Craig Biggio Baseball Statistics

By Robert H. Kelly

While preparing my various posts and articles about Craig Biggio's march toward 3000 hits, I have come across some interesting statistics.

Through April 15, 2007, he leads all active ball players in:
Career hits: 2940
Career doubles: 641
Hits by pitches: 282

In career stats, he ranks:
2nd: hit by pitch
8th: doubles
17th: runs
25th: games
30th: hits
58th: base on balls
61st: stolen bases

Here is some other facts about Biggio:

1. He was an All American baseball player at Seton Hall University.

2. He was drafted by the Astros in the first round in 1987 (22nd overall).

3. He is the only player in Major League Baseball history with at least 600 doubles, 2900 hits, 250 homeruns, and 400 stolen bases.

4. He led the majors in runs scored in 1995 and 1997 and in doubles in 1998 and 1999.

5. Became one for the few players in baseball history not to hit into a single double play all season in 1997.

6. Tops the Astros career list in games played, at-bats, runs scored, hits, doubles, and
extra-base hits.

7. Holds the record for the most regular season game played before his first World Series
appearance with 2564.

8. In 1998 became the second player to have 50 stolen bases and 50 doubles in the same
season.

The following are a few bits of trivia concerning Craig Biggio:

1. Biggio is known as a "Killer B" a playful nickname given to Astros players with last names starting with the letter 'B'. The original 1996 Killer Bs included teammates Jeff Bagwell Derek Bell, and Sean Berry. More recent members include Lance Berkman, Carlos Beltran, and Chris Burke.

2. Baseball statistician Bill James in the Revised Historical Abstract rated Biggio the 4th best second baseman of all time and the 35th best player of all time, making a detailed argument that throughout his career, Biggio has been a better player than Ken Griffey, Jr.

3. Biggio is noted for his superstitions. His chief superstition involves his batting helmet, which he does not change or clean throughout the entire season.

Biggio has had a career that has been only seen in players of the past. What makes him so remarkable id that all of the about and much more has been accomplished with the same team.

Loyalty is very important to me and a great number of other baseball fans. Biggio is a shining example of what baseball is, what is was int he past, and would it should be in the future.