Astroland B: The World's Most Complete Listing of Houston Astro Baseball Cards

Astroland B: The World's Most Complete Listing of Houston Astro Baseball Cards Mecca, formerly

Mecca, formerly

OPENING DAY STARTERS FOR HOUSTON IN CAPS

NL All-Stars in Gold

Playing for Houston in an NL Game gets you an icon like this:

Minor League A/S Card Appearances in italics

Selected players have been marked with the special

WHIFF KING icon,
and you know what that means

Look out for those implicated in the use of PED's

The Card Companies were all over Members of The One Hundred Club:

Ba

CARDS I HAVE

PLAYER

POSITION

REMARKS

6

Edgar Babilonia Cards

Infield/Pitcher

Two years in the Venezuelan Summer League got Edgar a shot at Martinsville in 2002, and he returned there for 2003, graduating to Tri-City in 2004. Played half a year at Lexington in 2005, then switched to pitcher for the second half, giving it a whirl down in Greeneville. Threw only 7-1/3 innings at Tri City in 2006.

1

Shaun Babula Card

Pitcher

2003 AAA Rule V pick up was 2 - 1 with a 6.35 for the 2004 New Orleans Zephyrs

1

Bryan Baca Card

Trainer

Began training at Greenevile in 2007 after three years with the Santa Fe Roadrunners of the North American Hockey League

60

Brandon Backe Cards

Pitcher

Acquired from the Devil Rays on December 14, 2003 for Geoff Blum. The excitable Backe was subbing for an ill Roger Clemens on October 3, 2004, when his victory clinched the 2004 NL wild card for Houston, and then one-upped himself each time during the subsequent playoffs, beating Atlanta in the first round, then finally pitching eight scoreless in Game Five of the NLCS vs. St. Louis.
Not as large a factor in '05, yet no-one can say he didn't pitch well enough to win in Game 4 of the 2005 World Series. An injury early in 2006 wiped out both his 2006 AND most of his 2007 and he never really made it back. DFAed before the All-Star break '09 and not heard from again.

JEFF BAGWELL
Cards

Franchise career leader in homers and RBI is also possessor of greatest single offensive season in club history

Griffin Bailey Card

NDFA from Lexington Kentucky never got so far as to pitch for his hometown, twirling his only year at Greeneville in 2006

MARK BAILEY Cards

Became first player to hit two grand slams at the dome in the same year in 1985. Trading him away for Casey Candaele made room for Biggio in the bigs

Chris Baker Cards

Began the 2006 season with the Ranger affiliate AAA Oklahoma Redhawks, but made only two appearances before getting traded by the Rangers to the Houston organization on April 13. The Astros immediately assigned Baker to AAA Round Rock, which was convenient for Baker, because the Redhawks were playing the Express that day. He merely had to walk across the diamond at Oklahoma City's Bricktown Ballpark to change teams.Baker then went on to become a Pacific Coast League midseason All-Star, and finished the 2006 season 9 - 4 with a 2.68 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP for the PCL runner up Express.

Doug Baker Cards

Played in 78 games in the majors with Detroit and Minnesota between '86 and '90, then

ended up at Tucson in 1991. Was something of a tutor to Bagwell in spring training that year

Mark Baker Cards

Reliever had an ERA below 1.20 at two single A stops in 1984, then was solid with a 3.09 ERA at Osceola in 1985. Pro Cards switched the back of his '87 Columbus Astros card # 850 with infielder Rob Parker's
(# 853).

Journeyman had huge three-run homer against 'Stros while playing for the Braves during the 2001 Divisional Series.
Still, a whiff king while with Houston--58 K's in 233 plate appearances.

Jeff Baldwin Cards

0 for 8 with a walk at Houston in '90

Reggie Baldwin Cards

Traded to the Mets for future minor league manager Keith Bodie in February of '80. Still . . .

Love that Charlies uniform

Jeff Ball Cards

Went 3 for 3 with two doubles in Kevin Gallaher and Jamie Daspit's split no-hitter for the Jackson Generals in 1994. Hit .316 that year, which got him the stays at Tucson for '95 and '96

Bill Ballou Cards

Veteran minor league pitching coach has coached for twelve years in the Astros' organization, at Auburn, Quad City, Michigan, Tri-City, and now for the Greeneville Astros, where he replaced the retired Jack Billingham after the 2004 season.

