The 1994 Houston Astros season was the 33rd season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 30th as the Astros, 33rd in the National League (NL), first in the inaugural season of the NL Central division, and 30th at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season with an 85–77 record, third-place finish in the NL West division, and 19 games behind the three-time defending division-champion Atlanta Braves.
The 1994 season was the first for Terry Collins as manager, the 12th in franchise history, succeeding Art Howe. On April 4, pitcher Pete Harnisch made his second Opening Day start for the Astros, who hosted the Montreal Expos and prevailed on a walk-off double, 6–5, in extra innings. During the amateur draft, the Astros received three first round picks, including catcher Ramón Castro at 17th overall, pitcher Scott Elarton (25th), and shortstop Russ Johnson (30th).
Five Astros represented the club for the National League at the MLB All-Star Game: first baseman Jeff Bagwell, second baseman Craig Biggio, third baseman Ken Caminiti, and pitchers Doug Drabek and John Hudek. For Biggio, it was his third career selection, and the first for each of the remaining four. Former manager Leo Durocher, who led the Astros in 1972 and 1973, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Astros finished the season with 66–49 record—just game behind the first-place Cincinnati Reds—for their closest to first place since 1986. Houston also trailed Atlanta by games for second place in MLB's first-ever Wild Card race. However, on August 12, all regular season games were suspended as a response to the players' strike, and the season was ultimately cancelled, removing nearly all of the final two months. The 1994 playoffs were cancelled as well, and the start of the 1995 season was delayed.
Prior to the strike, Bagwell set the major league record for fewest plate appearances to reach both 100 runs scored and 100 runs batted in (RBI)—leading the league in both categories (104 runs, 116 RBI). Bagwell also hit for the highest slugging percentage in the NL since 1925 (.750), ranked second in the NL in batting (.368), and third in home runs (39). Following the season, Bagwell became the fourth player to be unanimously selected for the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, and the first Astro to win an MVP. Bagwell and Biggio also became the first Astros to win both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards for their respective positions in the same season.
Offseason On November 18, 1993, Terry Collins was hired as the 12th manager in Astros history, replacing Art Howe. November 27, 1993: Xavier Hernandez was traded by the Astros to the New York Yankees for Andy Stankiewicz and Domingo Jean. December 2, 1993: Doug Jones and Jeff Juden were traded by Astros to the Philadelphia Phillies for Mitch Williams. December 10, 1993: Eric Anthony was traded by the Astros to the Seattle Mariners for Mike Felder and Mike Hampton. January 26, 1994: Sid Bream was signed as a free agent by the Astros.
Regular season Summary April + Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 18 James Mouton Right fielder 12 Steve Finley Center fielder 7 Craig Biggio Second baseman 5 Jeff Bagwell First baseman 26 Luis Gonzalez Left fielder 11 Ken Caminiti Third baseman 9 Scott Servais Catcher 17 Andújar Cedeño Shortstop 27 Pete Harnisch Pitcher Venue: Astrodome • Houston 6, Montreal 5 Sources:
Right fielder James Mouton, who made his major league debut on Opening Day as Houston's leadoff hitter, also took the club's first at bat of the 1994 season, during which they hosted the Montreal Expos. Mouton pulled a ground ball double to left field off the Expos' Jeff Fassero for his first major league hit. The Expos struck first against the Astros' Opening Day starter, Pete Harnisch, during the top of the second, when Wil Cordero singled home Larry Walker, and two batters later, Sean Berry slugged a two-run home run that scored Cordero for a 3–0 Expos lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Andújar Cedeño singled home Luis Gonzalez for the Astros' first score of the season. Jeff Bagwell homered the following inning, which also scored Craig Biggio, for the Astros' first of the season, and tied the score, 3–3. The score remained tied 3–3 through regulation. During the bottom of the 12th, Mitch Williams issued consecutive bases-loaded bases on balls. Montreal regained the lead, 5–3, and Tom Edens replaced Williams, who secured the final out of the frame. In the bottom of the 12th, Bagwell singled home Mouton to trim the deficit to 5–4. Two batters later, Ken Caminiti doubled to center field to plate both Steve Finley and Bagwell for the Astros' walk-off victory, 6–5. Thus, Edens earned the Astros' first victory of the season. Mouton reached base four times in 6 plate appearances, including three hits and a walk, and also pilfered his first stolen base. Each of Finley, Biggio, Bagwell, and Cedeño added multi-hit games.
The Astros also debuted their new navy-and-gold uniforms with the leaning star logo on Opening Day.
On April 23, Mouton walloped a grand slam for his first major league home during the eighth inning at Busch Stadium, off Vicente Palacios. The blast capped a 15–5 Houston victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Chris Donnels, Steve Finley, and Kevin Bass also went deep. Bass produced his second career five-hit game and tied his career high with four runs scored, while Finley logged his ninth career four-hit game. The Astros collected 18 hits and 9 walks, and to that point in the season, this was the team's high-scoring output, until June 24.
