"The thing with Baggy is that he and I worked so hard here for this city and for this organization," Biggio remarked. So he would get my vote on the first ballot. Sen. Chris Dodd gives his daughter Grace a kiss after his final speech from the Senate floor in 2010. "That wide stance keeps him from over striding", Joe Torre observed, "which can be your biggest problem when youre trying to hit for power. WebBorn in Boston, Massachusetts, as the only son of Janice (ne Hare) and Robert Bagwell, Jeff Bagwell and his family moved to Killingworth, Connecticut, when he was one year old. [66], In 1998, Bagwell informed a Houston Chronicle reporter that he was using androstenedione (commonly referred to as "andro"), which at the time the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified it as a nutritional dietary supplement, finding it benign and authorized for non-medicinal purposes. Andrew Hughes of Ada, Tallen Bagwell of Roff and Carter Perry of Vanoss were named to the 10-payer squad. WebFormerly married to MVP baseball player Jeff Bagwell of the Houston Astros. Both were elated at their franchise's first championship with Bagwell saying, "I'm ecstatic. He joined Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio, Frank Robinson and Ted Williams as the fifth player in major league history to record 300 home runs, 1,000 RBI and 1,000 runs scored in his first ten seasons.[86]. Despite his soccer background, he attended the University of Hartford on a baseball scholarship and trained under Bill Denehy. In June, his results started to improve as he batted .339 and followed up in July by driving in 31 runs. Rachel had three children before meeting Jeff. Three first bases were used in the game, each embossed with a commemorative insignia and inscription, "No. He's closer to 5' 10"." From 1992 to 2005, Bagwell earned approximately $108,765,000 while playing for the Houston Astros. Bagwell found his footing with the Houston Astros and quickly rose to the status of one of the teams most beloved players. [73] As the "Killer B's" brand gained increased national attention, journalist Dayn Perry jocosely noted that in 1999 the Astros, "in pursuit of arcane history, used eight players whose last names began with 'B'",[57] including Bagwell, Paul Bako, Glen Barker, Bell, Sean Bergman, Lance Berkman, Biggio, and Tim Bogar. Once possessing great ability to throw out the lead runner at third base ahead on bunt plays, Bagwell found it difficult to practice with the other infielders between innings. Bagwell finished the 2000 season with a career-high 47 home runs, .310 average, .424 OBP, .615 SLG the second-best mark of his career for a 152 OPS+. Bagwell was quick to deny credit for his accomplishments by saying, Thats my job, and he was frequently willing to accept blame for failures that were not even his fault. He stepped back with his front foot as he began his swing. He scooped a ground ball batted from Hideki Matsui and relayed it to Billy Wagner covering first base, the final of a record six pitchers participating in the feat. Former Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwells No. In September, he batted .343 with 11 multiple-hit games. In that same period of time, his 160 OPS+ was fourth behind Bonds, McGwire, and Frank Thomas; his 56.7 WAR was third behind Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr.[87] From 1994 to 2000, a span including his age-26 through age-32 seasons, he averaged 41 home runs and 41 doubles per 162 games while batting .309, .433 OBP, and .593 SLG for a 167 OPS+. He is the only first baseman with at least 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases. Owner Drayton McLane and general manager Tim Purpura stated that he would remain in player development department of the Astros organization, as one of the assistants to the general manager. In his 2005 autobiography, One Pitch from Glory, Gorman noted that Boston already had Wade Boggs at the major league level at third base, and had rated prospects Tim Naehring and Scott Cooper higher than Bagwell on the organization's depth chart. Bagwell attended Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut, but his favorite sport was soccer. [177][179] Rachel Bagwell was the widow of Greater Houston-area hand surgeon Dr. Michael Brown, the owner and founder of Brown Hand Center [107] They advanced to Bagwell's first National League Championship Series (NLCS) to face the Cardinals. And between him and Bidge (Biggio), they always shouldered the blame we struggled and tried to deflect the credit when we won." [127] He filed for free agency in November 2006 but announced his retirement one month later. SUMMARY Career WAR 79.9 AB 7797 H While Bagwells credentials were called into question for