Dave Banks Card

A year at Auburn

Alan Bannister Card

Rob Neyer, in his Big Book of Baseball Lineups, claims Bannister is the worst-fielding shortstop to have ever worn a White Sox uniform; which is saying a lot, given that the Sox are so old and storied and all; anyway, Bannister's brief career as an Astro is chronicled by the '84 Mothers #21

Floyd Bannister Cards

First selection in 1976 Draft hung around for a while, but not with the Astros. The good news is that unloading him to the Mariners got us Craig Reynolds.

Luke Barganier Cards

30th Round Pick in 2004 hit .230 for the Tri-City ValleyCats that year

Glen Barker Cards

FAST
but sometimes not too smart
48 K's in 197 plate appearances also made him a

Sean Barksdale Card

38th round draft pick in the June 2009 draft was placed at Tri-City and hit .175 with a couple homers

Shane Barksdale Cards

Auburn and Quad City in 1997 after 2-1/2 years at Gulf Coast as an infielder

Mike Barlow Card

76 SSPC # 298 -- Received From the Cards for Mike Easler on 9/30/75, and actually appeared in four games for Houston in 1976, though he spent the bulk of the bicentennial year in Memphis. At some point, he was (waived? traded again?) and wound up with California and their AAA Salt Lake City affiliate. Continued to pitch professionally until 1982.

Dan Barmantje Card

Strength trainer at Greeneville in 2008

Brandon Barnes Card

6th Round pick in the June 2005 began inauspiciously at Greeneville and hit .200 with two homers, the didn't do much better when repeating in 2006. But he raised the average at Tri-City in '07, and led the team in homers. Promoted to Lexington for 2008 and slugged .328, while being named the team's Defensive Player of the Month for July. Played at 3 levels in '09, with the most success at High A Lancaster, where he slugged .523

Tucker Barr Cards

Single A catcher couldn't hit

Efrain Barrero Cards

Crapped out at Asheville in '91 after a 2.44 ERA performance at Auburn in 1990

Jimmy Barrett Cards

'00 Appy League All-Star was named by Baseball America as the fourth-best prospect in the organization for 2003, but fell off the map after that.

Scott Barrett Cards

Fifth-round pick in '98 was beset by injuries and retired in 2000

Tommy Barrett Card

Cups of Coffee with Philly & Boston

Angel Barrios Cards

'01 & '02 Martinsville

Manuel Barrios Cards

Traded with RHP Oscar Henriquez and (eventually) RHP Mark Johnson to the Florida Marlins for Moises Alou on November 11, 1997

Jose Barron Cards

Sticks and stones guy for the Auburn Doubledays in 1995 and 1996

Jimmy Barthmaier Cards

13th Round selection in the June 2003 draft went 1 - 1 with a 2.49 when he made his professional debut with the Martinsville Astros that year. By 2006 he was voted by Baseball America as having the best curveball in the organization and was fourth overall on their list of Astros prospects. Went out and led the Salem Avalanche for 2006 in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts, but also carried a somewhat high 1.39 WHIP and did not make the Carolina League All-Star squad. Just 2 - 9 with a 6.20 at AA Corpus in 2007. Claimed by the Pirates in November '07 when the Astros removed him from the 40-man roster.

Philip Barzilla Cards

History shows again and again how nature points out the follies of men: this lefthander who made his first and last appearance for the Astros on June 11, 2006 is one of only seven pitchers in Astro history to have exactly one Game Pitched and exactly 0 At Bats, and one of only two (with Hipolito Pichardo) to conclude his Astros career with exactly 1/3 of an inning pitched.

