Jeff Bagwell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeff Bagwell
Bagwell in 2009
First baseman
Born: (1968-05-27) May 27, 1968 (age 57) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
April 8, 1991, for the Houston Astros
Last appearance
October 2, 2005, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
Batting average	.297
Hits	2,314
Home runs	449
Runs batted in	1,529
Teams
Houston Astros (1991–2005)
Career highlights and awards
4× All-Star (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999) NL MVP (1994) NL Rookie of the Year (1991) Gold Glove Award (1994) 3× Silver Slugger Award (1994, 1997, 1999) NL RBI leader (1994) Houston Astros No. 5 retired Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2017
Vote	86.2% (seventh ballot)

Jeffrey Robert Bagwell (born May 27, 1968) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He spent his entire 15-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Houston Astros.

Jeff was first picked by the Boston Red Sox in 1989. But he was traded to the Astros in 1990. He quickly became a star. In 1991, he was named the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year. In 1994, he won the NL Most Valuable Player Award (MVP).

Bagwell, along with teammates Craig Biggio and Lance Berkman, were known as the "Killer B's". The Astros were very successful during their time. They often finished at the top of their division. Bagwell played in the World Series once, in 2005.

He hit 449 home runs for the Astros. This is the most in the club's history. He was a four-time MLB All-Star. He also won three Silver Slugger awards and a Gold Glove. Bagwell is the only player in MLB history to have six straight seasons (1996–2001) with 30 home runs, 100 RBIs, 100 runs scored, and 100 walks. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Early Life and School

Jeff Bagwell was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His family moved to Killingworth, Connecticut, when he was one year old. His parents were big fans of the Boston Red Sox. Jeff's favorite player was Carl Yastrzemski.

Jeff's dad, Robert, played college baseball. His mom, Janice, was a police officer and played softball. His parents divorced when he was 11. Jeff was very athletic from a young age. His mom said he "could throw a ball before he could walk."

He went to Xavier High School in Middletown. He was good at many sports. He set a school record in soccer. He also played shortstop in baseball and was good at basketball. In 1989, Xavier honored him for his good character. He also played American Legion Baseball.

College Baseball Days

Bill Denehy, the coach at the University of Hartford, gave Bagwell a scholarship. Baseball was not his main sport at first. But he accepted the scholarship because there was no professional soccer league in the U.S. at the time.

At Hartford, Coach Denehy moved Bagwell to third base. Jeff played three seasons for Hartford. He batted .413, which was a school record. He also set school records for career home runs (31) and run batted in (126). He was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference player of the year twice.

Becoming a Professional Player

Drafted by the Red Sox

The Red Sox picked Jeff Bagwell in the fourth round of the 1989 Major League Baseball draft. His first team was the Winter Haven Red Sox in 1989. He batted .310 there. In 1990, he played for the AA New Britain Red Sox. He won the Eastern League Most Valuable Player Award. He batted .333 with 160 hits and 61 RBIs.

Trade to the Houston Astros

In 1990, the Red Sox needed a relief pitcher for the playoffs. They traded Bagwell to the Houston Astros for pitcher Larry Andersen. This trade is now seen as one of the most one-sided trades in baseball history. The Red Sox lost Andersen after the season. Bagwell became a superstar for the Astros.

Jeff Bagwell's Amazing Career with the Astros

Jeff Bagwell spent his entire MLB career with the Houston Astros. He and Craig Biggio played together for 15 seasons. They were a powerful duo known as the "Killer B's." From 1994 to 2003, they were All-Stars many times. They helped the Astros reach the playoffs six times.

Bagwell had a unique batting style. He would wait for the pitch in a low crouch. His legs were wide, and his knees were bent. He would then rise and swing with a lot of power. This stance helped him hit for power and get more walks.

Rookie of the Year and Early Success (1991–1993)

The Astros invited Bagwell to spring training in 1991. They were impressed with him. They asked him to switch from third base to first base, and he agreed. He learned the new position quickly. Bagwell made his MLB debut on Opening Day.

