Introducing the... Astros Hall Of Honor
by Bob Hulsey

With the end of the 2012 season, the Astros will have spent 51 years as a major league team and this is a good time to recognize those players who have performed with excellence for the franchise over an extended period.

The Astros are doing something similar. They have had retired numbers for many years (some say too many for a franchise with only one league title and no worlds championships). This year, they've begun a "Walk of Fame" which will include not only great players but others associated with the club who have had long and distinguished careers in Houston.

Everyone has their own criteria for who should or should not be included in such as honor. I had an idea that began when I heard how it is done in Japan, a nation that takes the concept of honor quite seriously.

When Kaz Matsui was honored in his home country for the Meikyukai with his 2,000th career hit, it made me think of how great it would be to have a Hall of Fame based on merit, not politics or popularity. I decided, to be in this Astros Hall of Honor, a player had to spend at least eight seasons in Houston, in part or in full. That meant that his best years were probably in Houston. Aside from Joe Morgan and Nolan Ryan, that is largely true.

Longevity, however, is not enough to make this Hall. Some level of quality is demanded too. For this, some additional recognition is required. I determined that if, as an Astro, the player had been named to an NL All-Star team (AS), won an NL Gold Glove (GG) or been named the Astros' Most Valuable Player (MVP), this would symbolize the player was a major contributor, not just a "bit player".

The qualifications produced 30 players (12 pitchers and 18 non-pitchers) which represent most of the players you'd expect to find here and a few surprises. What came out is the foundation for a franchise All-Time fantasy roster with a few extras for flexibility. These are all names any true Astros fan should know.

There are a few favorites who didn't make the list, mostly due to not having been an Astro long enough. Guys like Glenn Davis, Roger Clemens and Bob Aspromonte are among those who didn't qualify.

A few players had put in enough time but met none of the qualifications. Tony Eusebio and Denny Walling fit into this group.

I debated whether to keep the list as it is but I decided to include one more who, technically, didn't qualify but probably should have in any fair context.

Here, then, is (alphabetically) the Astros Hall Of Honor:

  • Alan Ashby - C (1979-1989). Here's the lone exception to my criteria. While he didn't win a Gold Glove or an MVP, he did catch three of the team's 10 no-hitters and hit two game-winning post-season homers. Plus, he was a starter during most of his time here. In my mind, he belongs.

  • Brad Ausmus, C (1997-1998, 2001-2008) (GG). He was the starting catcher on five playoff teams, won three Gold Gloves and hit perhaps the most important homer in Astros history, the overlooked two-out homer in Game 4 of the 2005 NLDS to tie the Braves. Without that, Chris Burke's shot in the 18th inning could not have happened.

  • Jeff Bagwell, 1B (1991-2005) (AS, GG, MVP). Franchise leader in home runs and RBIs. That won't change for at least a decade. Hopefully, it won't be long before he's inducted into Cooperstown.

  • Kevin Bass, OF (1982-1989, 1993-1994) (AS). A switch-hitter with pop, Bass was the chief dividend of the Don Sutton trade and a 1986 All-Star. He's best remembered for his strikeout to end the 1986 NLCS and his Sammy Davis Jr. impressions.

  • Lance Berkman, 1B-OF (1999-2010) (AS, MVP). The franchise leader in OBP, Berkman had to leave Houston to get his World Series ring but the Rice alum remains a quintessential Astro in the hearts of many.

  • Craig Biggio, 2B-OF-C (1988-2007) (AS, GG, MVP). Obviously, the franchise leader in hits, runs, singles and doubles, his versatility and tenacity over 20 seasons is an enduring hallmark for any future Astros to aspire to.

  • Enos Cabell, 3B-1B (1975-1980, 1984-1985) (MVP). Something of a surprise to see him here but Cabell led the Astros with 195 hits in 1978 and his return to the team in 1984 got him the tenure to qualify.

  • Ken Caminiti, 3B (1988-1994, 1999-2000) (AS). Amazingly, Cammy never won a Gold Glove as an Astro but he made the 1994 All-Star team and was the star or the 1999 NLDS.

  • Cesar Cedeno, OF-1B (1970-1981) (AS, GG, MVP). Houston's first true superstar, Cedeno is the franchise leader in steals but he couldn't quite sustain the career path many predicted for him. He was still a key component to Houston's first division title.

  • Jose Cruz, OF (1974-1987) (AS, MVP). Houston's best player of the 1980s, Cruz was largely overlooked outside of Texas because of his lack of home run power but he often came through when it mattered.

  • Larry Dierker, SP (1964-1976) (AS, MVP). He spent more years connected with the franchise than any other and spanned every ownership before Jim Crane as either player, broadcaster or manager. His single-season records for innings pitched and complete games will likely never be equaled.

  • Bill Doran, 2B (1982-1990) (MVP). Not only did the underrated Doran win the club's MVP award, he did it twice. In some ways, his career seemed to be overshadowed by the second baseman that soon replaced him (Biggio) but, at a time where pitching trumped offense, Doran was a key component to the success of the 1980s.

