jose Lima, and Chris Holt. With Billy Wagner as the closer, the Astros went 84-78.

Did You Know: In 1997 Bagwell was an All-Star and won the Silver Slugger award.

Next: 2008: Lance Berkman

2008: Lance Berkman

Apr 5, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; former Houston Astro Lance Berkman is honored prior to the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Sports

The “Big Puma” or “Fat Elvis” took over 1st base when Bagwell retired in 2005. Lance Berkman was drafted in the first round of the 1997 MLB draft, 16th overall. He quickly moved through the minor leagues and made his debut in 1999. Berkman was already a local celebrity because he went to college at Rice University.

Berkman, like Craig Biggio played multiple positions as an Astro. Berkman was a 6 time All-Star at multiple positions including first base, center field, and left field. In 2008, Berkman got off to a hot start hitting 22 home runs before the All-Star break, but ended up the season hitting only 29 home runs.

Highlights of his 2008 season.

Lance Berkman won the player of the Month award in May, and won several player of the week awards. He hit his 300th career home run against Jon Garland, as well as making s splash landing in McCovey’s Cove in San Francisco. He finished 5th in MVP voting.

His stats (from Baseball Reference):

• .312 BA/.420 OBP/.567 SLG/.986 OPS
• 173 hits
• 46 doubles
• 4 triple
• 29 HRs
• 106 RBI
• 18 stolen bases
• 99 walks
• 6.8 WAR

Although Berkman was unable to reproduce similar numbers in 2009 or beyond, 2008 was Berkman’s best overall season. Two years later in 2010 is when the Astros rebuilding effort began by trading Berkman to the Yankees. Berkman had a bounce back year in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals (gag), hitting 0.301/ 31 HR/ 94 RBI/ 6 SB.

Berkman tried again in 2012 with Cardinals and 2013 with the Rangers, but both times he failed be the star he once was. He retired at 37-years old after 15 years in the majors. He is now assisting at Rice University with the baseball team.

Did You Know: Berkman appeared in another World Series besides with the Astros during the 2005 season, what team and year was it?

Next: Vote for the Astros Best All-Time Season: First Base