Marsalis Basey Cards

1993 in the New York Penn League

Corey Bass Cards

47th Round pick in the June 2005 draft started off pretty well at Greeneville that year, going 3 - 3 with a 2.93, striking out 41 while only walking 10. Repeated at G-Ville in '06, then advanced to Lexington for 2007, where he continued to post a strong K/BB, but had a little trouble with the ERA. 47 walks and 48 strikeouts in 129 uinnings at High A Salem in 2008

KEVIN BASS Cards

Complained when Chris Berman called him Kevin "Largemouth" Bass

JOHN BATEMAN Cards

Caught Nottebart's No-Hitter; Opening Day backstop 64 - 67; I'm looking for his '63 Pepsi Card

Ariel Batista Card

Panamanian signed January 2, 1999 played in the Dominican and Venezuelan Summer Leagues, and in 2002, for Martinsville

Pete Bauer Cards

Signed as a free agent on January 29, 1989, after his release by the Mets' organization. Went 4 - 1 with a 1.55 for the '90 Osceola Astros

Thomas Bayrer Card

Yorman Bazardo Card

Minor league free agent was 9 - 6 with a 3.20 at Round Rock in 2009, and a PCL midseason All-Star, as well as PCL Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 1st. Houston purchased his contract August 8 as Mike Hampton was breaking down again, and Bazardo pitched in ten games, making six starts, through the end of the season. The numbers Bazardo posted for the Astros--1 - 3 with a 7.88--were not better than what an injured Hampton might have would have put up, however.

Bazooka Joe Cards

Pop Culture Icon

Topps included a card picturing the comic character wearing an Astros T-shirt in the 2003 version of the Bazooka set. You should click to see the whole thing--it's probably the coolest novelty subject card since Bill Clinton's.

Mike Beams Cards

Outfield/3rd Base

Tenth round pick in the '86 draft, his best year was at Auburn in 1988, where he hit .282

Doug Bearden Card

Jim Beauchamp Cards

Outfielder/Manager

34 homers for the '64 AAA Oklahoma City squad, then '65 Opening Day at the Dome in left

Bo Belinsky Card

Evidently, an absolute lunatic. When a demotion to AAA Oklahoma City seemed all but inevitable, he pushed for a trade to the White Sox, whose Triple A club played in . . . Honolulu.
	67 Topps # 447

Buddy Bell Cards

Led the AL in At Bats while hitting .329 in 1979, but there was no gas left in the tank when the 'Stros picked him up in '88

DEREK BELL Cards

Dierker did NOT care for him

Eric Bell Cards

0 - 1 with a 6.14 in 10 games for Houston in '93 kinda makes that "top lefty" award he won in the American Association two years later look superfluous

Joan Belliard Card

Dominican Summer league veteran debuted stateside at Greeneville in 2009, and led Greeneville pitchers who threw more than 15 innings in home run ratio, and tied for third in appearances, while posting a respectable ERA and WHIP numbers

Antony Bello Cards

21st Round pick in the June 2006 draft led Greeneville starters in ERA for 2006, and finished second in innings pitched for the '07 V- Cats. Struck out 80 and walked 38 in 2008 at Lexington

CARLO$ BELTRÁN Cards

Last major deal swung by Gerry Hunsicker showed that the confluence of need shown by an underachieving major league team and the desire for opportunity exemplified by a five-tool player ready to break out can make lots of people rich

Julio Beltran Card

Signed by the Astros out of the Mexican Center League in 1977, this Beltran played five summers for the Astros in the Forida State League and two more in the Gulf Coast complex league. A 1982 sojourn at Columbus was his only foray into the higher minors.

Juan Beltre Cards

Lefty played two years in the Dominican Summer Leagues, before landing stateside in 2002 for Martinsville, and advancing to Tri-City for 2003, where Choice Sportscards called him 'Jonathan.' His last season in the organization was 2005, when he was 5 - 1 with a 6.12 for High A Salem Avs.

Brian Bennett Card

Jeff Bennington Cards

The Few, the Proud, the Burlington Astros

Steve Benson Card

Hit .275 at Tucson in '82, but his card is at Columbus in '83

Dave Bergman Cards

Outfield/1st Base

Two run triple beat the Phillies in game two of the 1980 NLCS; some success later as a Tiger

Sean Bergman Cards

Fifth starter gave the 'Stros some quality innings in 1998 and 1999, mostly in '98, as that's when he gained 75% of his Astro victories

LANCE BERKMAN Cards

August 2004: The great 2000 Just Minors question is settled, in favor of "Sumo Wrestler," prompting some more serious analysis of Lance's place in Astros history vis a vis OPS . Made his second All-Star Game start in 2008.

