1994 Houston Astros season

Last updated

1994  Houston Astros
League National League
Division Central
Ballpark The Astrodome
City Houston, Texas
Record66–49 (.574)
Divisional place2nd
Owners Drayton McLane, Jr.
General managers Bob Watson
Managers Terry Collins
Television KTXH
Radio KPRC (AM)
(Bill Brown, Milo Hamilton, Larry Dierker, Vince Controneo, Bill Worrell, Enos Cabell)
KXYZ
(Francisco Ernesto Ruiz, Danny Gonzalez)
←  1993
1995  →

The 1994 Houston Astros season was the 33rd season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 30th as the Astros, 33rd in the National League (NL), first in the inaugural season of the NL Central division, and 30th at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season with an 85–77 record, third-place finish in the NL West division, and 19 games behind the three-time defending division-champion Atlanta Braves.

Contents

The 1994 season was the first for Terry Collins as manager, the 12th in franchise history, succeeding Art Howe. On April 4, pitcher Pete Harnisch made his second Opening Day start for the Astros, who hosted the Montreal Expos and prevailed on a walk-hit double, 6–5, in extra innings. During the amateur draft, the Astros received three first round picks, including catcher Ramón Castro at 17th overall, pitcher Scott Elarton (25th), and shortstop Russ Johnson (30th).

Five Astros represented the club for the National League at the MLB All-Star Game: first baseman Jeff Bagwell, second baseman Craig Biggio, third baseman Ken Caminiti, and pitchers Doug Drabek and John Hudek. For Biggio, it was the his third career selection, and the first for each of the remaining four.

The Astros finished the season with 66–49 record—just 1⁄2 game behind the first-place Cincinnati Reds—for their closest to first place since 1986. Houston also trailed Atlanta by 2+1⁄2 games for second place in MLB's first-ever Wild Card race. However, on August 12, all regular season games were suspended as a response to the players' strike, and the season was ultimately cancelled, removing nearly all of the final two months. The 1994 playoffs were cancelled as well, and the start of the 1995 season was delayed.

Prior to the strike, Bagwell set the major league record for fewest plate appearances to reach both 100 runs scored and 100 runs batted in (RBI)—leading the league in both categories (104 runs, 116 RBI). Bagwell also hit for the highest slugging percentage in the NL since 1925 (.750), ranked second in the NL in batting (.368), and third in home runs (39). Following the season, Bagwell became the fourth player to be unanimously selected for the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, and the first Astro to win an MVP. Bagwell and Biggio also became the first Astros to win both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards for their respective positions in the same season.

Offseason

Regular season

Summary

April

Opening Day starting lineup [6] [7]
18 James Mouton [a] RF
12 Steve Finley CF
 7 Craig Biggio 2B
 5 Jeff Bagwell 1B
26 Luis Gonzalez LF
11 Ken Caminiti 3B
 9 Scott Servais   C
17 Andújar Cedeño SS
27 Pete Harnisch   P
Venue:Astrodome • HOU 6,MON 5

Right fielder James Mouton, who made his major league debut on Opening Day [8] as Houston's leadoff hitter, also took the club's first at bat of the 1994 season, during which they hosted the Montreal Expos. Mouton pulled a ground ball double to left field off the Expos' Jeff Fassero for his first major league hit. The Expos struck first against the Astros' Opening Day starter, Pete Harnisch, during the top of the second, when Wil Cordero singled home Larry Walker, and two batters later, Sean Berry slugged a two-run home run that scored Cordero for a 3–0 Expos lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Andújar Cedeño singled home Luis Gonzalez for the Astros' first score of the season. Jeff Bagwell homered the following inning, which also scored Craig Biggio, for the Astros' first of the season, and tied the score, 3–3. The score remained tied 3–3 through regulation. During the bottom of the 12th, Mitch Williams issued consecutive bases-loaded bases on balls. Montreal regained the lead, 5–3, and Tom Edens replaced Williams, who secured the final out of the frame. In the bottom of the 12th, Bagwell singled home Mouton to trim the deficit to 5–4. Two batters later, Ken Caminiti doubled to center field to plate both Steve Finley and Bagwell for the Astros' walk-off victory, 6–5. Thus, Edens earned the Astros' first victory of the season. Mouton reached base four times in 6 plate appearances, including three hits and a walk, and also pilfered his first stolen base. Each of Finley, Biggio, Bagwell, and Cedeño added multi-hit games. [9]

