He played first base for the Houston Astros during his Major League Baseball career. While Bagwells credentials were called into question for years, his teammates feelings about him were never in doubt. [7] He led the NL in doubles with 48 while earning his second All-Star selection and finishing ninth in the MVP voting. [83] His two-run, ninth-inning home run against Trevor Hoffman in San Diego on June 10 won the contest for Houston, 76, and stopped a 10-game road losing streak. Bagwell replied, "I'm going to try, but I'm not Babe Ruth." 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. With a triple on May 7, 2001, against Chicago, Bagwell achieved the 700th extra base hit of his career. 58, Jeff Bagwell. Yastrzemski, Bagwell's childhood hero, delivered a special message: "Congratulations, Jeff, on your number being retired. He hit three fewer home runs than his boyhood idol, Carl Yastrzemski 452 to 449. [38] In July, he tied a club record for RBI in any month with 29, which Jos Cruz and Jimmy Wynn shared. Bagwell was named the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year in 1991 and won the NL Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in 1994. Bagwell is also the only first baseman to reach both 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases. Their season ended by defeat to the San Diego Padres in the NLDS,[69] including losing two starts against Kevin Brown[70] both by a 21 score. Bagwell's acceptance of Hartford's baseball scholarship was based at least in part on the lack of a professional soccer league in the United States at the time. The Astros hired team color commentator Larry Dierker after the season to replace him. Despite the fact that two of his marriages were not stable, he is now living a happy life with Rachel. Legendary Houston Astros player Jeff Bagwell has continued to work closely with the organization in an advisory role since he retired. He By altering an approach to contact the pitch with topspin as he did when he arriving to Houston, Jaramillo taught Bagwell to hit with backspin, resulting in a soaring trajectory rather than nose diving. Bagwell walked away from baseball after the Overall, Bagwell batted over .300 six times, had a career OBP of .408 (39th all time), and had a slugging percentage of .540 (32nd all time). WebJeff Bagwell Position: First Baseman Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-0 , 195lb (183cm, 88kg) Born: May 27, 1968 (Age: 54-328d) in Boston, MA us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame MVP Rookie of the Year 4x All-Star Gold Glove 3x Silver Slugger ML PoY 5 5 5 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. He displayed little of his future power, hitting only two home runs. [62], The 1,000th hit of Bagwell's career was a home run on May 20, 1997, off Calvin Maduro, one of his two that game, in a 95 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. add up to M.V.P. [118][119] Days earlier, orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews had performed a physical examination on Bagwell and determined that he had become "completely disabled" and was unable to play baseball again. Jeff Bagwell [56] According to journalist Dayn Perry, the earliest recorded reference to an Astros version of the nickname "Killer B's" encountered via a Google Search occurred that year. One was given to Bagwell and the other two were auctioned to raise funds on behalf of the Astros in Action Foundation. ", "Lyles, Martnez progressed quickly, but will they become impact players? Did Jeff Bagwell Adopted A Daughter? Kids With Wife Rachel 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. However, a pitch from the Philadelphia Phillies' Ben Rivera broke the fourth metacarpal bone in Bagwell's left hand, ending his season prematurely. [77], Nominated to his fourth career All-Star Game, Bagwell to that point in the season had scored or driven in 28.6% of the Astros' runs, the highest portion of a team's offense for which any one player in MLB accounted. According to his autobiography, This Ain't Brain Surgery, Dierker was asked during the interview how he would handle the players. He is the only first baseman with at least 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases. Teams began taking advantage of his defensive weakness. [99] Bagwell collected the assist for the final out of a combined no-hitter and 80 win over the Yankees on June 11. It should come as no surprise that the couple has been To see them win, the celebration, excitement, reliefthe city of Houston, I'm sure, is going crazy right now. Blake (left) and Bryce helped out during the ceremony by throwing out the first pitch to their dad. Jeff Bagwell, a baseball star, is yet to have a daughter. Longtime friend and ex-teammate Brad Ausmus paid tribute to him during the retirement ceremony for his uniform number. [7] He hit his first two career home runs against Maddux of the Atlanta Braves within a week on May 28 and June 3 who ceded eight over the entire season. In 2010, he was hired as a hitting coach by the Astros. Bagwell batted .286 and scored 109 runs. It was his 218th career home run, making his streak the then-longest among active players without a grand slam. Together, they bowed to the crowd as Bagwell raised Biggio's arm, and returned to the dugout. ", "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. He was named the 1991 National League (NL) Rookie of the Year, the first Astros player to win the award,[27] Baseball America's Rookie of the Year,[29] The Sporting News Rookie of the Year[30] and postseason All-Star and on the Topps' Rookie All-Star Team. [2] For his first professional assignment, the Red Sox appointed Bagwell to the Winter Haven Red Sox of the Florida State League in 1989, where he batted .310 with two home runs. [53] He won the 1995 ESPY Awards for Best Breakthrough Athlete[54] and Outstanding Baseball