The Killer B's were players on the
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. They are one of two major leag ...
whose surnames started with the letter B. It also refers to the era of Astros baseball from 1997 to 2005 that saw the team reach the postseason six times in nine seasons with four
National League Central
The National League Central is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was created in 1994, by moving two teams from the National League West (the Cincinnati Reds and the Houston Astros) and three teams from the National Le ...
division titles, two Wild Card appearances and one
National League
National League often refers to:
*National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada
*National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...
pennant, which was the most successful era in team history until the 2010s. In fact, from
1994
The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations.
In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...
to
2006
2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.
Events
January
* January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute.
* January 12 – A stampede during t ...
, the Astros finished first or second in their division in each year except
2000
2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year.
Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...
. Two Killer B's,
Craig Biggio
Craig Alan Biggio (; born December 14, 1965) is an American former baseball second baseman, outfielder, and catcher who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros, from 1988 to 2007. A seven-time National League (baseball), ...
and
Jeff Bagwell
Jeffrey Robert Bagwell (born May 27, 1968) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and coach who spent his entire 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) playing career with the Houston Astros.
Originally a Boston Red Sox fourth- ...
, are in the
National Baseball Hall of Fame
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United St ...
as members of the Astros.
History
The name "Killer B's" was first used on March 31, 1996, when it referenced
Jeff Bagwell
Jeffrey Robert Bagwell (born May 27, 1968) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and coach who spent his entire 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) playing career with the Houston Astros.
Originally a Boston Red Sox fourth- ...
,
Craig Biggio
Craig Alan Biggio (; born December 14, 1965) is an American former baseball second baseman, outfielder, and catcher who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros, from 1988 to 2007. A seven-time National League (baseball), ...
,
Sean Berry, and
Derek Bell. The name carried on for several years even after Berry and Bell's departure coinciding with
Lance Berkman
William Lance Berkman (born February 10, 1976), nicknamed "Fat Elvis" and "Big Puma", is an American baseball coach and former professional baseball outfielder and first baseman, who is the former head baseball coach of the Houston Christian Hu ...
's arrival in 1999. Although there were several other "Killer B's," the core players were either Biggio–Bagwell–Bell or Biggio–Bagwell–Berkman. In
Wins Above Replacement, the Biggio–Bagwell–Bell trio are among the all-time best trios with the same letter in their last names. In the Killer Bs era, the Astros were managed by
Larry Dierker
Lawrence Edward Dierker (born September 22, 1946) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher, manager, and broadcaster. During a 14-year baseball career as a pitcher, he pitched from 1964 to 1977 for the Houston Colt .45s/Astro ...
(1997-2001),
Jimy Williams
James Francis Williams (October 4, 1943 – January 26, 2024) was an American professional baseball infielder, Coach (baseball), coach and Manager (baseball), manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966 ...
(2002-2004), and
Phil Garner
Philip Mason Garner (born April 30, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an infielder with the Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodge ...
(2004-2007).
Beginnings
Craig Biggio
Craig Alan Biggio (; born December 14, 1965) is an American former baseball second baseman, outfielder, and catcher who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros, from 1988 to 2007. A seven-time National League (baseball), ...
came up from the Astros as a star catcher from
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University (SHU) is a Private university, private Catholic Church, Catholic research university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by then-Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley and named after his aunt, Saint Elizab ...
(having played the position at the request of the head coach due to needing one), having been drafted as the 22nd overall pick in the
1987 Major League Baseball draft
The 1987 Major League Baseball draft is the process by which Major League Baseball (MLB) teams select athletes to play for their organization. High school seniors, college juniors and seniors, and anyone who had never played under a professiona ...
. A year later, midway through the season, he was called up to the majors. In 1989, he began the season as the starting catcher, and he won his first Silver Slugger Award that year. His speed would serve him well in stolen bases, and management wanted to save his legs from the rigors of catching, trying him part-time in the outfield the next year. By 1992, he accepted management's desire to have him not play catcher, and he instead served as
second baseman
In baseball and softball, second baseman, abbreviated 2B, is a fielding position in the Infielder, infield, between Baseball field#Second base, second and Baseball field#First base, first base. The second baseman often possesses quick hands and f ...
