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Ranking the Astros Hall of Fame Candidates From Their Dynasty Era

By Alec Brown |
Championship Series - New York Yankees v Houston Astros - Game One
Championship Series - New York Yankees v Houston Astros - Game One / Tom Pennington/GettyImages
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The Astros’ golden era of baseball has been filled with greatness, both on a team level and an individual level. We’re spoiled to be living in this era of Astros baseball. It’s easy to fall into expecting a World Series ring at the end of each season, but when one takes a step back and examines this era from afar, the magnitude of their success begins to sink in. 

Multiple players from their dynasty will be enshrined in Cooperstown one day. Some will wear Astros’ caps and others won’t. 

In light of the election announcement this week, we’re going to take a look at the most deserving candidates, from the no doubters, to the deserving dependent upon voters view of the scandal. We’ll look at the health dependent and the too early to tell, but they’re on track. And lastly, we’ll look at the just missed, the Hall of Greatness. 

First up, the no doubt locks.

World Series - Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros - Game Six
World Series - Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros - Game Six / Harry How/GettyImages

Dusty Baker

The Astros have employed three surefire Hall of Famers in the last six seasons: Dusty Baker, Zack Greinke and Justin Verlander. 

Dusty Baker’s resume was legendary before his time in Houston, but was solidified after arriving to bring stability in 2020. In three seasons with the Astros, Baker has made three straight trips to the ALCS. He’s won his last two. Of course, 2022 brought Baker his long awaited ring. 

Baker’s 2093 wins rank him 9th all-time. He’ll climb to at least seventh this year, and if the Astros win 102 games, he’ll finish sixth. Baker’s time in Houston has taken him from Hall of Greatness to Hall of Fame. 

League Championship Series - New York Yankees v Houston Astros - Game Two
League Championship Series - New York Yankees v Houston Astros - Game Two / Elsa/GettyImages

Justin Verlander

Since the Astros acquired him at the 2017 waiver deadline, JV was the workhorse of dominant rotation after dominant rotation. 

His Astros stint was brief, but legendary—two Cy Young awards, two World Series titles, a 61-19 record, a 2.26 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP. He threw his third career no-hitter as well. Had Verlander not missed all but 1 game of the 2020 season and all of 2021, he’d already be knocking on the door for 300 wins. With 244, the number is still attainable, especially if he has a dominant first year in a Mets’ uniform. 

We'll miss him in the future, but his time in The H was so dominant, there is actually a case he gets enshrined to the Hall of Fame wearing an Astros cap.

Championship Series - Houston Astros v Boston Red Sox - Game Four
Championship Series - Houston Astros v Boston Red Sox - Game Four / Elsa/GettyImages

Zack Greinke

Greinke is the final no-doubter. His time in Houston was solid and more so tacked onto a Hall of Fame resume rather than solidified. The six-time all-star and six-time Gold Glove winner went 22-10 in his three years as an Astro. He’s got 201 wins outside of an Astros uniform. 

If Greinke can pitch two more years, he should reach 3,000 strikeouts for his career. He currently sits 20th. The only names above him not enshrined are either active (JV & Scherzer), not yet eligible (Sabathia) or marred in controversy (Schilling). 

One of the four best pitchers of his generation, Greinke will join Verlander, Kershaw and Scherzer as dominant starters enshrined in Cooperstown. 

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