In praise of Craig Biggio
Craig Biggio just passed Ted Williams on the all-time hit list. He’s one steal away from 400 career steals. Yesterday he homered in his first at bat and knocked in the 1000th RBI of his career. (He also doubled and knocked in his 1001st RBI.)
Consider Biggio’s career stats: 399 steals, 1,001 RBIs, 236 homers, 2,658 hits and 570 doubles. His lifetime average is .287 and he’s scored 1612 runs. Add 1063 walks and 257 HBPs (hit by pitch)– he has a lifetime on base percentage of .373. He played for years in the Astrodome (where long flies go to die) and that cut his home run production and lowered his average (we can debate by how much).
He started off as a catcher (made All-Star as a catcher), played second base for years (All-Star several times), moved to the outfield (was an average outfielder), and has now moved back to second.
Is Biggio a Hall of Famer? I think so. If he were playing in New York he would have gotten the sportswriters’ ink and national attention he’s earned. Look, Bucky Dent became a national name in New York, and Dent was a piker compared to Biggio. The knock on Biggio? No pennant. The upside of Biggio? The offensive stats speak for themselves, but for 12 or 13 years of his 18 year career, Biggio was one of the top six players in the National League, day in and day out.
UPDATE: Commenter 3– read through the subsequent comments, including the all-time second base ratings. Those comments flesh out good reasons for naming Biggio as one of the six best players “day in and day out” in the league for 12 years of his career. Plus I heard a couple of professional ballplayers in the 90s make similar statements — literally “inside baseball” acknowledgedment of Biggio’s solid, consistent, and superior performance.
Compare Biggio to Joe Morgan who is in the Hall. His numbers measure up. If Biggio does not break down this year or next he should have a great chance. Some may grouse about his play at three positions, but who cares?
Comment by John Oh — 4/21/2005 @ 7:33 pm
Word! We’re Texans and mostly Rangers fans, but we’ve always followed and admired Biggio. He gets our highest award, having been decreed at our house “a gamer.” Affectionately known hereabouts as Pigpen, for his persistent, headlong enthusiasm on the base paths and in the outfield.
Comment by Teresa Migratorious — 4/21/2005 @ 7:35 pm
Jono: Biggio’s numbers aren’t close to Morgan’s. Morgan had nine straight 40+ steal seasons, Biggio has had two. Morgan had nine seasons where he walked 100+ times, Biggio’s only cracked 90 once. The fielding is no contest, and Morgan was the NL MVP during the Reds’ two WS wins in the 70s (but postseason numbers for both players are surprisingly low). Austin: your claim that Biggio was one of the top six players in the NL during the 90s is hard to fathom considering he’s only cracked the top 10 in NL MVP voting three times in his career. I think that in this age of huge production he’s borderline. Ryne Sandberg is still on the outside looking in and he has 9 Gold Gloves (Biggio 4), 7 Silver Sluggers (Biggio 4 at 2B and one at C) and an MVP award. And the Bucky Dent comment is pure rubbish: Dent’s not in the Hall, he’s not near the Hall and unless he has a Joe Torre career in him as a manager, he doesn’t have a chance. Dent’s famous because he’s a pop fly hitter who struck the three-run bomb that decided the 1978 AL East title. If he had not, he’d be no more notable than Bobby Meacham, Wayne Tolleson, Rey Ordonez or Rafael Santana.
Comment by The Monk — 4/21/2005 @ 7:51 pm
One of the most under-rated/under-appreciated superstars in today’s game. Not just under-rated for lack of a pennant, suffers from doing everything well except mammoth home runs. And now, when the Baseball prospectus folks and the Billy Beane/Theo Epstein and Moneyball devotees have educated us all on the overwhelming importance of on base percentage, Biggio still doesn’t get his due because he’s at the tail end of his career and no longer a truly superstar. A great one, and a first ballot Hall of Famer in my opinion. (He’ll get in eventually, but probably not first ballot.)
Comment by Andrew F — 4/21/2005 @ 7:55 pm
He is a great player and also a good person. Funny he still looks like a kid.
Comment by roux — 4/21/2005 @ 8:01 pm
Biggio’s no Joe Morgan, but he’s one of the great second basemen. In his prime, don’t forget, he played in the Astrodome, not Artificially Inflated Power Company Field. He’s a classic “little things” guy - tons of doubles, hit by a lot of pitches, didn’t hit into DPs. In his prime his OBPs weren’t spectacular but they were very good and he was in scoring position constantly. A very interesting debate can be had, when all is said and done, comparing Biggio, Alomar and (gag) Kent. That said, despite the hot start, I don’t think Biggio has a whole lot left in the tank.