  • Richard Hidalgo, OF (1997-2004) (MVP). The Venezuelan-born outfielder had a monster season in 2000 which might be the only way he would qualify for this list. The rest of his career was potential mixed with disappointment. If Gold Gloves were handed out on outfield assists, however, Hidalgo might have had some.

  • Bob Knepper, SP (1981-1989) (AS). Love him or hate him, the two-time All-Star qualifies for the list despite a losing record (93-100) and coming up one inning short of the win that might have clinched a World Series birth in 1986.

  • Roger Metzger, SS (1971-1978) (GG, MVP). Some claim the native Texan was the best fielder the Astros have ever had. He still owns the club record for most triples in a season (14).

  • Joe Morgan, 2B (1963-1971, 1980) (AS, MVP). Diminished during his great years in Cincinnati is the realization that Morgan was named to two All-Star teams with the Astros. He returned in 1980 to lead the club to their first division title.

  • Joe Niekro, SP (1975-1985) (AS, MVP). Joe mastered the knuckleball from his brother Phil in mid-career and it changed his life. The franchise leader in wins, he'll always be less appreciated outside Houston than his Hall of Fame brother but, in some ways, Joe's career is the more inspiring.

  • Roy Oswalt, SP (2001-2010) (AS). He's in the argument for best Astro pitcher of all time. Second to Niekro in franchise wins, he led the NL in wins and ERA in separate seasons yet somehow never got the Cy Young honors he deserved.

  • Terry Puhl, OF (1977-1989) (AS). Never really a star, the Canadian was a dependable bat and glove for many years in Houston and got the All-Star nod in 1978 in his sophomore year but did not get to play.

  • Doug Rader, 3B (1967-1975) (GG). The "Red Rooster" was a fan favorite with a flashy glove and decent power. His teammates, though, remember him for his irrepressible sense of humor.

  • Craig Reynolds, SS (1979-1989) (AS). The career of this Houston native mirrored his teammate Puhl in many ways. An All-Star very early on, Reynolds settled into a versatile role of bench player and lefty bat off the bench that came through at unexpected times - just ask the Braves and Giants, two teams he loved to torture.

  • Shane Reynolds, SP (1992-2002) (AS). Although "split-fingered fastball" was a term most associated with Mike Scott, Louisiana-born Reynolds might have thrown the most of them of any Astros pitcher. It led him to 103 wins for Houston.

  • J.R. Richard, SP (1971-1980) (AS, MVP). We'll never know what he might have accomplished had he not been felled by a stroke but what he did before then is testimony enough. A 20-win season, two 300+ strikeout campaigns and a haunting sense that he was about to get even better.

  • Nolan Ryan, SP (1980-1988) (AS, MVP). A true legend who needs no introduction, there's not much you can say about him that hasn't been said so it's almost pointless to try. Hopefully, he shows more mercy as a Rangers owner than he had on opposing batters.

  • Joe Sambito, RP (1976-1984) (AS). The handsome lefty had his career cut short due to injury but his 1.94 ERA and 1.04 WHIP during a three-year stretch (1979-1981) proved what he could do.

  • Mike Scott, SP (1983-1991) (AS, MVP). The 1986 NL Cy Young Award winner gave us all a season to remember and posted 110 wins during his Houston career.

  • Dave Smith, RP (1980-1990) (AS). He wasn't an overpowering closer but he was one of the best of his era. He posted 20 or more saves in six straight seasons (1985-1990) with a 2.38 ERA over that span while getting two All-Star nods.

  • Billy Wagner, RP (1995-2003) (AS). What a joy it was to see him pop that 100 mph fastball at the end of a game. The club's all-time saves leader, he was selected to three All-Star teams and, other than the 2000 campaign where he tried to pitch through an injury, was a deadly closer out of the Houston bullpen.

  • Bob Watson, 1B-OF (1966-1979) (AS, MVP). The "Bull" had a long, impressive career with four seasons hitting above .310 and two seasons topping 100 RBIs. He became the first player to hit for the cycle in both leagues and scored baseball's "Millionth Run".

  • Don Wilson, SP (1967-1974) (AS, MVP). The flamethrower tossed two no-hitters and almost a third in an up-and-down career which ended tragically with his death in 1975. His was another career that could have offered more.

  • Jim Wynn, OF (1963-1972) (AS, MVP). Perhaps it is fitting that the first shall be last on our list. Wynn was the unquestioned home run king of the Astros for their first 30 years. He hit them often and he hit them far, which you had to do back in those days at the Astrodome. He also stole 180 bases while in Houston and played a solid center field before Cedeno took over for him. A true all-time Astro.

    There's a chance that Wandy Rodriguez could make this list if he gets an All-Star nod before leaving town. If he manages to play into 2013, Carlos Lee would be eligible. Other than those two, nobody else is likely to be added to the roster for several years to come so it might stay with 31 players until late in the decade.

    Seems like the Japanese have a good idea. Have fun putting together your dream lineups and pitching staffs among this group.