. The result proved valuable, as he was named to six All-Star Games at the position; Biggio was the first player to ever be named an All-Star as a both a catcher and second base.
Jeff Bagwell
Jeffrey Robert Bagwell (born May 27, 1968) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and coach who spent his entire 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) playing career with the Houston Astros.
Originally a Boston Red Sox fourth- ...
(born in
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
) had attracted fair notice for his exploits for the
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford (UHart) is a private university in West Hartford, Connecticut, United States. Its main campus extends into neighboring Hartford and Bloomfield. It enrolled approximately 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students as ...
at third base, although he was drafted by the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
in the fourth round of the 1989 draft. The following year, the Red Sox desired relief pitching to try and contend for the playoffs, and they searched for help from the Astros with their pitcher in
Larry Andersen
Larry Eugene Andersen (born May 6, 1953) is an American former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball and current radio color commentator for the Philadelphia Phillies. From through , Andersen played for the Cleveland Indians (1975, , ), Sea ...
; a New England region scout for the Astros recommended Bagwell as a return piece, having noticed his talent (Bagwell, while a .300 batter in his minor league career, did not look like a candidate to unseat the starting third baseman in
Wade Boggs
Wade Anthony Boggs (born June 15, 1958), nicknamed "Chicken Man", is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He spent 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the Boston Red Sox. He also played for the New York Ya ...
anytime soon). On August 30, he was sent to the Astros for Andersen, who pitched well in his lone season with Boston. Although the Astros had a starting third baseman in
Ken Caminiti
Kenneth Gene Caminiti (April 21, 1963 – October 10, 2004) was an American professional baseball third baseman who spent 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Houston Astros (1987–1994, 1999–2000), San Diego Padres (1995–1 ...
, Bagwell's promise as a player in spring training for 1991 convinced them to try him at first base in the majors for Opening Day. He rewarded the Astros by batting .294 with fifteen home runs while being named the
National League
National League often refers to:
*National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada
*National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...
Rookie of the Year. Bagwell and Biggio would play 4,714 games together before they reached the
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...
for their first and only time as major league players.
Unlike Biggio and Bagwell,
Derek Bell and
Sean Berry did not start their careers with the Astros. Bell had started with the
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
in 1991, playing two seasons before being traded to the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
, where he thrived for two fair seasons. In December 1994, however, he was part of a large trade that involved 12 players that sent Bell and five others to Houston. He rewarded the Astros by batting .334 in 1995 while finishing with MVP votes in 112 games played. However his production would dip and flow over the next four seasons, which included batting .314 in 1998 before dropping to his lowest full season average of .236 the next season, and he played over 130 games twice in five seasons. Berry had spent time with the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
and
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...
before being traded to the Astros in 1996. In three seasons with the Astros, he played 330 games and batted .283.
Lance Berkman
William Lance Berkman (born February 10, 1976), nicknamed "Fat Elvis" and "Big Puma", is an American baseball coach and former professional baseball outfielder and first baseman, who is the former head baseball coach of the Houston Christian Hu ...
was a noted prospect that dazzled as a member of the
Rice Owls baseball
The Rice Owls baseball team is the interscholastic baseball team representing Rice University in Houston, Texas, United States. The Owls frequently appeared in the NCAA tournament during the tenure of head coach Wayne Graham, which ran from 199 ...
team that went to the
College World Series
The College World Series (CWS), officially the NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS), is a baseball tournament held each June in Omaha, Nebraska. It is the culmination of the NCAA Division I baseball tournament—featuring 64 teams in the ...
in 1997. As such, he was drafted as the 16th overall pick in the Major League draft. He spent the next two years in the minors before being called up to the majors in July 1999. A first baseman all throughout his baseball career, he was slotted to the outfield to garner playing time as Bagwell was already set in the position. He played just 34 games in 1999 before playing minor league ball for a time until he was sent back to the majors for 2000. He batted .297 that year and stayed in the majors from then on, which included an All-Star selection the following year among other distinctions. In Game 4 of the
2005 National League Division Series
The 2005 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 2005 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 4, and ended on Sunday, October 9, with the champions of the three NL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—p ...