Comment by Crank — 4/21/2005 @ 8:13 pm
Biggio is the archetype of an underrated player. He does nothing spectacularly, he plays good defense at a good defensive position, but he’s not Ozzie Smith, he is a good baserunner, but no Rickey, he hits for a decent average, for a good bit of power (especially when considering he played in the Astrodome), never a 40 hr a year player, but good for 15 to 20 or so. Overall, he does everything very well, which makes him a great player. In addition, he’s doesn’t play in a giant media market (say Boston or New York), doesn’t draw attention to himself, and was never really on any great teams, all of which lead him to being underrated. Again, there have been better second basemen, (the jury’s still out on him vs Alomar, but I’m leaning towards Alomar), but definately a hall of famer. Oh, and btw, Ryne Sandberg is in the hall of fame.
Comment by ThaddeusMcMonster — 4/21/2005 @ 8:40 pm
If a player could get elected to the Hall for grit, guts, heart, selflessness, and hustle, Biggio’s going to be a lock. He’s a magnificent throwback to the deadball era, a Shoeless Joe in an era of Caseys. I first saw him in person here in Philly in 1998 (arguably his best year), and I remember how, after a he had a couple of hits, stole a base, scored three runs, and made numerous kick-butt defensive plays at second, all I could do was repeat, “What a ballplayer, what a ballplayer!” to my girlfriend. If ever a player was elected to the Hall for the intangibles and unmatched versatility he brought to the game—and not just for his stats—it is the incomparable Craig Biggio.
Comment by mat — 4/21/2005 @ 8:40 pm
He’s in the hall. Morgan is far and away #1, (and several think he’s in the top 10 of all players). Biggio is clearly in the top 10 at second base of all time. Start naming great 2b-men and see how far you get. He’ll be up there. For the truly borderline cases, check out the stats for Concepcion and Pinson.
Comment by John C — 4/21/2005 @ 8:53 pm
You’d think that having a former president behind the backstop would get the Disastros into the highlight reels. *shrug* Early on, it was always amusing following Beer-a-Biggio’s off-the-field scrapes with the law. He straightened out, Cammy didn’t. Biggio will be in the Hall Of Fame, and Cammy won’t.
Comment by Laurence Simon — 4/21/2005 @ 9:06 pm
Here is what is on the cover of the 2001 Edition of Bill James’ Historical Baseball Abstract: “Biggio [the 35th Greatest Player in Baseball History] is the best player in major league baseball today.” Is he in the HOF? Yes. Is he a first ballot HOF’er? I would think yes.
Comment by Jim — 4/21/2005 @ 9:07 pm
In The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, Mr. James ranks the greatest players at each position using his win shares system. Here are the top ten at second base (stats through 1999): 1. Joe Morgan 2. Eddie Collins 3. Rogers Hornsby 4. Jackie Robinson 5. Craig Biggio 6. Nap Lajoie 7. Ryne Sandberg 8. Charlie Gehringer 9. Rod Carew 10. Roberto Alomar All the rest of those guys are in the Hall, except for Alomar who will be. James does comment in the end-of-2000 update that Biggio probably should be ranked 6th below Nap, but still Biggio is one of the greatest players at his position. So, yeah, he should make it. Of course, just because a player belongs in the Hall doesn’t mean he will get in. Ask Ron Santo.
Comment by pg — 4/21/2005 @ 9:08 pm
Biggio and Bagwell both deserve a lot of credit for sticking it out at Houston. Many other players, Nolan Ryan included, eventually left Houston. But the Achilles’ heel of both these men is their hitting production in high pressure situations. Both of them have been consistent leaders of the Astros ball club, but until last year they could never pull off clutch hits. I think Biggio deserves a place in the Hall of Fame, but he won’t be talked about perpetually unless the Astros can break through to the big game.
Comment by Mazoo — 4/21/2005 @ 9:47 pm
Biggio is a tight case. His career OBP is .373 whereas Morgan’s was .392. His slugging is a little higher (.435 to Morgan’s .427)–of course, both player labored for years in the Dome. Morgan went to Cincinnati in his prime while Biggio only got to Enron/Astros/Minute Maid Park when he was 35. On the plus side, he has been tremendously productive at two positions–catcher and second–where offense is not generally expected. His defense was sterling for most of his career (he was an awful centerfielder, but he didn’t ask to play there–he quietly accepted exile to let Jeff Kent play second). Though constrained by the Dome for most of his career, Biggio was one of the greatest double machines MLB has ever seen. He was an integral part of 5 playoff teams and, along with Bagwell, has been the unquestioned leader of one of the more stable clubhouses in baseball. Clemens cited the reputation of the Stros’ clubhouse as one of the factors coaxing him out of retirement. On the downside, he has been playing in an era of stat inflation, though his signature hit is a double rather than a homer. He has two contemporaries–Sandberg and Alomar–who can put up a similar numbers case but both played in vastly more forgiving ballparks. And while he has been an exceptional regular season player, Biggio has been wretched in the postseason. If he has a huge year this year and a good one next year, he may seal a HOF slot. He is about 350 hits short of 3000; if he can get there, he should be in given the Hall’s love of pretty round numbers. If he doesn’t, I’d rate his chances as a pure coin flip.