Dwight Bernard Card

115 games with the Mets and Brewers between '78 and '82 before he landed with the Toros in '84

David Berner Card

14th round pick in the June 2009 relieved in only seven games for Tri-City that summer, and unfortunately gave up four runs in one of them and ended up with a 10.50 ERA

David Bernhard Card

'96 in Upper New York State

Dale Berra Cards

Daddy doesn't like me doing coke

Yogi Berra Card

Baseball Hall of Famer and industry unto himself was Houston Astros bench coach between 1986 and 1989. Apparently John McMullen had offered Berra the managerial position that ended up going to Hal Lanier over the 1985-1986 winter, but Berra, still stung by his firing at George Steinbrenner's hand the previous April, had refused the position. The Astros job was Berra's last onfield position in baseball

Perry Berry Cards

Weak hitting infielder got as high as Osceola, twice

SEAN BERRY Cards

Only Berry & Mike Schmidt ever hit an overhead speaker at the Dome with a batted ball Became the Astros' new hitting coach on July 12, 2006.

Don Berti Cards

12 homers and 50 RBI for Asheville in '82 were good enough to get a guy a promotion to the Florida State League for 1983

Jeff Bettendorf Card

0 - 7 for the Mets' Tidewater AAA club got him a trade and a demotion (to the Astros and to AA) for 1986

James Betzsold Cards

Rose to Buffalo in the Indians organization (and hit .333 in the AAA World Series in 1998), before being traded to the Astros, where he played two years at New Orleans

Ed Beuerlein Cards

Relation of Steve?

Terry Beyna Cards

Buddy Biancalana Card

This '85 World Series hero played in all of 18 games for the Houston club in '88, but Letterman loved him--had him on his show like five times--so how could I not show you his only Astro card, the '88 Score #383?

Rod Biehl Cards

CRAIG BIGGIO Cards

Catcher/
2nd Base/
Outfield

First player to collect 3000 hits in an Astros uniform, and the first player ever to have five hits in the game where he reached 3000. All-time leader among righthanders in doubles, and fifth all-time overall. Only player in baseball history with 3000 hits, 250 homers, 400 stolen bases, and 600 doubles. Second all-time in hit by pitches, and leadoff home runs. Astros all-time leader in years, games played, runs scored, doubles, hits, times on base, extra base hits, and second in stolen bases, RBI and walks.

The only thing that's left is the Cooperstown induction.

JACK BILLINGHAM Cards

Fifteen years as pitching coach at Kissimmee, then he moved to Martinsville

Marvin Billingsley Cards

Gave up 169 hits in (what else?) 169 innings at Asheville in 1993

George Bjorkman Cards

There seems to be some confusion as to whether Mr. Bjorkman played at AA Columbus in 1982. What is not open to dispute is his five RBI performance for the Houston club July 13, 1983

Craig Bjornson Cards

Tucson native fell far short of pitching there

John Blackmore Cards

Willie Blair Cards

ARRGHH! The Lofton Deal!

Alberto Blanco Cards

'95 Midwest League All Star and '97 Florida State League Top Prospect

Romo Blanco Cards

Aka "Romauldo": '73 at Cedar Rapids and '75 at Dubuque

Nate Bland Cards

Seven-year minor- and independent-league veteran was acquired in the Rule V draft from the Mets in 2002, then, in addition to throwing a few innings at New orleans, contributed at the major league level in 2003

Wade Blasingame Cards

Blasingame was the winner of the longest game by innings in Astro history, the 24-inning pitchingfest vs. the Mets April 15, 1968. The 'Stros beat the Mets 1 - 0 when Bob Aspromonte's groundball went through shortstop Al Weiss' legs, scoring Norm Miller. Don Wilson had started, and Hal King caught every inning, while an ex-Astro, Gerry Grote, caught all 24 for the Mets.

