He’s considered by many to be the greatest all-around player in Astros history. However, Craig Biggio never needed noise to define him. He defined himself through routine. Through reliability. Through showing up every single day and doing the job the right way.
As the iconic No. 7 turns 60, the reflection goes well beyond numbers. Some of Biggio’s most meaningful contributions never appeared in a box score. They showed up in preparation, accountability, and the example he set inside a clubhouse that learned to follow his lead.
Still, the numbers matter because they validate the consistency. You do not last twenty seasons in Major League Baseball without becoming something rare. Biggio finished his career with 3,060 hits, seven All-Star Game selections, and the distinction of becoming the first Houston Astro inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Longevity like that is not accidental. It is earned.
“He’s the most solid guy I’ve ever covered,” ESPN 97.5’s John Granato told AllSportsPeople. “He always did things the right way, professionally and personally. He never rocked the boat either, Biggio was a great example for everyone in that locker room.”
That steadiness became the foundation of the franchise during Biggio’s prime. He moved positions without complaint. He accepted responsibility without needing recognition. Younger players watched how he worked. Veterans trusted how he carried himself. Managers knew exactly what they were getting every day.
Under manager Larry Dierker, Biggio’s 1997 season became another illustration of that durability. He played all 162 games once again and scored a career-high 146 runs, setting the tone at the top of the lineup while never taking a day off.
Dierker remembers trying, unsuccessfully, to slow him down.
“There were times when I felt he was burned out and told him that I was going to give him a day off. He took that as an insult. Once we has a night game in Atlanta, it went into extra innings. After the game, we had to immediately fly to play a day game in Philadelphia and there wasn’t even enough time to sleep eight hours. I told him to take a break, but he didn’t want it. That’s Craig Biggio.”
No complaints ever. Just play every day. That was leadership without speeches or slogans.
“That was leadership by example.”
Biggio never chased legacy. He lived a standard. Twenty years of consistency built a foundation that still defines what it means to be an Astro. At 60, the milestones are secure, the number is retired, and the Hall of Fame plaque is permanent.
What lasts most is simpler.
Craig Biggio did things the right way. Every time.
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