years, his teammates feelings about him were never in doubt. A versatile athlete, he excelled at soccer, setting the school goal-scoring mark, played shortstop, and lettered in basketball. Bagwell hit.333 to win the batting title and the league MVP award. [7] Over four successive games from July 813, Bagwell homered and totaled five home runs in that span. Bagwell showed tenacity by attending every day of spring training games in the hopes of overcoming his ailments. He ranked third in the league in runs scored and walks, fifth in OPS+, sixth in OBP, and eighth in OPS. Shortstop Ozzie Smith was on first and asked Bagwell, "How's it going?" Michael Brantley's Too Cute Daughter, Carlos Correa's Baseball superstar Jeff Bagwell hasnt had any daughters of his own yet. Even though the marriages with two of his wives were not The Astros initially hesitated owing to his sparse home run production, but Benjamin persuaded them, quipping that New Britain's Beehive Field was so large that "Babe Ruth couldnt hit home runs in that ballpark. [3] In 1990, while playing for the AA New Britain Red Sox, Bagwell won the Eastern League Most Valuable Player Award. He and his wife have a couple of sons in the family. He was drafted by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 1989 draft before being traded. 58, Jeff Bagwell. [49] Bagwell missed a total of 30 games, appearing in 114 and batted .290 with 21 home runs. As a result, his performance suffered in the end. ", "Astros to retire Bagwell's number on Sunday", "Former Chatham A Jeff Bagwell elected to Baseball Hall of Fame", "Season-ending awards: Eastern League awards", "Remembering Greenfield coach and Major League Baseball scout Stan Benjamin", "Phillies' Larry Andersen involved in 1 of baseball's worst-ever trades 25 years ago today", "Most lopsided MLB trades in recent memory", "The List: Readers pick most lopsided trades", "Baseball; players said to hit collusion jackpot", "Jeff Bagwell wound up being Lou Gorman's worst nightmare", "One of a kind: A self-made slugger with a screwy stance, Houston's uniquely gifted Jeff Bagwell is Mr. WebJeffrey Robert Bagwell married Ericka Rodriguezon 26 October 1997. [79] Bagwell was honored with the third Silver Slugger Award of his career. Remarked Ausmus, "I want to confirm he does not have hair extensions. [7] By hitting his second upper-deck home run at Three Rivers Stadium on May 29 it travelled 459 feet (140m) Bagwell joined longtime Pirate Willie Stargell as the only players to homer twice into the stadium's upper deck. One was given to Bagwell and the other two were auctioned to raise funds on behalf of the Astros in Action Foundation. Having not previously played the position as a regular, Bagwell received a crash course, playing minor league games in the morning and Astros games in the afternoon until Opening Day. [150], Bagwell is one of 12 players in MLB history to hit at 400 home runs and attain a career on-base percentage of at least .400. He batted.310 for the Class A Winter Haven Red Sox of the Florida State League. He also was the school's career home run (31) and run batted in (126) leader when he was drafted,[6] and a two-time Eastern College Athletic Conference player of the year. [42] Bagwell finished second in home runs to Matt Williams, who hit 43. [59] For the month of May, he batted .360 with .740 SLG, 10 home runs, 31 RBI, 22 runs scored, and four stolen bases. In eight of his seasons, he scored more than 100 runs. 5 jersey was retired on Sunday, August 26 during a pregame ceremony. An only child, Bagwell played many sports growing up in Connecticut, including soccer, basketball, and baseball. [51] On July 28 against the Colorado Rockies, Bagwell's 10th-inning home run tied the score and two innings later he scored the winning run for a 54 final score. I cansit here today and say that is absolutely true. Despite these and other accomplishments, Bagwells career was marred by controversy because he played during the era of illegal drugs, whether that timing was appropriate or not. [72], The high school which ruminated Bagwell, Xavier, officially retired his uniform number 9 in a commemoration on January 30, 1999. To see them win, the celebration, excitement, reliefthe city of Houston, I'm sure, is going crazy right now. The Red Sox were competing for the pennant. His mere presence in camp put the Astros' insurance claim into further question, creating an awkward situation between the player and the team. Jeff had two daughters, Blake and Bryce, with his first wife, Shaune Bagwell, whom he married in 1992, before marrying Rachel. [c][67] Bagwell hit his first career grand slam while tying a career-high six RBI against Cincinnati on September 8 in a 137 victory. Bagwell, expecting for