Craig Biggio Reaches 3000 Hit Milestone
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by user Romiezzo
On June 28th, 2007, Craig Biggio became an elite member of the 3,000 hit club. The secondbaseman was able to log three hits yesterday (hits 2,998, 2,999, 3,000), with his third hit arriving in the seventh inning in the form of a single of Rockies' right handed pitcher, Aaron Cook. The hit drove in a run to tie the game at 1, but he was tagged out trying to stretch hit to a double. Although that ended the inning, that didn't stop the celebration.
As soon as Biggio was called out, catcher Brad Ausmus, along with the rest of the team, mobbed him in celebration. Later on, his wife, Patty, his daughter, Quinn, and his two sons, Conor and Cavan, ran on to the field to embrace the Astos icon. 42,537 fans were on their feet and cheered during the eight minute delay of the game. Of course, he tipped his helmet to the crowd and started tearing.
The best moment came moments later, as the late great, Jeff Bagwell, coaxed his longtime teammate and friend. Bagwell pulled him over to the area where they played with each other for fifteen years, in between second and first base.
His 3,000th hit had arrived one day shy of the ninteenth anniversary of Biggio's first hit of his baseball career (June 29, 1988) off of Orel Hershiser.
Biggio didn't need 3,000 hits in order for him to be considered one of the all-time greats in Astros history; he has had the status locked up for years. He is a definite Hall of Famer, but putting that aside, hitting 3,000 was the perfect ending of his two decades long love affair between the kid who grew up in New Jersey, and a city he's called home for most of his adult life.