, he belted a grand slam to help spark a rally that saw them overcome a 6-1 deficit to eventually win in eighteen innings.
Carlos Beltrán
Carlos Iván Beltrán (; born April 24, 1977) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 1998 to 2017 for the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Mets, San F ...
was a second round selection in the 1995 draft by the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
. Although he won the Rookie of the Year award upon his debut to the majors in 1998, he battled injuries and the pains of a small market club in the midst of futility (the Royals did not make the postseason from 1986 to 2013). Contract negotiations for a long term deal stalled while trade rumors circled both 2003 and 2004. A .278 batter with fifteen home runs, Beltran seemed a worthy trade piece as the All-Star break loomed in June. On the 24th of that month, the Royals took part in a three team trade that saw them acquire three players (most notably
Octavio Dotel
Octavio Eduardo Dotel Diaz (November 25, 1973 – April 8, 2025) was a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for 13 major league teams, the second-most of any player in history. ...
) while trading with the Astros and the
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
that sent Beltran to Houston. He proceeded to play 90 games with the Astros while batting .258, hitting 23 home runs while adding to his stolen base total (where he stole 42, with 28 from Houston). He saved his best for the postseason, hitting eight home runs to tie the record for most hit in one postseason, which included two in Game 5 of the
Division Series
The Division Series is the quarterfinal round of the Major League Baseball postseason. Four series are played in this round, two each for both the American League and the National League.
1981 season
The first use of the term "Division Series ...
against the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
, which helped seal the first ever postseason victory for the Astros. He hit a home run in each of the first four games of the ensuing NLCS, but the Astros lost in seven games. In those twelve games, he batted .435 while driving in fourteen with 21 runs scored.
Chris Burke helped the
Tennessee Volunteers baseball
The Tennessee Volunteers baseball team represents the University of Tennessee in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Tennessee athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the of the Southeastern Conference. The Volunte ...
team to the
College World Series
The College World Series (CWS), officially the NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS), is a baseball tournament held each June in Omaha, Nebraska. It is the culmination of the NCAA Division I baseball tournament—featuring 64 teams in the ...
in 2001, and as such he was a fair prospect for the draft that year. He was selected as the 10th overall pick by the Astros. After debuting in the majors in July 2004, he was thought of as a key prospect for the next year. He would bat .248 in 108 games, most notably having an eleven-game hitting streak in the summer. In the
2005 National League Division Series
The 2005 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 2005 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 4, and ended on Sunday, October 9, with the champions of the three NL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—p ...
, he would have his most famous moment as an Astro. In Game 4, batting in the 18th inning against
Joey Devine, he slammed a home run that ended the series and advanced the Astros to the NLCS for a second straight year. It ended up being his most famous home run of his career.
Aftermath
Biggio played until he announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2007 season. He collected 3,060 hits by the end of his career to go along with 291 home runs (53 as a leadoff hitter, a National League record), seven All-Star Game appearances and five
Silver Slugger Award
The Silver Slugger Award has been awarded annually since 1980 to the best Batting (baseball), offensive player at each Baseball positions, position in both the American League (AL) and the National League (baseball), National League (NL), as determ ...
s. He was inducted into the
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United St ...
in 2015. Bagwell, bothered by trouble with his shoulder, never played baseball again after the end of the
2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2005 season. The 101st edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champion Chicago White Sox and the National ...
. However, he was on hand to see Biggio reach 3,000 hits on June 28, 2007, meeting him on the field after the historic moment. Bagwell ended his career with 449 home runs and 1,529 runs batted in (RBI), and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017. Berkman was traded by the Astros to the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
in 2010, and he ended his career in 2013 after signing a one-day contract with the Astros to retire. A lifetime .293 hitter, he hit 366 home runs with 1,234 RBIs. The 2005 season was the last postseason appearance for the Astros for ten years.
