Jeff Bagwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jeff Bagwell |
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Bagwell in 2009
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: May 27, 1968 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| 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 | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2017 | ||
| Vote | 86.2% (seventh ballot) | ||
Jeffrey Robert Bagwell (born May 27, 1968) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played his entire 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Houston Astros.
Bagwell was first drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1989 but was traded to the Astros in 1990. This trade is often seen as one of the most one-sided in baseball history because Bagwell became a superstar. He was named the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year in 1991. In 1994, he won the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.
Alongside teammates Craig Biggio and Lance Berkman, Bagwell was part of a famous group known as the "Killer B's". They led the Astros to great success, making the playoffs six times between 1994 and 2005. This period ended with Bagwell's only World Series appearance in 2005.
Bagwell holds many Astros records, including the most career home runs with 449. He was a four-time All-Star, a three-time Silver Slugger winner, and a Gold Glove winner. He is the only first baseman in history with at least 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases. In 2017, Bagwell was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and School
Jeff Bagwell was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His family moved to Killingworth, Connecticut, when he was a baby. His parents were big fans of the Boston Red Sox, and his favorite player was Carl Yastrzemski. Bagwell was a talented athlete from a young age and played many sports.
He went to Xavier High School, an all-boys school in Middletown. He was great at soccer and set the school's goal-scoring record. He also played basketball and was a shortstop in baseball.
For college, Bagwell attended the University of Hartford, where he was offered a baseball scholarship. The head coach, Bill Denehy, moved him to third base. At Hartford, Bagwell set school records with a .413 batting average, 31 home runs, and 126 runs batted in (RBIs).
Professional Career
Minor Leagues and a Famous Trade
The Boston Red Sox drafted Bagwell in 1989. He played for their minor league teams and was named the Most Valuable Player of the Eastern League in 1990. He was a great hitter, but he didn't hit many home runs at first.
On August 30, 1990, the Red Sox traded Bagwell to the Houston Astros for a relief pitcher named Larry Andersen. The Red Sox needed help for the playoffs right away, but the trade turned out to be a huge win for the Astros. Andersen only played for the Red Sox for a short time, while Bagwell became a Hall of Fame player for Houston.
Houston Astros
Bagwell became one of the best players in Astros history. He and his teammate Craig Biggio played together for 15 seasons. They were known as the "Killer B's" and were a powerful force in baseball during the 1990s and 2000s.
Bagwell had a very unique batting stance. He would crouch very low with his legs wide apart, almost like he was sitting on a bench. This strange stance helped him see the ball well and hit for power.
Rookie of the Year (1991–1993)
In 1991, the Astros moved Bagwell to first base because they already had a good third baseman. He learned the new position quickly and made the team without playing at the Triple-A level. In his first season, he hit .294 with 15 home runs and 82 RBIs. He was named the NL Rookie of the Year, the first Astros player ever to win the award.
Over the next two years, he continued to play well. In 1993, his season was cut short when he was hit by a pitch and broke a bone in his hand. This would happen again in the next two seasons.
MVP Season (1994)
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Bagwell's best season was in 1994, even though it was shortened by a players' strike. He was amazing at the plate. In June, he hit 13 home runs, a new Astros record for a single month. He was chosen for his first All-Star Game.
On August 10, his season ended when another pitch broke his hand. In just 110 games, he hit .368 with 39 home runs and 116 RBIs. He led the major leagues in several categories. For his incredible performance, he was unanimously voted the NL Most Valuable Player. He also won his first Silver Slugger Award and a Rawlings Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense.
Joining the 30-30 Club (1995–1998)
After his MVP season, Bagwell continued to be a star. In 1996, he hit 31 home runs and stole 21 bases, becoming a member of the 20-20 club.
In 1997, he had an even better season. He hit 43 home runs and stole 31 bases, becoming the first full-time first baseman to join the 30–30 club. The Astros won their division and made the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. They lost to the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS.
In 1998, the Astros won 102 games, a team record. They made the playoffs again but lost to the San Diego Padres.
Another Amazing Season (1999)
In 1999, Bagwell had another incredible year. On April 21, he hit three home runs in one game against the Chicago Cubs. He did it again on June 9 against the Chicago White Sox.
He finished the season with 42 home runs and 30 stolen bases, joining the 40-30 club. He and Barry Bonds are the only players to have two 40-30 seasons. Bagwell also led the league in runs scored (143) and walks (149). The Astros won their third straight division title but lost again to the Braves in the playoffs.
Record-Breaking Years (2000–2004)
In 2000, the Astros moved into their new stadium, Enron Field (now Minute Maid Park). Bagwell hit a career-high 47 home runs and scored 152 runs, the most by any player since Lou Gehrig in 1936.
In 2001, he hit for the cycle (a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game). He also became the only player in MLB history to have six straight seasons with 30 home runs, 100 RBIs, 100 runs scored, and 100 walks.
By 2003, Bagwell had reached major milestones, including his 2,000th career hit and his 400th career home run. In 2004, he helped the Astros win their first-ever playoff series, defeating the Braves in the NLDS. They lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS.
World Series Appearance and Retirement (2005–2006)
By 2005, a nagging shoulder injury began to seriously affect Bagwell's playing. He missed most of the season but returned in September to help the team as a pinch hitter. The Astros made a historic run to the World Series, their first ever. They played the Chicago White Sox but lost the series.
Bagwell tried to make a comeback in 2006, but his shoulder was too injured. He officially announced his retirement in December 2006.
Life After Baseball
On August 26, 2007, the Houston Astros retired Bagwell's jersey number, 5. He became the eighth player in team history to receive this honor. His childhood hero, Carl Yastrzemski, sent a message congratulating him.
Bagwell has remained involved with the Astros organization. He served as a hitting coach in 2010 and has been a guest instructor. He and Craig Biggio were present when the Astros won their first World Series championship in 2017.
In 2017, Bagwell was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. This cemented his legacy as one of the greatest first basemen in the history of baseball.
Career Highlights
Bagwell was an outstanding player with many achievements.
- Only player in MLB history with six straight seasons (1996–2001) of 30 home runs, 100 RBIs, 100 runs scored, and 100 walks.
- Only first baseman in MLB history with 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases.
- One of two players in MLB history with two 40–30 seasons (40 home runs and 30 stolen bases).
- Houston Astros' all-time leader in home runs (449) and RBIs (1,529).
- Won the NL Rookie of the Year Award (1991) and the NL MVP Award (1994).
- Four-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger winner, and one-time Gold Glove winner.
Personal Life
Since retiring, Bagwell has focused on his family. He is married to Rachel Bagwell, and they have a blended family of five children.
His former teammate and close friend, Brad Ausmus, shared that Bagwell loved soccer as much as baseball growing up. He also noted that Bagwell was a great teammate who always put the team first.
See also
In Spanish: Jeff Bagwell para niños
