HOUSTON -- Not only is Craig Biggio accumulating an impressive resume by the numbers he's produced over the last 19 years, but he's also receiving kudos for playing the game the right way.

Biggio was the recipient of the second annual "Heart and Hustle" Award, which honors a current player who excels on the field but also "best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game."

The award is presented by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, which includes such legendary names as Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, Tommy John, Andre Dawson and Rich "Goose" Gossage.

Biggio, along with Jeff Bagwell, displayed a constant professionalism over the years that earned the Astros a reputation of having one of the best clubhouses in baseball. Biggio is also known for his all-out hustle on the field, running out every ground ball and infield pop fly.

Both characteristics led to Biggio winning the Heart and Hustle Award.

"It's a nice honor," Biggio said. "You play the game the right way, to receive something like that is a nice deal. It's not a numbers award. It's about how you go about playing your game. I think that's a nice one."

Committees made up of former players who played for each of the 30 teams selected a nominee from each club for the award, which was unveiled in 2005. The Cardinals' David Eckstein was the inaugural winner.

"They went 30-for-30, these committees," said Joe Garagiola, Major League Baseball's senior vice president of operations and former Diamondbacks general manager, during a press conference at the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh. "They're all good players -- a lot of World Series rings on that list. Probably a couple of [future] Hall of Famers on there. But they're all baseball players who respect the game and play it the right way. That's the list of guys who should be kids' favorite players."

Among the list of nominees were Jim Thome of the Chicago White Sox, Torii Hunter of the Minnesota Twins, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, Craig Counsell of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Marcus Giles of the Atlanta Braves, Derrek Lee of the Chicago Cubs and Adam Dunn of the Cincinnati Reds.

Late in the 2006 season, approximately 3,200 of the 5,000 living former players who are members of the association were sent a ballot and asked to select the winner among the 30 nominees.