The Astros also debuted their new navy-and-gold uniforms with the leaning star logo on Opening Day. [10]

On April 23, Mouton walloped a grand slam for his first major league home during the eighth inning at Busch Stadium, off Vicente Palacios. [11] The blast capped a 15–5 Houston victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Chris Donnels, Steve Finley, and Kevin Bass also went deep. [12] Bass produced his second career five-hit game and tied his career high with four runs scored, [13] while Finley logged his ninth career four-hit game. [14] The Astros collected 18 hits and 9 walks, [12] and to that point in the season, this was the team's high-scoring output, until June 24. [15]

One week after scoring a season-high 15 runs, on April 30, the Astros buried the Cardinals by the same score, 15–5, this time at home. Bagwell and Finley both homered and doubled among four hits. Harnisch added two hits, his first double, and scored twice while cruising through six innings on the mound. [16] It was Bagwell's seventh career four-hit game, [17] and tenth for Finley. [14] For the first time since 1966, single-game attendance topped 50,000. [10]

May

On May 16, Bagwell hit for his first multi-home run game of the season, [17] providing all of Houston's offense in a tight, 3–2 affair over the San Francisco Giants. In the top of the fifth, Matt Williams took Astros starter Shane Reynolds deep. Reynolds surrendered 10 hits and the Giants' only scores over 5+2⁄3 innings. With two outs and Giants on first and third in the sixth, Dave Veres (1–1), [18] who had made his major league debut just six days earlier, [19] entered for Reynolds and struck out Williams looking to extinguish the threat. In the bottom of the sixth, Bagwell yanked a home run deep with Biggio aboard to give Houston a 3–2 lead and make Veres a major league victor for the first time. Holds were earned by fellow rookie relievers Mike Hampton (3rd) and John Hudek (1st), while veteran Mitch Williams registered the save (5). [18]

The May 16 contest posited as the second multi-home run game of Bagwell's career, with his first having occurred almost exactly two years prior on May 10, 1992. [17] From May 16 until July 24, Bagwell connected for five multi-home run games. [20]

While hurling an 8–0 shutout of the Atlanta Braves on May 24, starting pitcher Doug Drabek turned in an all-round game while going the distance on the mound. At the plate, Drabek matched the three hits surrendered by getting three of his own while collecting two runs batted in (RBI). [21] Every Astro attained a hit as the team piled on 16 while coaxing another 5 bases on balls, while Mouton supplied a game-high four hits, [22] the first four-hit game of his major league career. [23]

For the month of May, Drabek furnished a 5–1 win–loss record (W–L), 1.65 earned run average (ERA) over six starts and 49 innings pitched, three complete games, two shutouts, and a 0.939 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP). [24] Consequently, he was singled out as NL Pitcher of the Month, the Astros' first since Darryl Kile during June of the preceding campaign. [25]

June

In spite of stacking 11 hits on Greg Maddux on June 12 at the Astrodome, the Braves emerged as 3–1 victors. Maddux (10–1) got the complete game victory, issued no walks, induced three double plays, and surrendered just one extra base hit, a double to Bass. Meanwhile, Houston's own Greg, Swindell (5–3), earned a tough loss, allowing just two runs in eight innings. [26]

On June 24, Jeff Bagwell hit three home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Astrodome—including twice during the sixth inning—to lead a 16–4 rout. Bagwell became the first Astro since Glenn Davis on June 1, 1990 to hit three home runs in one contest. [b] [27] [28] Bagwell also tied the club record with 13 total bases, first set by Joe Morgan on July 8, 1965. [29] Nine of Houston's runs came in the sixth inning, [30] and the 16 runs was a season-high for the Astros. [15]

Bagwell was the NL Player of the Week for consecutive weeks on June 19 and June 26. [27]

During the month of June, Bagwell logged a .394 batting average / .455 on-base percentage (OBP) / .899 slugging percentage (SLG) / 1.354 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). Over 26 games, he totaled 39 hits, scored 30 runs, 11 doubles, 13 home runs, 28 RBI and 89 total bases. [31] This performance garnered NL Player of the Month honors for June, his second career monthly award. The prior Astro to win this award was himself, in May during the previous season. Bagwell joined Bob Watson (May 1975) and César Cedeño (September 1977) as Astros' two-time winners. [32]