the club to assign him to their AAA affiliate Tucson, enthused them with his play. He never had to make any difficult throws that would place notable stress on his shoulder, as the other infielders shifted toward him. Bill Murray's 6 Children: Everything to Know, LeBron James' Son Bronny Will Honor Dad by Wearing a No. Bagwell hit 449 home runs for the Astros, the most in club history, and set numerous other franchise career and single-season records. Stan Benjamin, who scouted the New England region for the Astros, recommended that they ask for Bagwell in return. Bagwell, Biggio and Bell combined for two hits in 37 at bats. [112] Bagwell was the Astros' designated hitter in the first two games against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, and was a pinch hitter in the two games played in Houston at Minute Maid Park. [148] He was inducted on July 30, 2017. "[19], In spite of the unexpected detour early in Bagwell's professional baseball career, he blossomed in Houston, becoming one of the most accomplished players in Astros franchise history. Next, he would rise from his stance and rotate his hands with the bat forward[21][22] into his powerful, uppercut swing. In reality, Bagwell has kept his personal life private. However, it proved to be too difficult to climb. Bagwell and longtime Astros second baseman Craig Biggio were known as the "Killer B's", and the team experienced consistent success during their careers; Houston finished in first or second place in the NL Central division in eleven of twelve seasons from 1994 to 2005. He visited Ross Bagwell Sr., a TV man and a friend of the family, to get his advice about a possible run for state senate. Legendary Houston Astros player Jeff Bagwell has continued to work closely with the organization in an advisory role since he retired. His ability to connect with teammates was not limited by race or other factors. After divorce with his first [34] Bagwell also won his first Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, and Player of the Year Awards from The Sporting News,[46] Associated Press,[47] Baseball Digest, and USA Today Baseball Weekly. Jeff Bagwell "I knew LA and I love him," Bagwell asserted. [53] He made the playoffs for the first time in 1997 when the Astros won the National League Central division, the club's first appearance in 11 years. [131] Two of Bagwell's closest friends and former teammates, Biggio and Brad Ausmus, spoke on his behalf. He also habituated Bagwell to manipulate the count, waiting for a pitch to drive instead of indiscriminately swinging at any pitch that appeared to be a strike. [97], For the first three months of the 2002 season, Bagwell labored greatly with throwing; he still had not fully recovered from the shoulder surgery of the previous offseason. In 2010, he was hired as a hitting coach by the Astros. [87] His 152 runs scored was the highest total in a season since Lou Gehrig in 1936,[88] and his 295 runs scored from 1999 to 2000 set a National League two-season record. Bagwell [27] On May 6, he hit the ninth-ever upper-deck home run at Three Rivers Stadium off Bob Kipper in a seventh-inning pinch hit appearance, estimated at 456 feet (139m). It's up to his bat. [105] The quartet dubbed the "Killer B's" this time with the additions of Carlos Beltrn and Lance Berkman[50][106] ignited the Astros' offense, batting .395 (34-for-86) with eight home runs, 21 RBI and 24 runs scored. Katharine Hepburn On Noisy Boats. [1][178] He later married Ericka Bagwell, with whom he had his two daughters. On Opening Day, April 4, against the Montreal Expos, Bagwell hit the game-tying home run while going 3-for-6 as the Astros won in a 12-inning walk-off. It should come as no surprise that the couple has been He had nine seasons in which he hit at least 31 home runs and scored at least 100 runs. 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[29], Bagwell's power hike piqued the curiosity of many baseball observers. The second home run allowed him to overtake Wynn as the Astros' all-time home run leader at 224 and he tied a career-high with six RBI in one game. [24] In February 1994, Bagwell and the Astros agreed to a one-year contract with a $2.4 million base salary (USD, $4.5 million today). [92][93] He was the NL Player of the Month that July after batting .333 with nine home runs, and breaking his own club record with 36 RBI in a month, exceeding the 34 RBI in the previous August. Bagwell is also the only first baseman to reach both 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases. Its no surprise that the couple were blessed with male offspring in the form of boys. Bagwell underwent surgery to remove bone spurs[58] and to reconstruct a partially torn labrum on October 26, 2001.