Astros: Best individual seasons in club history

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We continue with our series ranking the best individual seasons in Houston Astros history.

Now that we’re moving into the outfield in our rankings of the best individual seasons in Houston Astros history, I had to decide whether to rank each outfield position separately or simply combine them. In the end, I’ve combined them all.

Part of the difficulty in separating them would’ve stemmed from players appearing in multiple outfield positions or switching positions from one year to the next. So to make it easier, I’ve ranked the top 15 individual seasons by outfielders in franchise history. Again, each player can only appear on the list once.

15. Rusty Staub – 1967

Staub broke into the majors with the Colt .45s as a 19-year-old, and then broke out in ’67 with his first All-Star nod. He hit .333/.398/.473 with 10 homers, 74 RBIs and a league-leading 44 doubles. His 5.1 WAR was his best in Houston, but his three years in Montreal were all better.

14. Luis Gonzalez – 1993

Gonzalez had his best years with the Diamondbacks in his 30s, but he started his career in Houston. His best year with the Astros came at age 25 when he hit .300/.361/.457 with 34 doubles, 15 homers, 72 RBIs and 20 steals, good enough for 5.3 WAR.

13. Kevin Bass – 1986

Bass was a solid hitter for the club in the mid-1980s. This season was his best, and it earned him a seventh-place MVP finish and his only All-Star selection. He hit .311/.357/.486 with 33 doubles, 20 homers, 79 RBIs and 22 stolen bases, racking up 5.3 WAR.

12. Derek Bell – 1998

Bell came from San Diego in the Ken Caminiti trade, and he put up a few good seasons. This was his best, when he hit .314/.364/.490 with 41 doubles, 22 homers, 108 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. This was good for 5.4 WAR, though his production would crater the next year.

11. Michael Bourn – 2010

I was surprised to see Bourn make this list, but his 2010 season was buoyed by a really high WAR mark defensively. He was terrific in the field, winning his second straight Gold Glove, and also led the league in steals for the second straight season. He swiped 52 bags and hit .265/.341/.346 to total 5.5 WAR.

NORTH PORT, FLORIDA – MARCH 10: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros at bat against the Atlanta Braves during a Grapefruit League spring training game at CoolToday Park on March 10, 2020 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

10. Steve Finley – 1992

We’ve talked about Finley recently, how he came to Houston in the Glenn Davis trade and left in the Caminiti deal. In between, he totaled 5.7 WAR in a strong 1992 season in which he hit .292/.355/.407 with 29 doubles, 13 triples, five homers, 55 RBIs and 44 stolen bases.

9. Carl Everett – 1999

Everett was only in Houston for two seasons, but they were good ones. His best was 1999 when he hit .325/.398/.571 with 33 doubles, 25 homers, 108 RBIs and 27 stolen bases, totaling 5.8 WAR. He was traded to the Red Sox following the season for a player with the same last name but no relation – Adam Everett.

8. Terry Puhl – 1980

The first part of Puhl’s career was better than the second, and his best year was 1980. He hit .282/.357/.419 with 24 doubles, 13 homers, 55 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. This might not seem overly impressive, but considering the era in which he played, it was worth 6.2 WAR.

7. Moises Alou – 1998

Alou played three excellent seasons with the Astros, and this was his first. He hit .312/.399/.582 with 34 doubles, 38 homers and 124 RBIs, making the All-Star team and finishing third in the MVP voting. This was good for 6.2 WAR, though he would unfortunately miss the next season due to a torn ACL.

6. Jose Cruz – 1984

Cheo had so many great seasons with the Astros, but this one takes the cake by an eyelash. He totaled 6.3 WAR in 1984 by hitting .312/.381/.462 with 28 doubles, 13 triples, 12 homers, 95 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. He also walked more than he struck out and finished eighth in the MVP voting.

5. Richard Hidalgo – 2000

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This was Hidalgo’s big year, and it’s a shame he was never able to replicate it. In the team’s first year in the new stadium, he broke out with a .314/.391/.636 line to go along with 42 doubles, 44 homers and 122 RBIs, totaling 6.3 WAR. How he only finished 20th in the MVP voting is beyond me.

4. George Springer – 2019

Springer is our late entrant into the contest. Despite playing in only 122 games, he totaled 6.4 WAR this past year by hitting .292/.383/.591 with 39 homers and 96 RBIs. If he’d not missed some time with injury, he could’ve moved up a spot or two. Maybe he still can if his Astros career continues.

3. Lance Berkman – 2001

We already saw Berkman on our first base list, and he’s here too with his first big season in the majors. He mashed to the tune of a .331/.430/.620 line with 34 homers, 126 RBIs and a majors-leading 55 doubles. He made his first All-Star team and had the first of four top-five MVP finishes, compiling 6.5 WAR.

2. Jimmy Wynn – 1965

The Toy Cannon’s first full big league season was his best from a WAR standpoint, as he totaled 7.4 in 1965. He hit .275/.371/.470 with 30 doubles, 22 homers, 73 RBIs and 43 stolen bases. He would go on to put up better power numbers and better offensive campaigns, but his all-around numbers make this one his best.

1. Cesar Cedeno – 1972

The top spot goes to the guy who, at his peak, may have been the best player in franchise history. He hit .320/.385/.537 with 22 homers, 82 RBIs, 55 stolen bases and a league-leading 39 doubles. He was an All-Star for the first time, finished sixth in the MVP voting and won his first Gold Glove. Only 21 at the time, he compiled 8.0 WAR and established himself as a true five-tool player.

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