Comment by Houstonian — 4/21/2005 @ 9:53 pm
Comparing numbers in baseball is tough and not just between decades. I haven’t followed baseball much since they cancelled the world series, however, Biggio has been consistently very good for 18 years. Year after year he compiles solid numbers. That in my book doesn’t make him great, but makes a great career. And you get into the hall based on your career not a season or two. I don’t know enough about all the players but I do know that Houston hasn’t been to too many playoffs. So, he isn’t playing with a great cast, which means that he isn’t seeing as good as pitches as he would had he had good hitters behind him or men on base. He’s hall material. Of course, until Pete Rose is there, it’s like the UN of pro sports halls.
Comment by Rob Mandel — 4/21/2005 @ 10:03 pm
Not only is Biggio a better man than Rose, he is a better ballplayer.
Comment by Jim — 4/21/2005 @ 10:10 pm
Unfortunately, these days it appears that the HoF doesn’t demand that one be ‘great,’ just merely good for an extended period of time. Biggio was a good player for a long time… but not truly a SUPERstar. I had this conversation last year with a friend of mine (pre-Sandberg being elected, mind you), and we pretty much decided that you couldn’t even consider Biggio without Sandberg being in, Joe Morgan’s complaining not withstanding. As is, I’d still rather have Sandberg in his prime than Biggio in his. I’m just curious as to who the idiot was that suggested to Biggio that catching would be good for his career.
Comment by Wonderduck — 4/21/2005 @ 10:12 pm
Not to mention that Biggio is a very nice guy. I used to work in a video game store while in college and he would drop in all of the time to pick up games for the away trips or for his kids. He is very humble, polite and even a little shy! A total class act in my book. We love you Biggio!
Comment by Paolo Thompson — 4/21/2005 @ 11:45 pm
pg notes that Bill James has Biggio rated as either the fifth or sixth best 2B of all time in the New Historical Baseball Abstract–in that same book he uses his Win Shares method to show that more often than not, he was a better player than Ken Griffey Jr. during the time when both players were at their best. Biggio belongs in the Hall.
Comment by M. Scott Eiland — 4/22/2005 @ 3:18 am
I’ve always thought it was interesting that Biggio bats and throws right-handed, but writes left-handed.
Comment by SSG B — 4/22/2005 @ 5:31 am
Biggio is one of those players I’ve followed closely. He was an excellent catcher–the most demanding defensive and all-around position in the game. And he has been a class partner with Bagwell carrying the Astros to higher levels than they often deserved. I haven’t checked James’ “Runs Created” stats on Biggio, but would bet they’re higher than many of the other top ten 2nd-basemen.
Comment by Bunker — 4/22/2005 @ 6:28 am
The career numbers are there, let’s take a peek at a few “peak performance” stats. In 1997, Biggio scored 146 runs in a season, the most in the National league since 1932, a span of 65 years. In 1998, Biggio became only the second player in baseball history (and the first in 80 years)to hit 50 doubles and steal 50 bases in the same season. The other player was Hall of Famer Tris Speaker in 1912. Also, he became the only NL player to play the entire 162 game schedule and not hit into a double play. In 1999, Biggio hit 56 doubles, the 6th highest total in a season in NL history. I believe Biggio will make it to 3000 hits, and become a lock for the HOF, and I think he and teammate Jeff Bagwell will be enshrined together. That will be a great day for this long time Astro fan. Oh, one other thing. Biggio does hold a home run record. He is the NL career leader in leadoff home runs with 31.
Comment by mihoba — 4/22/2005 @ 10:41 am
If you asked Bill James today, he’d say he overvalued Biggio in that book, esp. given having valued him right at his peak (in fact, I think he said so elsewhere in the book; it’s a great book but could have used a better editor). As I said, I’d put Biggio in the HOF, but as far as all-time 2B he has to be behind Hornsby, Morgan, Collins, Gehringer, Lajoie, Carew (if you count him there) and Jackie Robinson. He’s in the second tier with the likes of Sandberg, Frisch, Alomar, Doerr, Kent, Gordon, Whitaker, Herman, Lazzeri, and Grich, although I’d put him near the top of that group. You can check the career stats of Hall of Famers by position here.
Comment by Crank — 4/22/2005 @ 11:43 am
Morgan was a better second baseman than Biggio, but then Morgan was a better second baseman than almost anybody else in the Hall of Fame. Judging by the standards established by the second basemen already in Cooperstown, both Biggio and Alomar should be elected.
