Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell are the founding fathers of the Houston Astros’ never-ending hive of Killer Bees. The difference is: Craig’s been stinging the National League three years longer than good friend Jeff, and he’s done his damage from four spots on defense. Biggio traveled a path from catcher to second baseman, and then to center and left field, but no matter where he played Craig has teamed with Jeff as the heart and soul of the Houston Astros for the past 14 years.

Craig’s scrappy, all-out, no-nonsense style of play has been the club’s bold signature on unrelenting effort for 17 years. It has been a productive run too. His 2,639 career hits has placed him well on the way to becoming MLB’s next “Mr. 3000.” Hopefully, hit number 3,000 will occur in Minute Maid Park as an Astro.

Craig is the only player in MLB history to be named an All-Star as both a catcher and a second baseman. In 1998, Biggio also joined the great Tris Speaker as only the second player in baseball history to collect 50 doubles and 50 stolen bases in the same season. Biggio’s 494 consecutive games played is another Astros record.

When Biggio led off Game 7 of the 2004 NLCS with a homer, he became only the 8th player in MLB post-season history to perform that feat. It’s not surprising. Craig Biggio is the kind of player whose positive performance often places him in rare company.