Performer (later renamed "Best Major League Baseball Player"). Shaune Bagwell - Biography - IMDb Before his marriage to Rachel, Jeff had two daughters, Blake, and Bryce with his first-ex wife Shaune Bagwell whom he married in 1992. Jeff Bagwell In two minor league seasons from 1989 to 1990, he had managed six home runs in 932 at batsa ratio of 155 at bats per home run (AB/HR). During his speech, Jeff spoke to his wife, Ericka, and daughters, Blake, 4, and Bryce, 6, saying. Even though the marriages with two of his wives were not First basemen approach fielding plays from their right side, which is opposite to playing third base. [39] Entering that game, Bagwell carried an 18-game hitting streak. Apr. Rather than change his successful style, Bagwell resorted to wearing a heavily padded protective batting glove. The Astros won a franchise-best 102 games while winning the NL Central division title, leading the league in runs scored. [79] Further, he paired with Barry Bonds as the only major leaguers to obtain the 4030 mark (40 home runs and 30 stolen bases) twice. [10] He finished first in the league in hits and doubles, second in batting, OBP and OPS, fourth in walks, fifth in SLG, ninth in runs scored and tenth in RBI. Although he has average speed, he's one of the game's smartest baserunners. The player has five children from all of his wives; the adoption of a new daughter is most likely still a rumor. His last official major league plate appearance was in the seventh inning of Game 4, when he pinch-hit for pitcher Brandon Backe and grounded out. As a result, his performance suffered in the end. We can get more out of you than that." As the 1990 season came to a close, Boston desperately needed bullpen help after their best reliever, Jeff Reardon, underwent surgery and was sidelined for several weeks. Despite his soccer background, he attended the University of Hartford on a baseball scholarship and trained under Bill Denehy. Was a popular radio show host on KKBQ, a Gannett-owned radio station, in Houston, Texas. [7], During a 32 loss to the Montreal Expos on April 26, 2003, Bagwell's infield single gave him 2,000 hits for his career, joining Biggio as the only Astro to achieve this mark. 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. Bagwell has already been married three times. [2], In 2009, Bagwell received the Bill Shea Distinguished Little League Graduate Award.[132]. I cansit here today and say that is absolutely true. I've always voted for the best players Bonds, McGwire, Clemens, etc. For Boston to win now, Gorman believed he could fill a gaping hole without making a significant sacrifice. The Red Sox were competing for the pennant. Even after it improved, it was noticeably less strong than two years prior. [45] He also hit 23 home runs in 56 games at the Astrodome, setting a record that stood for the stadium that was famed to be pitcher-friendly until the Astros moved out following the 1999 season. [4] At Hartford, Denehy switched Bagwell to third base. 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. He would hit another three home runs with six walks in nine August games[34] before a pitch from Andy Benes fractured his left hand on August 10 and ended his season in the same manner the season before. [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. So he would get my vote on the first ballot. [114] Moreover, the Astros secured the pennant against their division rival St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS, reversing the outcome from the year prior against the same club. In eight of his seasons, he scored more than 100 runs. Jan 29, 2020. [11], Late in the 1990 season, the Red Sox, who were in search of relief pitching to improve their chances of making the playoffs, contacted the Houston Astros about Larry Andersen. Smith replied, "Well, here's what you do. [100] Playing the Cincinnati Reds on July 20, 2003, Bagwell hit two home runs for the 400th of his career off Danny Graves, becoming the 35th player in MLB history to do so. [57] Bagwell enforced accountability and preparation which fostered camaraderie and incorporated all players as instrumental to the success of the team. He was stationed first in the NL in walks (83), runs scored (81) and OBP (.464), second in home runs (28), RBI (78) and SLG (.648) and stole 17 bases while Houston tenanted percentage points behind Cincinnati for first in the division. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. [85] Five days later against Milwaukee, Bagwell again homered twice for the 299th and 300th of his career; the second home run broke an eighth-inning tie to give Houston a 108 win. [31] Of the power surge, commented Bagwell to hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, "That's awesome", to which he reacted, "Awesome? [17] Bagwell had seen some time in the minors at first base, but he was blocked from that position by Mo Vaughn. Despite this, he was promoted to New Britain, the Red Sox Class AA team in the Eastern League, for his performance. Much of Bagwell's family is from the Greater Boston area, including both his parents, and are avid fans of the Boston Red Sox. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. [151] Remarked The Sporting News, "he's an extraordinary fielder who excels at charging bunts and throwing runners out at second and third. Did Jeff Bagwell Adopted A Daughter? Kids With Wife Rachel "[22], Although firmly established as the Astros' first baseman from Opening Day in 1991, Bagwell remarked years later that transitioning from third base was not automatic. They're great kids, they play hard, they never gave up. 