Comment by Arky Vaughan — 4/22/2005 @ 1:53 pm
Craig is a lock for the Hall. James is right — top 10 all-time and probably top 5. Sure, Morgan was better, but Joe is the greatest 2nd baseman who ever lived. And yes, I’m sure Craig is a better human being than Pete Rose but he is not quite as great a ballplayer as Rose was. I defer to the Bill James book to prove my point. Ty Cobb and Peter Rose and Ted Williams may not have been superior human beings, but as ballplayers they far above anybody playing today (with the probable exception of Barry Bonds). But Craig does belong in that illustrious HOF club!
Comment by Tom Burk — 4/22/2005 @ 3:02 pm
I’d rank him as borderline HOF; for my money I’d rather have Lou Whitaker who has comparable numbers in a much worse era for hitters. Both of them should be in the Hall, but second basemen typically have a tough time getting in.
Comment by Brainster — 4/22/2005 @ 3:45 pm
As someone who has followed Craig Biggio since he was drafted by the Astros, I am enjoying this column. It is nice to see Biggio getting the attention that I think he deserves. There are many things I love about Craig Biggio, and his heart and hustle are among them. This is a player who is truly a throwback, and is the epitome of a “team player”. Biggio made the All-Star Game as a catcher, then was asked to change positions, and became one of the best second baseman in the game. When the Astros got Jeff Kent, Biggio moved to the outfield without complaining. Now he has moved back to second. All without talk of holdouts, contract renegotiations, or whatever. My former high school football coach, who I have a great deal of respect for, is a huge admirer of Craig Biggio, not only for his play on the field but also for what he does off the field. That is one of the best compliments that I know of on a personal level. Wonderduck: Biggio was actually drafted out of Seton Hall as a catcher and came up as one. The Astros later asked him to move to 2b to improve his longevity (save his knees).
Comment by JWC — 4/23/2005 @ 6:41 am
i’m enjoying this column, too. as one from a strictly StL viewpoint, i admittedly see the worst in mr. biggio, and wonder how anyone can call an astro a ‘class act.’ all kidding aside, biggio is the best second baseman i’ve seen often, but he lacks that transcendence, that ‘next gear’ that i think should be a requisite for a HoFer. maybe it’s his teams’ lack of post-season success, maybe it’s something else. clearly the best 2nd baseman in the league for a 4-5 year span, but his pretty good team never could make it over the hump. but what really bothers me is that he gets hit by all those pitches on his gigantic arm protector, and they still give him first base. not only does that huge thing allow him to hang all over the plate, giving him a totally unfair advantage, but i’ve seen him ‘bravely’ stick it out to get on base. tough? gritty? not afraid to take it for the team? no, it’s sanctioned cheating. (yes, that’s a contradiction, but you know what i mean.) he’s no pete rose in terms of cheating, but in my book he’s as big a cheater as giambi. yes, it gets on my nerves. i think it comes down to intangibles–whatever i think is lacking is probably replaced in some people’s minds with his career-long astroness, which is a pretty special thing. i don’t see how he can be considered a lock, but i can’t see how anyone could say he certainly doesn’t belong.
Comment by brenton — 4/23/2005 @ 10:56 am
I watched Joe Morgan with the Colt.45s, ‘Stros, Reds, etc. Best second baseman ever and worst broadcaster. Biggio will probably end up snubbed like Ron Santo. Hope I’m wrong.
Comment by Mark_Belt — 4/23/2005 @ 4:02 pm
As of 5/3/5, Biggio has 2669 hits, 574 Doubles (Names he will pass this year include Boggs, Molitor, Yount, and Ripken), 237 HR (32 leading off a game - tops in the NL), 1065 Bases on Balls, 400 Stolen Bases, .808 on base + slugging, 1008 RBI, 1618 Runs scored (this year he’ll pass Al Kaline, Eddie Murray, Yount, Ripken, Joe Morgan, and Mickey Mantle), 4 golden gloves, 5 silver sluggers and millions raised for the “Sunshine Kids” Charity. Seventeen seasons with the same club that drafted him. If he had played in New York, LA or Chicago, he would be a mortal lock for Cooperstown.
Comment by Hank Hill — 5/3/2005 @ 11:16 pm
It’s unfortunate that this guy is still on track to 3000, while THE secondbaseman of the nineties, Alomar, was forced to retire. Nobody said baseball was fair. Ask Biggio if he thinks baseball is fair during the postseason.
Comment by John Russell — 5/6/2005 @ 9:03 pm
Ask Bagwell about not fair. after hitting who knows how many fly ball outs in the dome that would be homers in 90% of the other ball parks in MLB, he now is probably going to be done at 450 homers due to an arthritic shoulder that just won’t let him play anymore. Here is a HOF that won’t get in because of home ball park and injury.
Comment by Hank Hill — 5/7/2005 @ 8:24 pm