Special Advisor, Baseball Operations & Community Outreach Executive
Hall of Famer and longtime Astros icon Craig Biggio is in his 16th season as an important part of the Astros front office. In his role, Craig works in several areas, including with the baseball operations staff in its Major and minor league player development programs, scouting, and talent evaluation. Additionally, Craig participates in the club’s community development programs and the Astros partnership initiatives.
On Jan. 6, 2015, Craig Biggio became the first player in Astros history to be voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame after receiving 82.7 percent of the total votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He was officially inducted into the HOF during the annual ceremony in Cooperstown on July 26, 2015. Craig was also inducted to the Astros Hall of Fame on August 3, 2019, as a part of the inaugural class.
The franchise career leader in hits, games played, runs scored, and at-bats, Craig retired at the end of the 2007 season following a stellar, 20-year career, all with the Astros. His No. 7 was retired by the ballclub on Aug. 17, 2008.
He finished his career with 3,060 hits, 668 doubles, 291 homers, 1,175 RBI, and a .281 career average in 2,850 games. He remains the franchise leader in several categories, including hits, doubles, games played and runs (1844).
A first-round selection by Houston in the June 1987 draft, Craig became the first Astro to reach the 3,000-hit plateau with a seventh-inning single against Colorado’s Aaron Cook on June 28, 2007 at Minute Maid Park. His 3,060 hits rank 25th all-time, and his 668 career doubles are the 2nd-most of any right-handed hitter in Major League history (sixth all-time overall).
Craig’s 20 seasons with Houston are a franchise record, and he also made a club-best 19 consecutive Opening Day starts. He is also the only player in Major League history to reach all of the following milestones: 600 doubles (668), 250 home runs (291), 2,700 hits (3,060), and 400 stolen bases (414). Craig and Cal Ripken Jr. are the only middle infielders (only 13 players all-time) to collect 3,000 hits and 1,000 extra-base hits.
Craig was named to a franchise-record seven National League All-Star teams, received five Silver Slugger Awards, four Rawlings Gold Glove Awards and was a member of six Astros playoff teams. Craig holds National League records for leadoff home runs with 53 (ranks second all-time) and for hits in interleague play with 201. He also led all players during the 2005 postseason with 18 hits.
Additionally, Craig was the 2007 recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, a prestigious honor bestowed upon one Major League player each season by Major League Baseball and the Clemente family recognizing community service. Craig has been actively involved with the Sunshine Kids throughout his career, a support organization for children with cancer and their families.
Craig and wife Patty reside in Houston and have two sons, Conor and Cavan, and one daughter, Quinn. In 2010, Craig coached his sons’ St. Thomas High School baseball team to the Texas Class 5A state championship. Both Conor (graduate ’15) and Cavan (drafted ‘16) played baseball for the University of Notre Dame. Cavan was drafted by the Blue Jays and made his Major League debut for Toronto in 2019. On Sept. 17, 2019 in Baltimore, Cavan hit for the cycle, making he and his father just the second father-son duo to each hit for the cycle in an MLB game; Quinn is a member of the Notre Dame softball team.