Chris Blazek Cards

23rd round pick in the June 2005 draft out of the University of Vermont pitched 5-2/3 innings at Tri-City before pitching 27 at Lexington that summer. Got a promotion to Lexington for 2006, and went 2 - 1 as a middle reliever, with a 3.82 ERA and 1.53 WHIP. Led the High A Salem Avalanche in Games Pitched in 2007, while posting a better-than-league-average 4.07 ERA

CURT BLEFARY Cards

Infield/Outfield

Named in '94 to the Sporting News' All Time Carolina League Team. '67 AL Rookie of the Year for the Orioles. Partcipated in 7 double plays 5/4/69 vs Giants. None of this, though, kept him from his eventual fate on the AstroConnection All-Disappointment Team
(you betcha)

Jeff Blitstein Card

39th round draft pick gave it a whirl in '99 as a Doubleday

Geoff Blum Cards

Third Baseman Acquired from the Expos when the organization threw in the towel on Chris Truby and jettisoned when Jimy Williams finally got it through his thick skull that Morgan Ensberg can hit. But the lamebrained platoon wasn't Blum's fault: Although he didn't walk enough, Blum possessed occasional power, and most of all played the game hard. After Ensberg's demise, would return to the fold for 2008, spelling Ty Wigginton at third when necessary

Seth Bobbitt Cards

aka "Katcherpeckeroff"

Bruce Bochy Cards

Born at "Place Landes de Boussac," France, this marginal major leaguer (.338 at Covington in 1975, but .182 at Houston in 1980) would one day manage the Padres to a Divison Series victory over the 'Stros

Keith Bodie Cards

Outfield/Manager

Played the outfield at Columbus in 1980 after having been acquired in exchange for Reggie Baldwin;

Would later manage the 1987 Asheville Tourists to a 91-48 record, and be named a coach at the 1988 Florida State League All-Star game. Returned to the organization after 20 years in 2008, as hitting coach with Salem, then moved up to AA corpus in 2009.

Joe Boever Cards

"Boever the Saver" in the minors tied for the NL lead in appearances in 1992

Tim Bogar Cards

My girlfriend thinks he's too good-looking to be a baseball player--real good defense, too Opening Day shortstop in 2000, with the departure of Ricky Gutierrez. Plus (I mean, Bogar's gotta be one of the coolest career .228 utility players ever), he pitched in two games for the 'Stros in 2000. Unfortunately, retired a Dodger. Won an Appy League championship as manager of the 2004 Greeneville Astros.

Brian Bogusevic Cards

Number One pick in the June 2005 draft had doubled as an outfielder and a lefthanded pitcher at Tulane; the Astros--with an organizational need for lefthanders--put him to work as a pitcher only that summer at Tri-City. By the end of 2006--after a second year spent at Lexington--Bogusevic had yet to separate himself from the pack as a prospect worth that $1.375 million first round signing bonus. Some say he did so in 2007, though, as he led the High A Salem Avalanche in wins, and posted a workable 91:30 strikeout-to-walk ratio. But after 88 innings at AA Corpus in 2008, the Astros finally admitted defeat and converted Bogusevic to an outfielder. And, left at Corpus, he responded well, hitting .371 wih a 1.003 OPS in 42 games.

But at Round Rock in 2009, while the average was OK, the SLG was an anemic .365

Ken Bolek Cards

Coached the '83 Columbus Astros and managed the '87 Osceola Astros

Marc Bombard Card

Took the reins of the Round Rock Express for the 2009 season, and did so as the active leader in minor league managerial victories

Rich Bombard Cards

First year was at Auburn in '82; by '86 he was at Columbus, where he'd gone 7 - 3 with a 3.31 the previous year

Daven Bond Cards

His '90 Star Columbus Mudcats # 5 notes a tendency to wildness Daven had to temper if he wanted to make it big

WALT BOND Cards

1st Base/Outfield

Opening Day in 64 and 65--and check out this way cool insert card from 1965

Ricardo Bonfante Cards

Switch-hitter from Cartagena Colombia hit .314 in the 2007 Venezuelan Summer League, .261 in the 2008 Appy League, and .145 in the 2009 South Atlantic League

Bill Bonham Card

Coached at Auburn in '86. We're gonna assume no relation to the deceased drummer for Led Zeppelin.

Josh Bonifay Card

The son of former Pirates' GM Cam Bonifay began in his father's organization. Signed by the Astros as a minor league free agent in December of 2005, Bonifay the younger went on to have a successful year at AA Corpus Christi in 2006, capped off by the triple play he initiated in the ninth inning of Game Four of the Texas League Championship Series.