July

On July 3, Ken Caminiti became the fourth Astros player to connect for a home run from both sides of the plate, and first time in his career, [c] [33] accomplishing it in the Astrodome. Caminiti took righty Mike Morgan to deep right center in the third, and in the eighth, lefty Dan Plesac to deep right field. Kevin Bass, the previous Astro to hit a home run from each side of the plate in a single game, hit behind Caminiti (cleanup) in the order. Sid Bream, filling in for Bagwell at first, collected a season-high three hits. Biggio logged four hits, including a home run and double, as Houston won, 12–6, over the Chicago Cubs. [34]

MLB All-Star Game

Five Astros players were named to the National League All-Star team: first baseman Jeff Bagwell, second baseman Craig Biggio, third baseman Ken Caminiti, and pitchers Doug Drabek and John Hudek. For Biggio, it was the his third career selection, and the first for each of the remaining four. This was the first time that as many as five Astros were selected to the All-Star Game. Previously four Astros went to the 1979 and 1986 Midsummer Classics. [35]

During the Midsummer Classic, Bagwell entered as a pinch hitter for Maddux, the NL starting pitcher. Bagwell singled off David Cone, and wound up collecting two hits in four at bats. [36]

Rest of July

Finley cranked his first grand slam in an Astros uniform on July 17, [37] igniting Houston for an eight-run third inning. The Astros whitewashed the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9–0. Shortstop Orlando Miller thumped his first triple among three hits. Shane Reynolds (7–4) took over for Drabek for seven shutout innings in relief for the victory. With Miller aboard in the third, it was Pittsburgh righty Paul Wagner's hit by pitch of Drabek while batting that knocked him out of the contest. Harnisch pinch ran for Drabek, and Biggio drew a walk. Finley then crushed a deep line drive to right field for the slam. [38]

From July 21 to August 9, Bagwell authored a career-high 18-gaame hitting streak, during which be hit .455. [39]

Bagwell became the first player in the majors to reach 100 RBI on July 27, including a home run off José Rijo in a 6–5 win over the Cincinnati Reds, agglomerating his total to 101 RBI in 101 games. [40]

Veteran Sid Bream made his final major league appearance on July 27, collecting a single in a pinch-hit at bat against Cincinnati. Bream excelled as a left-handed pinch-hitting option and reserve first baseman during his lone season with Houston, batting .344 in 46 games and 70 plate appearances. Prior to Houston, he made key contribution to both the Pittsburgh Pirates' and Atlanta Braves' National League Championship Series bids. [41]

Bagwell was recognized with a consecutive NL Player of the Month for July, the first Houston Astro to earn two monthly awards within the same season, and the first to win it three times. [32] Over 24 contests, Bagwell batted at a season-high pace of .409 / .509 / .875 / 1.384 OPS. This totaled 27 runs scored, 36 hits, 8 doubles, 11 home runs, and 29 RBI. [31] Bagwell became the first Astro since right-hander J. R. Richard was named NL Pitcher of the Month from September 1979 to April 1980 to earn any consecutive monthly honors. [25]

Counting Drabek's Pitcher of the Month decoration for May, the month of July harbored a third successive monthly award for Houston players. [25]

August

During a 12–4 win over the San Francisco Giants on August 5, Bagwell broke multiple Houston single-season club records, including home runs, total bases and RBI. [42] With five RBI, Bagwell pumped his total to 112 and surpass Bob Watson's club record. Bagwell also cranked his 38th home run and 69th extra-base hit, smashing Jimmy Wynn's club records with one-third of the season remaining. With a .370 batting average, he was also lapping Rusty Staub's franchise record. [10]

On August 10, Bagwell sustained a fracture in on the left hand via an hit by pitch delivered by Andy Benes of the San Diego Padres, prematurely ending his season. [43]

By Friday, August 12, the Astros had compiled a 66–49 (.574) record through 115 games. They trailed the Cincinnati Reds by a 1⁄2 game for the NL Central Division lead and the Atlanta Braves by 2+1⁄2 games in the NL Wild Card race [44] when the season was interrupted by the players' strike. As the work stoppage prolonged, the date of August 12 would culminate as the final date of play in the Major Leagues for the 1994 season. All remaining games—including the playoffs—were later cancelled as a response to the players' strike. [45]

Performance overview

The Astros improved from a third-place finish and 85–77 (.525) record in 1993, their final season in the NL West division, to a 66–49 (.574) record and second place in their first campaign in the NL Central in 1994, an increase in winning percentage by .049 points. It was the third consecutive year producing a winning percentage of .500 or better and third of 15 times over a span of 17 seasons through 2008, an era by far with the most consistency through that point in club history. This edition of the Astros commenced a string of seven consecutive showings each with both a winning record and finish no lower than second place in the NL Central division through 1999, both unprecedented achievements in franchise history. [46]