He finished his rookie year batting .294 with 15 home runs and 82 RBIs. He led the Astros in many hitting categories. He was named the 1991 National League Rookie of the Year. He was the first Astros player to win this award.

In 1992, Bagwell hit 18 home runs and drove in 96 runs. In 1993, he was batting .320 with 20 home runs. However, his season ended early when a pitch broke a bone in his left hand. This happened three seasons in a row.

MVP Season (1994)

The 1994 season was Bagwell's best. It was shortened by a player strike. In June, he hit 13 home runs, an Astros record for one month. He was named NL Player of the Month for June and July.

He was selected for his first All-Star Game. By July 27, he was the first player in the majors to reach 100 RBIs. His season ended on August 10 when a pitch broke his left hand again.

Bagwell played in 110 games in 1994. He batted an amazing .368 with 39 home runs and 116 RBIs. He led the major leagues in several stats. He won the NL Most Valuable Player Award unanimously. He was the first Astros player to win MVP. He also won his first Silver Slugger and Gold Glove.

Continued Success (1995–1996)

The 1995 season was also shortened by the strike. Bagwell had a slow start but improved. For the third time, a pitch broke a bone in his left hand. He started wearing a special padded batting glove. He finished the year batting .290 with 21 home runs.

After the season, he trained hard. He gained 20 pounds and became stronger. By 1996, Bagwell and Biggio were team leaders. They helped the Astros play at a higher level.

In 1996, Bagwell played all 162 games. He batted .315 with 31 home runs, 120 RBIs, and 111 runs scored. He also stole 21 bases. This made him a member of the 20–20 club (20 home runs and 20 stolen bases). He led the NL in doubles with 48. He was selected for his second All-Star team.

First Playoff Appearances (1997–1998)

In 1997, Bagwell hit his 1,000th career hit, which was a home run. He became the first full-time first baseman to join the 30–30 club (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases). He finished with 43 home runs and 135 RBIs, a career high. The Astros won their division. They made the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. But they were swept by the Atlanta Braves.

In 1998, Bagwell hit his first career grand slam. He finished the season batting .304 with 34 home runs and 111 RBIs. The Astros won a franchise-best 102 games. But they lost in the playoffs again.

More Milestones (1999–2001)

In 1999, Bagwell's high school, Xavier, retired his uniform number 9. On April 21, Bagwell hit three home runs in one game. This made him the Astros' all-time home run leader. He had another three-home run game on June 9.

He was an All-Star for the fourth time. Bagwell led the major leagues in runs scored (143) and walks (149). He hit 42 home runs and stole 30 bases. This was his second 30–30 season. He and Barry Bonds were the only players to have two 40-30 seasons (40 home runs and 30 stolen bases). The Astros won their division again. Bagwell finished second in the NL MVP voting. He won his third Silver Slugger Award.

In 2000, Bagwell hit his 299th and 300th career home runs. He joined Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth as one of only five players to reach 300 home runs, 1,000 RBIs, and 1,000 runs scored in their first ten seasons. He finished the season with a career-high 47 home runs. His 152 runs scored was the highest total in a season since Lou Gehrig in 1936.

In 2001, Bagwell hit for the cycle against the St. Louis Cardinals. This means he hit a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game. He also had his sixth straight season with at least 30 home runs, 100 RBIs, 100 runs scored, and 100 walks. No other player in MLB history has done this. The Astros won their division again. But they were swept in the playoffs. After the season, Bagwell had shoulder surgery.

Later Career and World Series (2002–2005)

In 2003, Bagwell got his 2,000th career hit. He was the second Astro to do so, after Biggio. On July 20, 2003, he hit his 400th career home run. He was the 35th player in MLB history to reach this mark.

In 2004, Bagwell stole his 200th career base. He became the tenth player in MLB history to have 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases. He also got his 1,500th career RBI and 1,500th run scored. The Astros finally won a playoff series, beating the Braves. They then faced the Cardinals in the NLCS but lost.

Bagwell posing with a group of fans

In 2005, Bagwell's shoulder problems got worse. He played only a few games early in the season. He hit his last major league home run on April 29. He then went on the disabled list and had shoulder surgery.