Eddie Bonine Cards

Seven-year Astro minor-leaguer had full-year ERA's below 3.10 twice--at Daytona in 1980 and at Columbus in 1981--and made it to AAA Tucson for '84 and '85

Robert Bono Cards

11th round draft pick in June 2007 was one of many pitchers for that year's Greeneville squad to have posted disappointing numbers. Led the '08 Short season Tri-City team in innings pitched, and had a nice 46:11 strikeout to walk ratio. Paced the '09 Lexington Legends in wins and starters' ERA before being traded to the Marlins with two others for Matt Lindstrom in December.

Rod Booker Cards

Played in 183 games with St. Louis and Philadelphia before landing at Tucson in 1992

Aaron Boone Card

Third Baseman signed when we let Ty Wigginton walk had cancer treatment instead and failed to record a hit for the Astros

Supposed decendent of the pioneer Daniel Boone was received from the Padres for Joe Pittman on June 8, 1982. Boone was 0 - 1 with a 3.55 in ten games for Houston and 5 - 4 with a 3.31 in 25 games for Tucson in 1982. Began '83 with Tucson, before being given his release on June 17. After five years out of baseball, would return, armed with a knuckleball, and throw a no-hitter for AAA Rochester in the Oriole chain

Unknown function for the 1975 AAA Iowa Oaks

Dave Borkowski Cards

Pitched four innings of one-hit, scoreless ball (and innngs 10 - 13) in his first appearance as a Houston Astro, April 25, 2006 vs. the Dodgers, and actually made something of a habit of heroic stints in extra-inning games for the 2006 and 2007 major league clubs

Tom Borland Card

8 - 10 with a 4.47 for the '62 (AAA) Oklahoma City squad, good enough to get him a card from the Smokey Bear 62 Colt Retro Set

Stan Boroski Cards

Pitching coach for the 2001 - 2002 Battle Catsthe '03 - '06 Avalanche, and the '07 - '09 Hooks

Ken Boswell Cards

Longtime Met before trade to 'Stros 10-29-74 had .667 BA in World Series play, including three pinch-hits in '73 to tie all-time mark

Mike Botkin Cards

Outfield/Infield

If you're a utilityman when you're at single A Daytona Beach, you gotta know your professional future is probably fairly limited

Heath Bost Card

4 - 1 with a 4.41 for the last New Orleans Zephyr team to be affiliated with the Astros

Ex New York Met performed hitting coach duties at Greeneville in 2008

Kent Bottenfield Cards

Looked great in 2001--
spring training

Derrick Bottoms Cards

Nashville resident never got the promotion from the New York-Penn league

Michael Bourn Cards

Centerfielder

Speedy centerfielder acquired from the Phillies in the Brad Lidge deal was stealing bases like mad in the early going of his Astros career, but having a lot of trouble getting on base. 2009 showed vitally needed improvement as he raised the average from .229 to .285 and the OBP from .288 to .354. Bourn in 2009 also led the National League in stolen bases and became the first Houston outfielder since Cesar Cedeno to win a Gold Glove

Andy Bovender Cards

Hit .313 at Auburn in '95 before fading at Quad City

Ryan Bowen Cards

When he was a regular starter for the 'Stros in late '91 and early '92, I always got a kick out of telling my friends that Ryan was going for the 'Stros that night. Feeble humor, but no feebler than the humor involved in the fact that this '86 first round draft pick who spent all or parts of six years in the Astros' minor league system pitched his greatest major league game, a 1 - 0 complete game shutout, for the Marlins

RJ Bowers Cards

Later broke the NCAA rushing record

Rod Boxberger Card

Pitched a 7-inning no-hitter while pitching for the Columbus Astros, July 12, 1978. Blanked the Montgomery Rebels 3 - 0

Paul Branconier Cards

Love the black eye

Ron Brand Cards

Some off Brands here

Mickey Brantley Card

Spent more time in Calgary than the Stampeders; I'm sure he welcomed the summer he spent in Tucson in '92

Bryan Braswell Cards

Got a Texas League ring in 2000

Randy Braun Card

Infield/Outfield

	.296 at Asheville in '82--and an SAL-leading 23 homers--got him a look at Daytona in '83

