Jeff Bagwell Special Assistant to the General Manager

On December 15, 2006, the day in which the franchise's all-time home run leader announced his retirement at Minute Maid Park, the Houston Astros named franchise icon Jeff Bagwell as a special assistant to the general manager and announced an ongoing personal services contract between Jeff and the club. Jeff, 39, hit 449 home runs and drove in 1,529 runs in the 15 seasons that he played for the Astros from 1991-2005. He is only player in Houston franchise history to win the Most Valuable Player Award, earning the honors for the National League in 1994 after hitting .368 with 39 home runs and 116 RBI. Jeff was the third player in the history of the award to be a unanimous first-place selection. He is also the only Astro to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award, capturing that distinction in 1991 by hitting .294 with 15 home runs and 82 RBI. He is one of only eight players all-time to win both honors in a career. A four-time All-Star, Jeff is the career leader for the club in home runs, RBI, and walks, while ranking second in club history with 2,314 hits. He recorded 31 career multi-homer games, and since the end of the 1972 season, only Jeff and Cal Ripken hit 400 or more home runs while playing their entire careers with the same team. Jeff was the Astros' Opening Day first baseman for 15 consecutive seasons, and he is one of only 12 players all-time and the only first baseman with at least 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases. Additionally, Jeff is in a group of only seven first baseman in Major League history to record at least 1,500 runs scored and 1,500 RBI. Jeff earned NL Silver Slugger Awards three times (1994, 1997, and 1999) and earned a Rawlings Gold Glove Award once (1994). Additionally, he is the only Astro with six consecutive 100-RBI seasons (1996-2001) and he recorded eight consecutive campaigns with 30-plus home runs (1996-2003). Also in 2001, Jeff joined Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, and Babe Ruth as the only players in MLB history to collect 30 home runs, 100 RBI, and 100 runs scored in six consecutive seasons (1996-2001; Albert Pujols accomplished this later, from 2001-06). At the time of his retirement, Jeff ranked 28th on the Major League career list in home runs, 52nd in runs scored, tied for 52nd in doubles, tied for 41st in RBI, 30th in extra-base hits, and 24th in walks. In his current role with the Astros, Jeff assists the club's baseball operations staff with its Major and minor league player development programs, the Astros hitting development program, the amateur draft, scouting and minor league team operations and evaluations. He will also spend time with the club in Spring Training, providing instruction to players and staff and evaluating both Major and minor league players. Additionally, the annual Astros Jeff Bagwell Elite Hitters Camp in late January will be an opportunity for the club's young hitters, including some with Major League experience, to refine and work on their game before Spring Training. The camp will be held at Minute Maid Park each year in conjunction with the Astros Nolan Ryan Elite Pitchers Camp. Bagwell will also travel with the Major League club on selected road trips and will observe the organization's minor league clubs during the regular season. He will also make various promotional appearances during the year, including the annual Astros FanFest and Winter Caravan.

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