The Astros played much better without him and made the playoffs. Bagwell returned as a pinch hitter in September. He played a small but important role as the Astros won their first-ever National League pennant. They reached the World Series for the first time. Bagwell was the designated hitter in some games. The White Sox swept the Astros in four games.

Retirement (2006)

In 2006, doctors said Bagwell was "completely disabled" and could not play baseball again. The Astros tried to get insurance money for his contract. This made it hard for him to play. He still came to spring training to try and play. But he could only play every few days. He officially retired in December 2006.

After Retirement

Bagwell (left) and Biggio (right)

On June 28, 2007, Bagwell made a public appearance at Minute Maid Park. His friend Craig Biggio had just gotten his 3,000th career hit. Bagwell came out of the dugout to congratulate him. The fans cheered loudly for both of them.

The Houston Astros officially retired Bagwell's jersey number 5 on August 26, 2007. He was the eighth player in Astros history to have his number retired. His childhood hero, Carl Yastrzemski, sent a special message. He said, "Boston's loss was Houston's gain. See you in Cooperstown."

In 2017, Bagwell and Biggio watched the Astros win their first-ever World Series championship. They were very happy for the team. Both received World Series rings in 2018.

As a Coach

Bagwell has worked as a coach and instructor for the Astros. In 2007, he was a coach in spring training. In 2010, the Astros hired him as their hitting coach. He helped the team improve their hitting. He did not return as hitting coach after that season. In 2015, he returned as a guest instructor for spring training.

National Baseball Hall of Fame

Bagwell became eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011. Some people wondered if he used performance-enhancing drugs during his career. However, there has been no clear proof that he did. At the time, some substances like androstenedione were not banned by MLB.

Many people, including former Braves manager Bobby Cox, believed Bagwell should be in the Hall of Fame. Cox said Bagwell "dominated like that for one team."

In 2016, Bagwell received 71.6% of the votes. On January 18, 2017, he was voted into the Hall of Fame with 86.2% of the votes. He was inducted on July 30, 2017.

Career Highlights

Bagwell was honored with a statue at Minute Maid Park in 2003, which is placed near a statue of his teammate Craig Biggio.

Jeff Bagwell's career was full of amazing achievements. His 79.6 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) ranks him among the best first basemen ever. He played his first nine seasons at the Astrodome. This stadium was known for being tough for hitters. But Bagwell still performed very well there.

He batted over .300 six times in his career. He hit at least 30 home runs eight times. He also had 100 RBIs eight times, 100 runs scored nine times, and 100 walks seven times. He is the only player in history to have six straight seasons (1996–2001) with 30 home runs, 100 RBIs, 100 runs, and 100 walks.

Bagwell is one of only 12 players in MLB history to hit 400 home runs and have a career on-base percentage of at least .400. He is the only first baseman to reach the 30–30 club twice. He is also the only first baseman with at least 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases. He is one of only 21 players to win both a Rookie of the Year Award and an MVP.

He is the Astros' all-time leader in home runs (449) and RBIs (1,529). He was also a great defender at first base, winning a Gold Glove in 1994.

Awards and Honors

Personal Life

Since retiring, Bagwell has spent a lot of time with his family. He is married to Rachel Bagwell. They have five children in a blended family. Jeff had two daughters, Blake and Bryce, from a previous marriage. Rachel had three children before meeting Jeff.

Bagwell has said he "doesn't enjoy too much of the spotlight." His friend Brad Ausmus shared some fun facts about him. Jeff loved soccer as much as baseball growing up. He hit 449 home runs, just three less than his hero, Carl Yastrzemski.

Jeff was the first recipient of the Darryl Kile Good Guy Award in 2003. This award honors former teammate Darryl Kile, who passed away in 2002. Bagwell also gave a speech at the funeral of another former teammate, Ken Caminiti, who died in 2004.

Jeff Bagwell's number 5 was retired by the Houston Astros in 2007.

Images for kids

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  Bagwell at bat for the Astros

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  Bagwell was honored with a statue at Minute Maid Park in 2003, which is placed near a statue of his teammate Craig Biggio.