The Pecan Park Eagle

Just a tribute reminder on another day of saluting Mr. Biggio: Do you remember what MMP looked like before the Astros hung all the sponsorship signs? This is how the park appeared on the day that Craig Biggio collected his 3,000th hit in 2007.

With 24 hours to go before the 2013 Hall of Fame induction results are announced, some polls of “talking voters” show Craig Biggio leading, but in the “close, but no cigar” range near the required 75% approval. If that holds, we may be looking at a rare year in which there are no recently active inductees. If it works out that way, I will hold to the position I took of two days ago – to be among those who are disappointed, but not surprised.

In the meanwhile, those of us fans who care about the HOF vote are left to think about all the things that our man Biggio did to carve his name into the company of the greatest ball players in baseball history.

I’m speaking of one category today. Just look at his career doubles tally. Friend and SABR colleague Mark Wernick reminded me of it in his comment upon the first Biggio article I wrote two days ago. That is, to state, the position of Craig Biggio on the most career doubles list. Pay attention to this current list from Baseball Almanac and where Craig Biggio is located on the list of the 100 Greatest MLB Doubles Hitters of All Time. – And please note the identities of those keeping company with Mr. Biggio near the top of the chart.

Some Brief Notes:

Of the seven players at the top of the list who have garnered a minimum of 650 career doubles, Craig Biggio is 5th from the top of the list with 668.

Craig Biggio had more career doubles than any other man who played primarily as a second baseman. WIth 746 doubles in 2nd place, Pete Rose had more career doubles than Biggio, but Pete played far fewer games at second base than he did in the outfield and elsewhere.

Look at the bold-type names of active players on the list. There isn’t anyone there now that’s a “probable” on catching and passing Craig Biggio any time soon, if ever.

Look who else lives in this rarefied company. Former Astro Carlos Lee is No. 81 on the list with 469 doubles.

It’s probably no accident that Biggio was thrown out on his 3,000th hit trying to stretch a single into a double. How appropriately sweet  the safe-sign would have been under those circumstances on that special night at Minute Maid Park in 2007.

Enjoy perusing the list. And one more time: Good Luck, Tomorrow, Craig Biggio!