Aaron Bray Card

27th round pick in June '09 OBPed .388 for Greeneville in his pro debut season

Sid Bream Cards

Long-time Pirate thought the '94 'Stros could've won the Series

William Brennan Cards

Pitched in at Tucson in '90

Kary Bridges Cards

Hit .302 at Quad City in '94, then .301 at Jackson in '95. Whatever he did at Tucson in '96 must've been pretty horrible, coz after that he disappears off the Astro map

Doug Britt Card

Inquiring minds want to know: What was it that got him traded and demoted from AAA Buffalo in 1981 to single A Daytona in '82?

Doug Brocail Cards

Injuries dampened the reunion in 2001, but pitched well--at least before overwork set in--for Houston in 2008

Norman Brock Cards

'86 FSL All-Star

Damon Brooks Cards

Those who say you get no second chances in this world are not familiar with Mr. Brooks, who hit .200 at Auburn in 1986, then was invited back for '87

Bryan Brown Cards

2007 NDFA from Florida Southern U played in 37 games for that year's Greeneville club and 52 more for Lexington in 2008

Casey Brown Card

22nd round pick out of the University of Oklahoma was 4 - 1 with a 3.11 for the 2004 Tri-City ValleyCats

Duane Brown Cards

Eric Brown Card

'74 TCMA Cedar Rapids # 12

Hal Brown Cards

Hal Brown is the Houston NL franchise All-Time Leader (Minimum a mere 25 innings) in Walks/9 innings with a miniscule 1.12. Given that, you may now wish to see his

Matt Brown Card

Mike Brown Cards

Infield/Catcher

They switch you to catcher as the last gasp before they release you

Ollie Brown Card

Outfielder was purchased from the Angels in March of '74 and placed on waivers in June.

Steve Brown Card

Steve Brown Cards

This Steve Brown hit .306 but didn't walk much at Greeneville in 2006, then hit .276 but didn't walk much at Tri-City in '07. OPSed .633 at Lexington in '08 and repeated there in '09 with a .692. New York-Penn League midseason All-Star in '07 and Sally player of the week, August 2009.

Pidge Browne Cards

13-Year Minor League veteran--who had led the Texas League in homers in 1955--got his only taste of the major leagues with the '62 Colt .45's

Mike Browning Cards

Second in the Southern League in 1990 with 20 saves

BOB BRUCE Cards

Talk about no support--Had eight shutout losses in 1965

Darin Bruehl Card

Mike Brumley Cards

Infield/Outfield

Despite his finishing second in the 1993 PCL batting race (to Tucson teammate Jim Lindeman), was only three for ten for Houston in '93, then a mind-blowingly low .056 for the 'Stros in '95

George Brunet Card

And I thought Bruce had it bad: While pitching for Little Rock of the Southern Association in 1957, Brunet pitched an incredible 52-1/3 consecutive innings without his teammates scoring a run for him;
63 Topps # 538

Mike Brunner Card

Eric Bruntlett Cards

Fast-tracker made his major-league debut in 2003, only three years after Just Minors produced this way-cool gold card. Bruntlett emerged for the Astros in 2005 as something of a super-sub; ending a 14-inning game in Washington with a homer, preserving a victory over the D-Backs by starting a spectacular DP from right field, and becoming only the 11th pinch-runner in major league history to enter a game in the ninth inning, then steal two bases. Traded to the Phillies in November 2007 with Brad Lidge for Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary, and Mike Costanzo.

Jim Bruske Cards

pronounced "BREW-ski" and little did he know that Steve Finley would EVENTUALLY have a lot ot do with his first major league win.

Don Bryant Cards

Caught Don Wilson's second no hitter--but no cards!!

Greg Buchanan Cards

Drafted in 2006 out of Rice University (Lance Berkman's alma mater) and comported himself well at Tri-City that summer, hitting .272, walking few times, but striking out even less. 2007 at Lexington was more of a struggle, however, as Sally league hurlers found him a bit more susceptible to the whiff. Released in November of 2008 following a .240-.297-.313 year at High A Salem

Taylor Buchholz Cards

Most special thing about the righthander acquired in the deal that sent Billy Wags packing was his marvelous overhand curveball. But a tendency to groove his fastball during his debut major league season, and a history of shoulder trouble led the Astros on December 12, 2006 to trade Buchholz (with Willy Taveras and Jason Hirsh to Colorado for Jason Jennings and Miguel Asencio.

