H.R. No. 169
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Former Houston Astro Craig Biggio is being inducted
into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of
2015, and this honor provides fitting recognition for an athlete
who proved himself one of the best players of his era; and
WHEREAS, Born on December 14, 1965, in Smithtown, New York,
Mr. Biggio was a multisport star at Kings Park High School;
recruited by a number of college programs for his skills as a
football player, he instead chose to pursue his passion for
baseball at Seton Hall University; he earned All-American
recognition while playing for the Pirates, and he was subsequently
chosen by the Houston Astros in the first round of the Major League
Baseball draft in 1987; and
WHEREAS, This versatile player made his major league debut in
1988, after a short but successful stint in the Astros' minor league
system; he won the starting catcher spot the next year, and he
earned the first of a club-record seven selections to the All-Star
Game in 1991; he switched to second base the following season, and
he logged more than a decade at that position in addition to playing
both center field and left field for Houston; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of his exemplary 20-year tenure,
Mr. Biggio compiled a .281 batting average, 3,060 hits, 291 home
runs, and 1,175 runs batted in; his 668 career doubles are more than
any other right-handed batter in major league history, and he is the
only player to ever realize the impressive combination of tallying
600 doubles, 250 home runs, 2,700 hits, and 400 stolen bases; his
myriad professional achievements also include winning four Gold
Glove Awards and five Silver Slugger Awards; and
WHEREAS, Always a fan favorite, Mr. Biggio endeared himself
to the Astros' faithful with his hustling style of play as well as
the intentionally dirty batting helmet he wore to the plate; he was
an opening day starter for Houston for 19 consecutive seasons, and
along with such teammates as Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman, he was
one of the beloved "Killer Bs" who paced the Houston attack in the
1990s and 2000s; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Biggio was an integral part of the 2005 squad
that reached the World Series, making the franchise's first and
only appearance to date in the Fall Classic; another highlight of
his career came in his final season, when he slugged his 3,000th
career hit against the Colorado Rockies on June 28, 2007; and
WHEREAS, A player who demonstrated outstanding skill and
gritty determination on the baseball diamond over the course of two
decades, Craig Biggio may take justifiable pride in his remarkable
accomplishments, and he is indeed deserving of this prestigious
hall of fame honor; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Craig Biggio on his induction into
the National Baseball Hall of Fame and extend to him sincere best
wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Biggio as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Alvarado
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 169 was adopted by the House on
February 19, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House