Craig Alan Biggio has all that a ballplayer should posses, speed, some power, defense, patience, hustle and intense desire. Selected by the Houston Astros in the 1st round (22nd overall) of the 1987 amateur entry draft, Craig Biggio broke into major leagues on June 26, 1988 . He became the first non-pitcher of the 1987 draft class to reach the majors when his contract was purchased by the Astros. Craig Biggio graduated from Kings Park (NY) High School and attended Seton Hall University . Craig Biggio is a seven-time All-Star baseball player who has played with the Astros since he broke into the major leagues. In his first full season in the majors he became Houston 's everyday catcher. Craig established himself as one of the top offensive players in the game and won The Sporting News' Silver Slugger award. He led all major league catchers with 21 stolen bases, and finished second among NL receivers in home runs (13) and RBI (60) and was named to the post- season NL All-Star team by UPI. The Astros considering the amazing speed of Craig decided to try him in the outfield part-time in 1990. That same season he became the first Astros catcher ever to lead the team in batting when he hit .276. The following season he became the first Astros' catcher ever earn the All-Star berth, and led the club in batting for the second straight season with a .295 average. In 1992, he converted to second base and played in all 162 games. As a second baseman he repeated the All-Star feat and became the first player in the history of baseball to be an All Star at both catcher and second base. Throughout his career his stats showed his consistency and career records in hitting, on-base percentage and doubles. Right from the beginning of his MLB career until August 1, 2000 , Craig without ever being put on the disabled list played in 1,800 games. On August 1, 2000, for the first time in his 13-year he landed on the disabled list after suffering from both a torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament while playing against Preston Wilson of Florida Marlins who trying to break up a double play hit Biggio's planted left leg. After making a come back he became the franchise's career leader with 6,630 at-bats. In 2002 his performance slumped with only a .253 batting average. In 2003, despite of playing at the centerfield he ranked among the National League leaders in doubles (9th-44), runs (10th-102), and at-bats (T3-628) averaging .264 with 166 hits. In 2004, he came back in his dominant form and hit a career-high 24 home runs in 156 games with .281 batting average and 178 hits. In 2005, Craig moved back to play as a second baseman for the Astros. |