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. [76] The two three-home run games made him the only player to accomplish this feat at two different stadiums in Chicago in the same season. The Astros and the insurance company settled the claim in a confidential arrangement[124] the same day he announced his retirement. Bagwell found his footing with the Houston Astros and quickly rose to the status of one of the teams most beloved players. Jeff and Rachel now share a family of 5 children, all from past relationships. Jeff Bagwell's number 5 was retired by the Houston Astros in 2007. Bagwell, along with Craig Biggio were on hand to witness the Astros win their first-ever World Series championship at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017. Both were elated at their franchise's first championship with Bagwell saying, "I'm ecstatic. Jeff Bagwell - Baseball-Reference.com After his playing career, Bagwell was seen with significantly longer hair. Bagwells first marriage was to Shaune Stauffer, who he married in 1992 and divorced in 1996. "He used to make fun of me when I was playing bad. After divorce with his first Originally a Boston Red Sox fourth-round selection from the University of Hartford in the 1989 amateur draft, Bagwell was traded to the Astros in 1990. On social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, he appears to be inactive. [131] Two of Bagwell's closest friends and former teammates, Biggio and Brad Ausmus, spoke on his behalf. 415. Bagwell spent his entire 15-year career with the Astros. [58] In July, he batted .349 with six home runs and 23 RBI. [140], Bagwell was eligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time in 2011. Jeff Bagwell, a four-time MLB All-Star, played for the Houston Astros for the duration of his entire 15-year career. Before his marriage to Rachel, Jeff had two daughters, Blake and Bryce. Jeff was formerly married first to model Shaune Bagwell (ne Stauffer) in 1992, and then to Ericka Bagwell, with whom he had his two daughters. Rachel is the widow of Greater Houston -area hand surgeon Dr. Michael Brown, the owner and founder of Brown Hand Center. I couldn't be more proud of the guys that represent the Houston Astros right now. His are up there with anybody's. 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. He's closer to 5' 10"." One of the three "Killer B's" played his entire 15-year career in Houston, becoming renowned as one of the greatest first basemen in MLB history. [117], On January 23, 2006, the Astros indicated that they would file a claim on an insurance policy on Bagwell's health to collect approximately $15.6 million of the $17 million in salary owed to him for the 2006 season. He is the only player in history to achieve six consecutive seasons (19962001) with each of 30 home runs, 100 RBI, 100 runs scored, and 100 walks. Bagwell, along with Craig Biggio were on hand to witness the Astros win their first-ever World Series championship at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017. With his third wife and [1] His favorite baseball player, Carl Yastrzemski, was a longtime left fielder for the Red Sox. Two days later, the strike ended the season for all the major leagues. [72], The high school which ruminated Bagwell, Xavier, officially retired his uniform number 9 in a commemoration on January 30, 1999. Bill Denehy head coach of the University of Hartford, offered Bagwell a scholarship in spite of baseball not being his primary sport. You make my life a joy every single day. He had nine seasons in which he hit at least 31 home runs and scored at least 100 runs. [109] Shortly after the 2005 season began, the chronic arthritic condition in his shoulder that had begun in 2001 finally sidelined him, rendering him inactive for three-quarters of the season. I'm glad for that. [135] At the end of the season, the team marginally improved, but was still last in the league in OBP (.303) and SLG (.362)[136] and Bagwell announced he would not return as hitting coach. Jeff Bagwell says 'things got a little out of control' in the era he played in. He has five children in his overall family, with his third wife and girlfriend, Rachel Bagwell. A particularly tender moment came when Bagwells daughter, Bryce, read a special tribute to her dad, sent by his father, Robert Bagwell, who was unable to attend By Joe Posnanski. Born 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. Bill Murray's 6 Children: Everything to Know, LeBron James' Son Bronny Will Honor Dad by Wearing a No. [111] He hit his last major league home run against Maddux on April 29, tying him for the most against any pitcher with seven. Former Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell s No. [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. [150] He spent the first nine seasons of his career (199199) playing home games at the Astrodome, notorious for its reputation as the toughest park in which to hit when baseball was still played there. [87] Bagwell was not among the 89 players named in the Mitchell Report released in 2007. WebJeffrey Robert Bagwell married Ericka Rodriguezon 26 October 1997. [130], The Houston Astros officially retired Bagwell's jersey number 5 on August 26, 2007, prior to the start of a game versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. His devoted career has made him one of the most prosperous players. The average annual value of $6.875 million ($12.6 million today) made him the fifth-highest paid player in the majors. St. Louis defeated Houston in seven games to advance to the World Series. See you in Cooperstown." [2] Robert, from Watertown, pitched college baseball at Northeastern University and as a semi-professional. He is also one of only two players in history to have two 40-30 seasons (Barry Bonds being the other). [49] Bagwell missed a total of 30 games, appearing in 114 and batted .290 with 21 home runs. [20], With an exaggerated and unusual batting style, Bagwell waited for each pitch in a low crouch, with legs wide open and knees bent nearly 90 degrees, appearing as if he was sitting on an invisible bench.
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