Offensively, the Astros led the Majors in doubles during the strike-shortened season (252), intentional walks (58), and sacrifice hits (73). [47] They had scored 602 runs (5.23 per game) and had allowed 503 runs (4.37 per game). [44]

On the strength of nearly unrivalled productivity in major league history, Bagwell unanimously won the NL Most Valuable Player Award (MVP), becoming the fourth player in National League history on whom to be voted in this manner, and the first Astros player to win the award. [27]

Fellow "Killer B" Craig Biggio, who hit ahead of Bagwell in the order, [48] led the league in doubles (44) [49] and stolen bases (39). [50] The third Astro to lead the league in doubles, Rusty Staub (1967) and César Cedeño (twice, 1971 and 1972), preceded Biggio. [49] Further, Biggio became the first player in club history to lead the league in stolen bases. [50]

As such, the pair were each lauded with both of the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards, distinguishing them as the first Astros to claim both of the trophies for the same season. [51] It was the first time since 1983 that Houston boasted multiple Silver Slugger recipients (José Cruz and Dickie Thon), [52] and the first since 1974 with multiple Gold Glove defenders (César Cedeño and Doug Rader). [53]

Biggio joined Cruz as the only multiple Silver Slugger winners for the Astros (at the time, two each), while becoming the first Astro to win the award for the position of second base. Biggio also had became Houston's first player to win the Silver Slugger at catcher in 1989. Bagwell, who received his first Silver Slugger, became the second player in club history to receive the award for first base, joining Glenn Davis in 1986. [52] Both Bagwell and Biggio won the Gold Glove for the first time, as well as becoming the first players in club history to win at their respective positions. [53]

In addition, Bagwell also won Player of the Year Awards from the Associated Press, Baseball Digest, and USA Today Baseball Weekly. [54]

Bagwell finished the 1994 season playing in 110 games and batting .368 with a .750 SLG, 1.201 OPS, 39 HR, 116 RBI, 104 runs scored, 300 total bases and 213 adjusted OPS (OPS+) in 400 at-bats. He led the major leagues in SLG, OPS+, RBI, and total bases, and the NL in runs scored and OPS, but fell short of winning the batting Triple Crown, finishing second for the batting title to Tony Gwynn, who, after batting .394, had the highest average in the major leagues since Ted Williams in 1941. [55] Bagwell finished second in HR to Matt Williams, who hit 43. [56] Bagwell set the record for the fewest plate appearances in a season with at least 100 runs and RBI and became the first National Leaguer to finish first or second in batting average, home runs, RBI, and runs scored since Willie Mays in 1955. [57] His .750 SLG at the time ranked as the seventh-best ever [20] —it still ranks as the 11th best single-season mark in Major League history—and was the highest by a National Leaguer since Rogers Hornsby in 1925 (.756). [27]

At the time, in National League history, the 213 OPS+ trailed only Hornsby's 1924 season (222 OPS+) for the second-highest ever; [58] as of 2015, it was tied for 24th highest of all time in all major league seasons, and was the eighth highest among all not by Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth or Williams. Bagwell generated a .383 Isolated Power (ISO) mark, the 16th-highest in history. Twelve of the 15 higher seasons belonged to Bonds, Ruth, and Mark McGwire. Seven of the ten seasons that exceeded his .750 SLG belonged to Bonds and Ruth. Bagwell's 10.26 at bats per home run (AB/HR) ratio is the 25th-best in history. The 1.2009 OPS is the 20th-highest in history; 13 of the seasons that are higher belong to Bonds, Ruth and Williams. [27] The 116 RBI in 110 games qualified for the 13th-highest ratio in history. [59]

Projecting Bagwell's totals to 162 games and 650 plate appearances, he was on pace to amass 47 doubles, 57 home runs, 170 RBI, 22 stolen bases, 95 walks, 216 hits, along with .451 OBP, .750 SLG, and 1.201 OPS. When leading off an inning, he batted .460, .514 OBP, .990 SLG, 1.504 OPS, 14 HR, nine doubles and a triple. 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. [27] Bagwell's other totals in the Astrodome that season included a .373 batting average, 54 runs scored, 58 RBI, .816 SLG and 1.275 OPS. In 125 plate appearances against left-handed pitching, he batted .457 with 20 BB, 18 HR and 11 doubles for a .544 OBP, 1.095 SLG and 1.639 OPS. [60] He set single-season club records for batting average, SLG, OPS, OPS+, AB/HR, and offensive win percentage (.858), and also for home runs, breaking Wynn's 27-year-old record, and RBI, breaking Bob Watson's record he had set 17 years earlier – later which he again both subsequently broke. [56]