Beltran would spend most of the next twelve years after 2004 as a member of the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
, but he would find his way back to the Astros in free agency after the end of the Killer B's era. After the end of the 2016 season, he was signed to a one-year deal to play as the designated hitter. His key contribution that year was an RBI double in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the
American League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Division Series (ALDS) determines which two teams from the American League will advance to the American League Championship Series. The Division Series consists of two best-of-five series, featuring ea ...
that was the deciding run in a 5-4 win that gave the Astros their first postseason series victory in thirteen years. Beltran retired after the season, which ended with the Astros winning the
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...
; coincidentally, a star player for that Astros team had a name that started with a "B" in
Alex Bregman
Alexander David Bregman (born March 30, 1994) is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Houston Astros.
As a high school sophomore at Albu ...
, who provided the winning hit to end Game 5 in the seven-game series victory. Beltran would go on to open a successful chain of frozen yogurt shops in the Houston and greater Houston area named Chiller Bee, a play off of the name Killer B’s.
In the
2021 Houston Astros season
The 2021 Houston Astros season was the 60th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 57th as the Astros, ninth in both the American League (AL) and AL West division, and 22nd at Minute Maid Park. ...
, when the team clinched their ticket to the postseason, it clinched their sixth postseason appearance in the past seven seasons, which matched the "Killer B's" era. The 2022 team reached the postseason once again, thereby topping the Killer B era for most playoff appearances in any span of seasons.
Dusty Baker
Johnnie B "Dusty" Baker Jr. (born June 15, 1949) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and Manager (baseball), manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for 19 seasons, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers. D ...
became the third Astros manager to reach the postseason three straight times and only the second to do so in his first three seasons after
Larry Dierker
Lawrence Edward Dierker (born September 22, 1946) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher, manager, and broadcaster. During a 14-year baseball career as a pitcher, he pitched from 1964 to 1977 for the Houston Colt .45s/Astro ...
.
Killer B's in chronological order
Starting with Biggio's arrival, here are the Killer B's in chronological order:
*
Craig Biggio
Craig Alan Biggio (; born December 14, 1965) is an American former baseball second baseman, outfielder, and catcher who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros, from 1988 to 2007. A seven-time National League (baseball), ...
(1988–2007)
*
Jeff Bagwell
Jeffrey Robert Bagwell (born May 27, 1968) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and coach who spent his entire 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) playing career with the Houston Astros.
Originally a Boston Red Sox fourth- ...
(1991–2005)
*
Derek Bell (1995–1999)
*
Sean Berry (1996–1998)
*
Tim Bogar
Timothy Paul Bogar (born October 28, 1966) is an American former infielder, coach, manager, and front-office executive in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the New York Mets, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers, coached for the ...
(1997–2000)
*
Lance Berkman
William Lance Berkman (born February 10, 1976), nicknamed "Fat Elvis" and "Big Puma", is an American baseball coach and former professional baseball outfielder and first baseman, who is the former head baseball coach of the Houston Christian Hu ...
(1999–2010)
*
Eric Bruntlett
Eric Kevin Bruntlett (born March 29, 1978) is an American former professional baseball utility player. Between 2003 and 2009, he played seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies.
Born in Lafay ...
(2003–2007)
*
Brandon Backe
Brandon Allen Backe (; born April 5, 1978) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Houston Astros during his career, and appeared in the 2005 World Series as a member of the Astros.
Origina ...
(2004-2009)
*
Carlos Beltran
Carlos may refer to:
Places
;Canada
* Carlos, Alberta, a locality
;United States
* Carlos, Indiana, an unincorporated community
* Carlos, Maryland, a place in Allegany County
* Carlos, Minnesota, a small city
* Carlos, West Virginia
;Elsewhere ...
(2004, 2017)
*
Chris Burke (2004–2007)
References
{{Houston Astros
Nicknamed groups of baseball players