John Buck Cards

2000 Midwest League Top Prospect, member of the incredible 2001 Lexington Legends, and lone Astro farmhand at the 2002 Futures Game never made it to the majors with Houston, although he was installed at Kauffman Stadium in KC upon his acquisition by the Royals in the deal that brought the floundering 2004 Astros Carlo$ Beltran

Don Buckheister Cards

"Mr. Seventies"

Brandon Buckley Cards

Four-year player in the Astros' system who played one game as high as AA has now found fame as the Oakland A's bullpen catcher

DON BUDDIN Cards

Hit first Grand Slam in Houston history

Aaron Bulkley Cards

16th Round pick out of LeMoyne--Jim DeShaies' alma mater--played at Tri-City for two years, and displayed no power at all, but showedhe could take a walk.

Kirk Bullinger Cards

Gretna, LA native pitched close to home in '02 and '03 for the New Orleans Zephyrs

ERIC BULLOCK Cards

Opening Day for the big club in '86, then was sent down to Tucson after the sixth game when he went 1 for his first 21. He then proceeded to hit .384 in the PCL. I'm not sure whether the better comparison is to Scott Pose of the '93 Marlins, or to Gerald Young.

Garrett Bullock Card

NDFA lefthander threw only 6-1/3 innings at Greeneville in 2009

Chris Burke Cards

Outfield/Infield

2001 #1 Pick made his major league debut July 4, 2004. Pressed into service as the Astros' leftfielder in 2005 when Bagwell had the capsular release surgery and Berkman went to first. .248 effort with 5 homers and 19 doubles was totally overshadowed by the latest home run by innings in Astros history, October 9, 2005. But Burke never cemented his status as the heir apparent to Biggio and after much indecision by the club as to what to do with him, Burke was traded with Chad Qualls and Juan Gutierrez to the D-Backs on December 14, 2007 for Jose Valverde

Curtis Burke Cards

First Astro pick in the 1981 draft; Established a Florida State League record that may still stand when he rapped 48 doubles in 1983 while playing for Daytona Beach

Kevin Burns Cards

New York-Penn League All-Star in 1996 played at AAA New Orleans for the Astros in 2000 and 2001. Had a pair of singles (and an error) in Brian Powell's no-hitter May 6, 2001.

Mike Burns Cards

Burlington and Osceola '91 - '93

Mike Burns Cards

Began at Martinsville in 2000 and spent 2003 and 2004 at Round Rock. Called up to the Houston squad May 12, 2005, upon the demotion of Brandon Duckworth, and made his debut with 1.1 scoreless the following night. Departed to the Reds organization upon the completion of the 2005 season.

Ellis Burton Card

NDFA who had pitched briefly and well for Canada at the 2008 Beijing Olympics appeared in 28 games for Corpus and in 9 games for Round Rock in 2009

Tanner Bushue Cards

# 2 pick in the June 2009 draft was 1 - 0 with a 2.42 in 5 games for Gulf Coast after he signed.

Ray Busse Cards

Card appearance for the '75 Iowa Oaks, but made cameo appearances for Houston in '71, 1973, and '74

Barry Butera Card

Primary second baseman for the 2009 ValleyCats hit .267 but had no triples or homers

Sal Butera Cards

One of the more successful minor league managers the franchise has had. Led Jackson to a Texas League title in '93

Rob Butler Card

Photo used on his card looks like it's an FBI surveillance shot

John Buzhardt Cards

The King of Home Run Avoidance: No-one, ever, has pitched more innings as an Astro than Buzhardt's 84-1/3 without giving up a homer. For this, he gets a '67 Topps # 403 and a '67 Team Unnumbered

Ron Buzzell Cards

Brandon Byrd Card

Tim Byrdak Card

Journeyman in his mid-30's flashing a brand-new split-finger was the best--and sometimes only--lefty out of the pen for the Astros in 2008 and 2009

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