Game log

1994 Regular Season Game Log (66-49) (Home: 37-22; Road: 29-27)
April (13-10) (Home: 7-5; Road: 6-5)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecordReport
1April 4 Expos 6-5 (12 inn.) Edens (1-0) Shaw (0-1)43,4401-0 Boxscore
2April 5 Expos 1-5 Hill (1-0) Drabek (0-1)16,2271-1 Boxscore
3April 6 Expos 3-9 Rueter (1-0) Kile (0-1)17,1801-2 Boxscore
4April 8 Mets
5April 9 Mets
6April 10 Mets
7April 12@ Marlins
8April 13@ Marlins
9April 14@ Marlins
10April 15@ Mets
11April 16@ Mets
12April 17@ Mets
13April 19@ Cubs
14April 20@ Cubs
15April 22@ Cardinals
16April 23@ Cardinals
17April 24@ Cardinals
18April 25 Pirates
19April 26 Pirates
20April 27 Cubs
21April 28 Cubs
22April 29 Cardinals
23April 30 Cardinals
May (16-12) (Home: 8-5; Road: 8-7)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecordReport
24May 1 Cardinals
25May 3@ Pirates
26May 4@ Pirates
27May 5@ Reds
28May 6@ Reds
29May 7@ Reds
30May 8@ Reds
31May 9@ Dodgers
32May 10@ Dodgers
33May 11@ Dodgers
34May 13 Rockies
35May 14 Rockies
36May 15 Rockies
37May 16 Giants
38May 17 Giants
39May 18 Giants
40May 19 Padres
41May 20 Padres
42May 21 Padres
43May 22 Padres
44May 24@ Braves
45May 25@ Braves
46May 26@ Braves
47May 27@ Phillies
48May 28@ Phillies
49May 29@ Phillies
50May 30 Marlins
51May 31 Marlins
June (14-13) (Home: 8-6; Road: 6-7)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecordReport
52June 1 Marlins
53June 3 Phillies
54June 4 Phillies
55June 5 Phillies
56June 6@ Expos 5-10 Henry (3-0) Swindell (5-2) Wetteland (8)14,32232-24 Boxscore
57June 7@ Expos 2-3 Heredia (2-2) Veres (2-3) Wetteland (9)17,28332-25 Boxscore
58June 8@ Expos 9-2 Williams (3-2) Fassero (4-4)17,28933-25 Boxscore
59June 10 Braves
60June 11 Braves
61June 12 Braves
62June 13@ Giants
63June 14@ Giants
64June 15@ Giants
65June 16@ Giants
66June 17@ Padres
67June 18@ Padres
68June 19@ Padres
69June 20@ Rockies
70June 21@ Rockies
71June 22@ Rockies
72June 24 Dodgers
73June 25 Dodgers
74June 26 Dodgers
75June 27 Reds
76June 28 Reds
77June 29 Reds
78June 30 Cubs
July (16-11) (Home: 7-3; Road: 9-8)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecordReport
79July 1 Cubs
80July 2 Cubs
81July 3 Cubs
82July 4@ Cardinals
83July 5@ Cardinals
84July 6@ Cardinals
85July 7@ Cubs
86July 8@ Cubs
87July 9@ Cubs
88July 10@ Cubs
All-Star Break : NL def. AL at Three Rivers Stadium, 8–7 (10)
89July 14@ Pirates
90July 15@ Pirates
91July 16@ Pirates
92July 17@ Pirates
93July 18 Cardinals
94July 19 Cardinals
95July 20 Cardinals
96July 21 Pirates
97July 22 Pirates
98July 23 Pirates
99July 24 Pirates
100July 25@ Reds
101July 26@ Reds
102July 27@ Reds
103July 29@ Dodgers
104July 30@ Dodgers
105July 31@ Dodgers
August (7-3) (Home: 7-3)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecordReport
106August 1 Rockies
107August 2 Rockies
108August 3 Rockies
109August 4 Rockies
110August 5 Giants
111August 6 Giants
112August 7 Giants
113August 9 Padres
114August 10 Padres
115August 11 Padres
Legend
Astros winAstros loss All-Star Game Game postponed

