Chest Rockwell
1,000+ Posts
I had this conversation/debate with a friend of mine the other night which got me thinking. Thinking got me researching, researching brought me to these conclusions:5. Astros trade Kenny Lofton to Cleveland for Ed Taubensee & Willie Blair (1991) In less than 3 years in Houston, Taubensee had <600 at-bats, amassing 14 HR’s, 49 Runs, 70 RBI’s and 3 SB’s. Willie Blair played 1 season in Houston, going 5-7 with a 4.00 ERA. He did have a career year (16-8) in Detroit in 1997, but returned to Earth the following year in Arizona with a 4-15 record.
Kenny Lofton quickly became the best lead-off many in baseball. Over 16 years, he had 620 SB’s and scored over 1500 runs. Lofton was a 6-time All-Star, played in 2 World Series and won 4 Gold Gloves.
4. Astros trade Mike Cuellar to Baltimore for Curt Blefary (1968)
Curt Blefary played 1 season with Houston, before being traded for an aging Joe Pepitone, who played in 75 games before he was sold to the Chicago Cubs.
Mike Cuellar was one of the more dominating pitchers in game, going 139-67 over the next 7 years. He won 20+ games 4 times, was an All-Star 3 times, went to 3 World Series (winning one), and was the 1969 AL Cy Young winner. His ERA in that span ranged from 2.38 to 3.66 and he threw 29 shutouts.
3. Astros trade Ken Caminiti, Steve Finley, Andujar Cedeno, Roberto Petagine & Brian Williams to San Diego for Derek Bell, Ricky Gutierrez, Doug Brocail, Pedro Martinez, Phil Plantier & Criag Shipley (1994)
All “throw-ins†aside, this trade boiled down to Caminiti/Finley for Bell and was initiated by Houston so that their young, impressionable cornerstones (Bagwell & Biggio) wouldn’t be tainted by Caminiti’s “colorful†off-the-field lifestyle. Bell was a pretty good OF’er in his 5 seasons with Houston, averaging 15 HR’s, 89 RBI’s, 77 Runs and 20 steals. Caminiti experienced more success in his 4 years in San Diego, winning 3 Gold Gloves and the 1996 MVP. While with the Padres, he averaged 30 HR’s, 99 RBI’s, 91 Runs and 10 SB’s, went to 3 All-Star games and one World Series.
Steve Finley went on to play 14 more seasons, winning 5 Gold Gloves, and played in 2 All-Star games and 2 World Series (winning 1 ring). He is one of only 6 players in the 300/300 club (joining Barry & Bobby Bonds, Willie Mays, Andre Dawson & Reggie Sanders).
2. Astros trade Curt Schilling to Philadelphia for Jason Grimsley (1992)
Jason Grimsley never threw 1 pitch for Houston and was released less than a year after the trade.
Curt Schilling pitched for 17 seasons after leaving Houston, winning 212 games and recording >3000 strikeouts. He was a 3-time 20-game winner and a 6-time All-Star. He won games in 4 different World Series (winning 3 rings) and also won the 1993 NLCS and the 2001 WS MVP’s. Since 1980, Schilling is one of only 5 pitchers to record 300+ strikeouts in a season (joining Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Pedro Martinez & Mike Scott).
1. Astros trade Joe Morgan, Jack Billingham, Cesar Geronimo, Denis Menke & Ed Armbrister to Cincinnati for Lee May, Tommy Helms & Jimmy Stewart (1971)
What the Astros got out of this trade was a solid 3 years from Lee May (81 HRs & 280 RBI’s), and a mediocre 4 years from Tommy Helms. Admittedly, Lee May was guy they gave up to acquire Enos Cabell.
What the Reds got was starting pitcher (Jack Billingham) that gave them 102 wins over the next 8 years, 4-time Gold Glover Cesar Geronimo, 2 other players . . . and Hall of Famer Joe Morgan. In his next 8 years with the Reds, Morgan averaged a .288 BA, 19 HR’s, 102 Runs, 77 RBI’s and 51 SB’s while winning 5 Gold Gloves at 2nd Base. Morgan participated in 8 All-Star games and 3 World Series (winning 2 rings). He twice won the NL MVP and once won the All-Star Game MVP. He was elected into the HOF – wearing a Reds cap – in 1990.
