In 1990 the Boston Red Sox made one of the worst trades ever in obtaining pitcher Larry Anderson from the Houston Astros for minor leaguer Jeff Bagwell. Bagwell went on to become Rookie of the Year, an MVP, a perennial All-Star, and perhaps the greatest player in Astros history. Bagwell played 15 seasons in Houston, collecting 449 home runs, 1,529 RBI, and 2,314 hits, placing him first or second in many of the offensive categories all-time for the team, right with his old teammate, Craig Biggio. Biggio played 20 seasons with Houston, cementing his future Hall-of-Fame status in 2007 by getting his 3,000th all-time hit.

Somewhere behind the two B's are the two C's, Jose Cruz and Cesar Cedeno. Cruz played with the Astros from 1975 to 1987. He owned many of the team's records before the Killer B's came along. Cedeno's tenure with Houston was from 1970 to 1981, and he was a four-time All-Star with the club.

While no one can touch Biggio and Bagwell right now, another B-man is gunning for them. Lance Berkman, now in his 10th season with the club, has amassed 281 home runs, 928 RBI, and 1,395 hits. He is hot on the trails of his former teammates for all the offensive records, and will surely be leading the Astros into the future.

Meanwhile, their isn't a clear winner in terms of all-time greatest pitcher for Houston. Joe Neikro and Larry Dierker are very close together in the all-time win category, while Nolan Ryan sits atop the all-time strikeout list. And other hurlers, such as Mike Scott and J.R. Richard, also contend in this category. Then again, in just three season in Houston, Roger Clemens won a Cy Young award, and made the All-Star team twice. But perhaps, as with Berkman, it is in the future that the greatest Astros pitcher comes to light.

Roy Oswalt has been a starter with the team since 2001. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, Oswalt finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting to Albert Pujols in 2001, and has five times finished in the top five in Cy Young voting, but never first or second. Oswalt holds a career record of 119-62, with 1,264 strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA. He is a two-time 20-game winner, and has twice had over 200 strikeouts in a season.

It is indeed players like Berkman and Oswalt who will lead the Houston Astros into the future, and maybe their first ever World Series win. For Houston has tasted the greatness, and they can achieve it again.

Learn more about this author, Michael Frissore.
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