Season standings

NL Central
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Cincinnati Reds 6648.579—37‍–‍2229‍–‍26
Houston Astros 6649.574½37‍–‍2229‍–‍27
Pittsburgh Pirates 5361.4651332‍–‍2921‍–‍32
St. Louis Cardinals 5361.4651323‍–‍3330‍–‍28
Chicago Cubs 4964.43416½20‍–‍3929‍–‍25
Division leaders
Team W L Pct.
Montreal Expos 7440.649
Cincinnati Reds 6648.579
Los Angeles Dodgers 5856.509
Wild Card team W L Pct. GB
Atlanta Braves 68460.597—
Houston Astros 66490.57421⁄2
New York Mets 55580.487121⁄2
San Francisco Giants 55600.478131⁄2
Philadelphia Phillies 54610.470141⁄2
St. Louis Cardinals 53610.46515
Pittsburgh Pirates 53610.46515
Colorado Rockies 53640.453161⁄2
Florida Marlins 51640.444171⁄2
Chicago Cubs 49640.434181⁄2
San Diego Padres 47700.402221⁄2

Record vs. opponents

1994 National League record
Source: MLB Standings Grid – 1994
TeamATLCHCCINCOLFLAHOULADMONNYMPHIPITSDSFSTL
Atlanta —4–25–58–28–43–36–04–55–46–33–96–15–15–7
Chicago 2–4—5–76–64–54–83–32–41–41–65–56–35–45–5
Cincinnati 5–57–5—4–47–54–63–64–22–44–29–38–27–22–2–1
Colorado 2–86–64–4—3–95–54–64–25–12–42–35–53–78–4
Florida 4–85–45–79–3—2–43–32–76–44–61–65–12–43–7
Houston 3–38–46–45–54–2—1–82–43–35–18–45–58–28–4
Los Angeles 0–63–36–36–43–38–1—3–96–67–53–36–45–52–4
Montreal 5–44–22–42–47–24–29–3—4–35–48–212–05–77–3
New York 4–54–14–21–54–63–36–63–4—4–64–56–66–66–3
Philadelphia 3-66–12–44–26–41–55–74–56–4—5–44–84–84–3
Pittsburgh 9–35–53–93–26–14–83–32–85–44–5—3–31–55–5
San Diego 1–63–62–85–51–55–54–60–126–68–43–3—5–24–2
San Francisco 1–54–52–77–34–22–85–57–56–68–45–12–5—2–4
St. Louis 7–55–52–2–14–87–34–84–23–73–63–45–52–44–2—

Notable transactions

Roster

1994 Houston Astros
Roster
PitchersCatchers

Infielders

OutfieldersManager

Coaches

Major League Baseball draft

Houston Astros 1994 MLB draft selections
Rd.PickPlayerPos.SchoolOriginSigned
117 Ramón Castro [Note 1] C Lino Padrón Rivera High School Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Y
25 Scott Elarton [Note 2] RHP Lamar High School Flag of Colorado.svg Y
30 Russ Johnson [Note 3] SS Louisiana State Flag of Louisiana.svg Y
380 Óscar Robles SS Montgomery High School Flag of Mexico.svg Y
451Dan LockLHP Yale Flag of Michigan.svg Y
7192 Tony Mounce LHP Kamiakin High School Flag of California.svg Y
Ref.: [63]

Statistics

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C Scott Servais 7825149.195941
1B Jeff Bagwell 110400147.36839116
2B Craig Biggio 114437139.318656
SS Andújar Cedeño 9834290.263949
3B Ken Caminiti 111406115.2831875
LF Luis Gonzalez 112392107.273867
CF Steve Finley 94373103.2761133
RF James Mouton 9931076.245216

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
Kevin Bass 8220363.310635
Tony Eusebio 5515947.296530
Mike Felder 5811728.239013
Chris Donnels 548623.26735
Sid Bream 466121.34407
Andy Stankiewicz 375414.25915
Orlando Miller 164013.32529
Brian Hunter 6246.25000
Milt Thompson 9216.28613
Mike Simms 6121.08300
Ed Taubensee 5101.10000
Roberto Petagine 870.00000