{ Others receiving Votes: }
1971 . . . Astros trade John Mayberry to Kansas City for Jim York & Lance Clemons
1981 . . . Astros trade Jeff Leonard & Dave Bergman to San Francisco for Mike Ivie
1981 . . . Astros trade Joaquin Andujar to St. Louis for Tony Scott
Kenny Lofton quickly became the best lead-off many in baseball. Over 16 years, he had 620 SB’s and scored over 1500 runs. Lofton was a 6-time All-Star, played in 2 World Series and won 4 Gold Gloves.
4. Astros trade Mike Cuellar to Baltimore for Curt Blefary (1968)
Curt Blefary played 1 season with Houston, before being traded for an aging Joe Pepitone, who played in 75 games before he was sold to the Chicago Cubs.
Mike Cuellar was one of the more dominating pitchers in game, going 139-67 over the next 7 years. He won 20+ games 4 times, was an All-Star 3 times, went to 3 World Series (winning one), and was the 1969 AL Cy Young winner. His ERA in that span ranged from 2.38 to 3.66 and he threw 29 shutouts.
3. Astros trade Ken Caminiti, Steve Finley, Andujar Cedeno, Roberto Petagine & Brian Williams to San Diego for Derek Bell, Ricky Gutierrez, Doug Brocail, Pedro Martinez, Phil Plantier & Criag Shipley (1994)
All “throw-ins†aside, this trade boiled down to Caminiti/Finley for Bell and was initiated by Houston so that their young, impressionable cornerstones (Bagwell & Biggio) wouldn’t be tainted by Caminiti’s “colorful†off-the-field lifestyle. Bell was a pretty good OF’er in his 5 seasons with Houston, averaging 15 HR’s, 89 RBI’s, 77 Runs and 20 steals. Caminiti experienced more success in his 4 years in San Diego, winning 3 Gold Gloves and the 1996 MVP. While with the Padres, he averaged 30 HR’s, 99 RBI’s, 91 Runs and 10 SB’s, went to 3 All-Star games and one World Series.
Steve Finley went on to play 14 more seasons, winning 5 Gold Gloves, and played in 2 All-Star games and 2 World Series (winning 1 ring). He is one of only 6 players in the 300/300 club (joining Barry & Bobby Bonds, Willie Mays, Andre Dawson & Reggie Sanders).
2. Astros trade Curt Schilling to Philadelphia for Jason Grimsley (1992)
Jason Grimsley never threw 1 pitch for Houston and was released less than a year after the trade.
Curt Schilling pitched for 17 seasons after leaving Houston, winning 212 games and recording >3000 strikeouts. He was a 3-time 20-game winner and a 6-time All-Star. He won games in 4 different World Series (winning 3 rings) and also won the 1993 NLCS and the 2001 WS MVP’s. Since 1980, Schilling is one of only 5 pitchers to record 300+ strikeouts in a season (joining Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Pedro Martinez & Mike Scott).
1. Astros trade Joe Morgan, Jack Billingham, Cesar Geronimo, Denis Menke & Ed Armbrister to Cincinnati for Lee May, Tommy Helms & Jimmy Stewart (1971)
What the Astros got out of this trade was a solid 3 years from Lee May (81 HRs & 280 RBI’s), and a mediocre 4 years from Tommy Helms. Admittedly, Lee May was guy they gave up to acquire Enos Cabell.
What the Reds got was starting pitcher (Jack Billingham) that gave them 102 wins over the next 8 years, 4-time Gold Glover Cesar Geronimo, 2 other players . . . and Hall of Famer Joe Morgan. In his next 8 years with the Reds, Morgan averaged a .288 BA, 19 HR’s, 102 Runs, 77 RBI’s and 51 SB’s while winning 5 Gold Gloves at 2nd Base. Morgan participated in 8 All-Star games and 3 World Series (winning 2 rings). He twice won the NL MVP and once won the All-Star Game MVP. He was elected into the HOF – wearing a Reds cap – in 1990.
{ Others receiving Votes: }
1971 . . . Astros trade John Mayberry to Kansas City for Jim York & Lance Clemons
1981 . . . Astros trade Jeff Leonard & Dave Bergman to San Francisco for Mike Ivie
1981 . . . Astros trade Joaquin Andujar to St. Louis for Tony Scott
