The Astros' first round draft pick in the amateur draft was pitcher Derick Grigsby, 29th overall. On June 5, the Astros announced a new agreement reached with Minute Maid for the naming rights to their stadium, rebranding it from Astros Field to Minute Maid Park.
Outfielder Lance Berkman represented the Astros and played for the National League at the MLB All-Star Game, his second career selection.
Berkman became the second Astro to lead the league in runs batted in (RBI), collecting 128.
The Astros concluded the season with an 84–78 record, in second place in the NL Central division, and 13 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals. The Astros ranked third in the NL Wild Card race, trailing the eventual NL-championSan Francisco Giants by 11+1⁄2 games. However, this was the ninth winning season in the previous 10 for Houston—with 2000 being the exception—continuing an unprecedented period of success. Additionally, it was the eighth time in nine seasons since moving to the NL Central that the Astros had finished in either first or second place.
With his third home run of the season on April 5, Lance Berkman equaled a club record entrenched by Chris Truby the year prior by homering in each in the season's first three contests.[a] Berkman's performance led a 6–3 win at Astros Field over Milwakee.[4]
On April 8 versus the Colorado Rockies, second baseman Craig Biggio became the fifth Houston Astro to hit for the cycle, and sixth time in franchise history. He singled, then tripled and connected for a home run off starter Denny Neagle within the first four innings. In the sixth, Neagle issued an intentional base on balls to Biggio, but Biggio, batting again in the eighth, stroked a double to complete the cycle. When his son, Cavan, replicated the feat in 2019 as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, they became the second father–son duo in major league history to hit for the cycle, following Gary (1980) and Daryle Ward (2004)[5] The younger Ward and elder Biggio were teammates when Craig hit for the cycle (though not in the starting lineup together);[6] in fact, Ward was a member of the Astros in his first five major league seasons, from 1998—2002.[7]
Berkman slugged three home runs at Cinergy Field on April 16 to ignite an 8–3 Astros win over the Cincinnati Reds, the first three-home run game of Berkman's career.[8] The first two shots were courtesy of José Acevedo offerings during the fist and second innings, and the third was off José Rijo. Moreover, the Astros chased Acevedo early with seven runs during the first two innings as Jeff Bagwell and Richard Hidalgo also went deep off the Reds starter. Dave Mlicki tossed 7+2⁄3innings pitched with six strikeouts and one run surrendered to pick up his first win of the season. Berkman had two additional opportunities to make major league history but wound up short.[9] The ninth time three-home run game in club history, it was the first since Vinny Castilla did so on July 28, 2001, and was succeeded by Hidalgo's on September 16, 2003.[10] and remained as the only such contest of Berkman's career.[8] Berkman devlivered five runs batted in (RBi) to establish a season-high.[11]
The Astros erupted for a season-high in runs on May 13,[12] for a 17–3 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies at Astros Field. Led by third baseman Geoff Blum's game-high three doubles and five RBI, the Astros piled on 10 extra-base hits among 20 total hits and four bases on balls, with two doubles by Hidalgo and a triple from Julio Lugo. Blum reached base four times, including earning a walk. Tim Redding (2–2) yielded just one run over seven innings to earn the victory.[13]
Hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 18, starters Kris Benson and Tim Redding exchanged pitching duels for seven innings each. Deadlocked 1–1 going into the bottom of the ninth, José Vizcaíno blasted a Sean Lowe delivery for a one-out walk-off home run to ice a 2–1 Houston triumph.[14] This triumph pulled the Astros back to the .500 mark and into a second-place tie in the division,[15] while extending a season-high seven-game winning streak.[12]
Accompanied with a celebration of fireworks and a locomotive steaming across the tracks beyond the left field wall carting oranges, on June 5, the Astros rechristened their stadium as Minute Maid Park. The organization announced a naming rights deal they had reached with Minute Maid, a beverage company based in Sugar Land, a suburb of Houston, since 1960. Per owner Drayton McLane, the agreement covered 28 years and was worth $100 million. The Astros had also considered proposals from other Houston-area companies, including Conoco Inc., Landry's Seafood Restaurants Inc., and Gallery Furniture.[17]
Right-handed pitcher Shane Reynolds was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 13 to undergo a season-ending microdiscectomy procedure to remove disc fragments in his back that were pressing on nerve. Reynolds' season ended after 13 starts, after going 3–6 and having posted a 4.86 earned run average (ERA).[18]
From August 10–24, Bagwell produced a season-high 15-game hitting streak, marking the 12th consecutive season with at least one double-digit hit streak, a club record, and second to Roberto Alomar with 14 among all then-active players. In September, he batted .343 with 11 multi-hit games.[22]
Prior a contest against the San Diego Padres on August 27, Bagwell met with 11-year-old bone cancer patient named Stephen Rael, who asked him to hit a home run for him. Bagwell replied, "I'm going to try, but I'm not Babe Ruth." In the fifth inning, he hit a pitch from Mike Bynum over the left field wall. Bagwell pointed to the child in the stands as he rounded third base. Bagwell later commented, "I hit the home run, and he felt it was for him. I'm glad for that. It made it special."[24]
September
On September 15, Berkman slugged his 100th career home run, launching an offering from Matt Morris of the st. Louis Cardinals deep to left field field in the bottom of the fourth inning at Minute Maid Park.[8]
Performance overview
With an 84–78 record, the 2002 season was the second of six consecutive with a winning record, through the 2006 camapaign. At the time, this signified the second-longest such in club history. They had also agglomerated 84 wins or more and qualified for the playoffs in five of each of the six prior seasons (with 2000 being the exception) and continued to win 84 or more through 2005.[25]
Lance Berkman led the NL in runs batted in (RBI) with 128, joining Bagwell in 1994 as the second Houston Astro to accomplish this feat.[26] Named the Astros' team Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the second consecutive season, Berkman also succeeded Bagwell in claiming two straight team MVPs (1999–2000), while becoming the fifth player in club history to earn this distinction.[27] Serving as the club's priamry center fielder, the switch-hitter led the club in numerous offensive categories.[28]
Catcher Brad Ausmus was rewarded with his second consecutive Gold Glove, the first Astro since Biggio to win the Gold Glove over successive campaigns (1994–1997, all at second base). Ausmus also joined Doug Rader (1970–1974 at third base), César Cedeño (1972–1976 at outfield), and Biggio as the fourth Astro to both win multiple Gold Gloves, while being recognized over consecutive seasons.[29]
↑ At the time, the major league record for home runs in consecutive games to start a season was four, shared by Willie Mays (1971) and Mark McGwire (1998).
↑ Subsequently broadcast for Houston in 2004 and 2005.
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