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Doug Drabek 23164.21262.84121
Greg Swindell 24148.1894.3774
Darryl Kile 24147.2964.57105
Pete Harnisch 1795.0855.4062

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Shane Reynolds 33124.0853.05110
Brian Williams 2078.1655.7449

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGWLSVERASO
John Hudek 4202162.9734
Todd Jones 485252.7263
Mike Hampton 442103.7024
Tom Edens 394114.5038
Dave Veres 323312.4128
Mitch Williams 251467.6521
Ross Powell 120001.235

Awards and achievements

Offensive achievements

Grand slams

No.DateAstros batterVenueInningPitcherOpposing teamBox
1April 23 James Mouton † Busch Stadium 8 Vicente Palacios St. Louis Cardinals [12]
2July 17 Steve Finley ‡ Three Rivers Stadium 3₰ Paul Wagner Pittsburgh Pirates [38]
†—1st MLB home run • ‡—1st grand slam as Houston Astro • ₰—Tied score or took lead

Franchise records

  • Adjusted on-base plus slugging (OPS+): Jeff Bagwell (213)
  • Batting average: Jeff Bagwell (.368)
  • Home runs hit at home: Jeff Bagwell (23)
  • On-base plus slugging percentage (OPS): Jeff Bagwell (1.201)

Awards

League leaders

NL batting leaders
NL pitching leaders

Minor league system

LevelTeamLeagueManager
AAA Tucson Toros Pacific Coast League Rick Sweet
AA Jackson Generals Texas League Sal Butera
A Osceola Astros Florida State League Tim Tolman
A Quad Cities River Bandits Midwest League Steve Dillard
A-Short Season Auburn Astros New York–Penn League Manny Acta
Rookie GCL Astros Gulf Coast League Bobby Ramos