One week after scoring a season-high 15 runs, on April 30, the Astros buried the Cardinals by the same score, 15–5, this time at home. Bagwell and Finley both homered and doubled among four hits. Harnisch added two hits, his first double, and scored twice while cruising through six innings on the mound. It was Bagwell's seventh career four-hit game, and tenth for Finley. For the first time since 1966, single-game attendance topped 50,000.
May On May 16, Bagwell hit for his first multi-home run game of the season, providing all of Houston's offense in a tight, 3–2 affair over the San Francisco Giants. In the top of the fifth, Matt Williams took Astros starter Shane Reynolds deep. Reynolds surrendered 10 hits and the Giants' only scores over innings. With two outs and Giants on first and third in the sixth, Dave Veres (1–1), who had made his major league debut just six days earlier, entered for Reynolds and struck out Williams looking to extinguish the threat. In the bottom of the sixth, Bagwell yanked a home run deep with Biggio aboard to give Houston a 3–2 lead and make Veres a major league victor for the first time. Holds were earned by fellow rookie relievers Mike Hampton (3rd) and John Hudek (1st), while veteran Mitch Williams registered the save (5).
The May 16 contest posited as the second multi-home run game of Bagwell's career, with his first having occurred almost exactly two years prior on May 10, 1992. From May 16 until July 24, Bagwell connected for five multi-home run games.
While hurling an 8–0 shutout of the Atlanta Braves on May 24, starting pitcher Doug Drabek turned in an all-round game while going the distance on the mound. At the plate, Drabek matched the three hits surrendered by getting three of his own while collecting two runs batted in (RBI). Every Astro attained a hit as the team piled on 16 while coaxing another 5 bases on balls, while Mouton supplied a game-high four hits, the first four-hit game of his major league career.
For the month of May, Drabek furnished a 5–1 win–loss record (W–L), 1.65 earned run average (ERA) over six starts and 49 innings pitched, three complete games, two shutouts, and a 0.939 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP). Consequently, he was singled out as NL Pitcher of the Month, the Astros' first since Darryl Kile during June of the preceding campaign.
June In spite of stacking 11 hits on Greg Maddux on June 12 at the Astrodome, the Braves emerged as 3–1 victors. Maddux (10–1) got the complete game victory, issued no walks, induced three double plays, and surrendered just one extra base hit, a double to Bass. Meanwhile, Houston's own Greg, Swindell (5–3), earned a tough loss, allowing just two runs in eight innings.
On June 24, Jeff Bagwell hit three home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Astrodome—including twice during the sixth inning—to lead a 16–4 rout. Bagwell became the first Astro since Glenn Davis on June 1, 1990 to hit three home runs in one contest. Bagwell's two longballs during the same inning tied a major league record. Bagwell also tied the club record with 13 total bases, first set by Joe Morgan on July 8, 1965. Nine of Houston's runs came in the sixth inning, and the 16 runs was a season-high for the Astros.
Bagwell was the NL Player of the Week for consecutive weeks on June 19 and June 26.
During the month of June, Bagwell logged a .394 batting average / .455 on-base percentage (OBP) / .899 slugging percentage (SLG) / 1.354 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). Over 26 games, he totaled 39 hits, scored 30 runs, 11 doubles, 13 home runs, 28 RBI and 89 total bases. This performance garnered NL Player of the Month honors for June, his second career monthly award. The prior Astro to win this award was himself, in May during the previous season. Bagwell joined Bob Watson (May 1975) and César Cedeño (September 1977) as Astros' two-time winners.
July On July 3, Ken Caminiti became the fourth Astros player to connect for a home run from both sides of the plate, and first time in his career, accomplishing it in the Astrodome. Caminiti took righty Mike Morgan to deep right center in the third, and in the eighth, lefty Dan Plesac to deep right field. Kevin Bass, the previous Astro to hit a home run from each side of the plate in a single game, hit behind Caminiti (cleanup) in the order. Sid Bream, filling in for Bagwell at first, collected a season-high three hits. Biggio logged four hits, including a home run and double, as Houston won, 12–6, over the Chicago Cubs.
MLB All-Star Game Five Astros players were named to the National League All-Star team: first baseman Jeff Bagwell, second baseman Craig Biggio, third baseman Ken Caminiti, and pitchers Doug Drabek and John Hudek. For Biggio, it was his third career selection, and the first for each of the remaining four. This was the first time that as many as five Astros were selected to the All-Star Game. Previously four Astros went to the 1979 and 1986 Midsummer Classics.
During the Midsummer Classic, Bagwell entered as a pinch hitter for Maddux, the NL starting pitcher. Bagwell singled off David Cone, and wound up collecting two hits in four at bats.
Rest of July Finley cranked his first grand slam in an Astros uniform on July 17, igniting Houston for an eight-run third inning. The Astros whitewashed the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9–0. Shortstop Orlando Miller thumped his first triple among three hits. Shane Reynolds (7–4) took over for Drabek for seven shutout innings in relief for the victory. With Miller aboard in the third, it was Pittsburgh righty Paul Wagner's hit by pitch of Drabek while batting that knocked him out of the contest. Harnisch pinch ran for Drabek, and Biggio drew a walk. Finley then crushed a deep line drive to right field for the slam.