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: GCL Astros

Awards

See also

References

Footnotes
  1. ↑ Became the first player to be drafted from Puerto Rico in the first round. Castro remained the highest-selected player drafted directly from high school in Puerto Rico until 2012, when Carlos Correa, also selected by Houston, became the first overall pick. [62]
  2. ↑ Compensation pick for loss of free agent Mark Portugal.
  3. ↑ Supplemental pick for loss of free agent Mark Portugal.
  1. ↑ Major league debut.
  2. ↑ Bagwell's was the fifth three-home run game by an Astro. He also blasted the next such performance by an Astro on April 21, 1999.
  3. ↑ Succeeded Alan Ashby on September 27, 1982, Mark Bailey on September 16, 1984, and Bass (thrice, on August 3, and September 2, 1987, and August 20, 1989).
  4. ↑ Premier year for this award.
Sources
  1. ↑ Staff and wire reports (November 18, 1993). "Collins named Astro manager". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Andy Stankiewicz stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Mitch Williams stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Eric Anthony stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Sid Bream stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Montreal Expos (5) vs Houston Astros (6) box score". Baseball Almanac . April 4, 1994. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  7. ↑ "1994 Houston Astros uniform numbers". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  8. ↑ "James Mouton stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Montreal Expos (5) vs Houston Astros (6) box score". Baseball-Reference.com. April 4, 1994. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 Hulsey, Bob. "This date in Astros history". Astros Daily. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  11. ↑ "James Mouton career home runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 "Houston Astros (15) vs St. Louis Cardinals (5) box score". Baseball-Reference.com. April 23, 1994. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Top performances for Kevin Bass". Retrosheet . Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Top performances for Steve Finley". Retrosheet. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  15. 1 2 "1994 Houston Astros schedule". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  16. ↑ "St. Louis Cardinals (5) vs Houston Astros (15) box score". Baseball-Reference.com. April 30, 1994. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 "Top performances for Jeff Bagwell". Retrosheet. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  18. 1 2 "San Francisco Giants (2) vs Houston Astros (3) box score". Baseball-Reference.com. May 16, 1994. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Dave Veres stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  20. 1 2 Erion, Greg (September 17, 2015). "Jeff Bagwell". Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  21. ↑ Schwartzberg, Seth (May 24, 2025). "Today in Astros history - May 24". The Crawfish Boxes. SB Nation . Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Houston Astros (8) vs Atlanta Braves (0) box score". Baseball-Reference.com. May 24, 1994. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Top performances for James Mouton". Retrosheet. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Doug Drabek 1994 pitching splits". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "Major League Baseball Pitchers of the Month". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Atlanta Braves (3) vs Houston Astros (1) box score". Baseball-Reference.com. June 12, 1994. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Marbach, Jason (November 3, 2015). "The greatest seasons in Astros history: Jeff Bagwell, 1994". SB Nation The Crawfish Boxes. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  28. ↑ "3 home runs in a game". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  29. ↑ McTaggart, Brian (January 11, 2021). "Astros' best single-game hitting displays". MLB.com . Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  30. ↑ Schwarzberg, Seth (June 24, 2025). "Today in Astros history - June 24". The Crawfish Boxes. SB Nation. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  31. 1 2 "Jeff Bagwell 1994 batting splits". Baseball Reference . Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  32. 1 2 3 "MLB Players of the Month Awards". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Home runs from both sides of the plate in one game". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Chicago Cubs (6) vs Houston Astros (12) box score". Baseball-Reference.com. July 3, 1994. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  35. 1 2 "Houston Astros All-Star player register". Baseball-Refererence.com. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  36. ↑ "AL All-Stars (7) at NL All-Stars (8) box score". Baseball Reference.com. July 12, 1994. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Steve Finley career home runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  38. 1 2 "Houston Astros (9) vs Pittsburgh Pirates (0) box score". Baseball-Reference.com. July 17, 1994. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  39. ↑ Smith, David. "Houston Astros hitting streaks". Astros Daily. Retrieved October 3, 2025– via Retrosheet.
  40. ↑ "National League roundup: Astros' Bagwell surpasses 100-RBI mark". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. July 27, 1994. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Sid Bream stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  42. ↑ de Luna, Marcy (April 9, 2020). "Iconic Astrodome made its grand debut 55 years ago, became 'Eighth Wonder of the World'". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  43. ↑ Hohlfeld, Neil (August 6, 1994). "Bagwell Bashes Three Records, Astros Romp". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  44. 1 2 "1994 National League season summary". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  45. ↑ Chass, Murray (September 15, 1994). "Baseball: The season; Owners terminate season, without the World Series" . The New York Times . p. A1. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  46. ↑ "Houston Astros team history & encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  47. ↑ "1994 Major League Baseball season summary". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  48. ↑ "1994 Houston Astros batting orders | Most common batting orders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  49. 1 2 "Yearly league leaders & records for doubles". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  50. 1 2 "Yearly league leaders & records for stolen bases". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  51. ↑ "Silver and Gold Club: MLB players who won Silver Slugger and Gold Glove in same year". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  52. 1 2 "MLB Silver Slugger Award winners—National League". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  53. 1 2 "MLB Gold Glove Award winners—National League". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  54. ↑ "Jeff Bagwell player page bio". MLB.com. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  55. ↑ Goldstein, Richard (June 16, 2014). "Tony Gwynn, Hall of Fame batting champion, dies at 54 of cancer". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 27, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  56. 1 2 Hulsey, Bob (August 5, 1994). "Bagwell caps MVP season". www.astrosdaily.com. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  57. ↑ "Jeff Bagwell". Baseball Biography. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
  58. ↑ Campbell, Steve (January 25, 2012). "Best individual seasons in Astros history? The envelopes, please". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  59. ↑ Thomas, Robert McG. Jr. (October 28, 1994). "Bagwell's latest stat: All the M.V.P. votes". The New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  60. ↑ "Jeff Bagwell 1994 batting splits". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  61. ↑ Mike Simms at Baseball Reference
  62. ↑ Walsh, Megan (July 3, 2012). "No. 1 pick brings spark back to Puerto Rican baseball with Astros' Kissimmee affiliate". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  63. ↑ "1994 Houston Astros picks in the MLB June amateur draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  64. ↑ "Associated Press All-Star Awards & Teams". Baseball Almanac . Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  65. ↑ "Baseball Digest Player of the Year Award". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  66. 1 2 3 4 McTaggart, Brian (December 21, 2009). "Bourn highlights Astros' awards season". MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  67. ↑ "MLB Players of the Week Awards". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  68. ↑ "Players Choice Awards". MLB.com. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  69. ↑ "Silver Slugger Award". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  70. ↑ "The Sporting News Pitchers of the Year & The Sporting News Major League Players of the Year". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  71. ↑ "Jeff Bagwell stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  72. ↑ "Craig Biggio stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  73. ↑ "Baseball American 1st Team Minor League All-Star award history". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  74. ↑ "Houston Astros Minor League Player of the Year". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  75. ↑ "Pacific Coast League All-Stars". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  76. ↑ "Triple-A All-Stars". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
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