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Jeff Bagwell is an American Former Professional Baseball First Baseman as well as a Coach. Jeff Bagwell is a 4-time MLB All-Star first baseman who spent his entire 15-year career with the Houston Astros. He is popular for being NL Rookie of the Year in 1991 and NL MVP in 1994.
Early Life and Childhood
Jeff Bagwell was born on May 27, 1968, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He is 55 years old and is under the astrological sign, Gemini. He holds American nationality and his full name is Jeffrey Robert Bagwell.
His father’s name is Robert Bagwell and his mother’s name is Janice. He is the only child of his parents and doesn’t have any siblings. His family moved to Killingworth, Connecticut, when Jeff was only one year old.
Her mother being a police officer, grew up in Newton and played softball in local Boston leagues until her 20s. His parents separated and divorced when he was 11 years old.
Caption: Jeff Bagwell along with his parents receiving the honor (Source: MLB.com)
Jeff Bagwell – Education
Regarding Bagwell’s educational background and qualifications, he graduated from Xavier High School. It is a private all-male Catholic school located in Middletown, Connecticut.
Being a versatile athlete, he excelled at soccer, setting the school goal-scoring mark, playing shortstop, and lettered in basketball. Also, in early 1989, he was honoured by Xavier for his character and generosity.
Moreover, Bagwell even excelled in American Legion Baseball under coach Fred Tremalgia for Post 75 in Middletown. And went on to be named the 2003 American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year.
He was able to receive a baseball scholarship from the University of Hartford, even though baseball wasn’t his main sport. He even played in the Cape Cod Baseball League. And was selected as a starting third baseman in the all-star game.
Career and Professional Life
Jeff Bagwell was drafted by the Red Sox in the year 1989 and started his professional career with the Winter Haven Red Sox. Also, in the year 1990, while playing for the New Britain Red Sox, he had an outstanding season, winning the Eastern League Most Valuable Player Award. He led the league in hits and doubles and had impressive stats in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.
The Red Sox, looking to boost their playoff chances, traded for Larry Andersen from the Astros in the year 1990. Initially, they hesitated to include Bagwell in the deal but eventually agreed. It turned out to be a lopsided trade, with Jeff having an incredible career and the trade being considered one of the most one-sided in baseball history.
According to Lou Gorman, the Red Sox’s then-general manager, the trade seemed logical at the time. However, the trade ended up being heavily one-sided, with the Red Sox losing Andersen to free agency and Naehring and Cooper not having long MLB careers.
Despite facing challenges early on, Jeff went on to thrive in Houston, becoming one of the Astros’ greatest players. His unique batting style and powerful swing contributed to his success and his wide stance prevented overstriding and his low crouch allowed him to draw more walks. And, in spring training of 1991, the Astros invited him to major league camp.
Initially expecting to be assigned to their AAA affiliate Tucson, he impressed the team with his performance and was asked to shift to first base. Despite having limited experience at the position, he was able to embrace the challenge and receive a crash course, playing minor league games in the morning and Astros games in the afternoon.
More About Career
He went on to make his major league debut on Opening Day and went on to have a stellar rookie season, hitting .294 with 15 home runs and 82 RBI. And, his impressive performance helped him earn several accolades, including the NL Rookie of the Year award.
Also, after the guidance of hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, he was able to learn to hit with backspin and manipulate the count, resulting in a remarkable increase in home runs and improved plate discipline.
Likewise, in the following year, he had a solid season, hitting .273 with 18 home runs and driving in 96 runs. However, his season was cut short when he suffered a hand injury from a pitch by Ben Rivera of the Phillies.
Unfortunately, this was the beginning of a series of seasons that were interrupted or ended early due to similar hand injuries. But, despite the setbacks, his performance was impressive, with a .320 average that ranked sixth in the NL. Then, in the year 1994, he went on to sign a one-year contract with the Astros.
Jeffrey had an incredible season in the year 1994. He was able to set several franchise records as well as had some amazing performances. In June, he hit 13 home runs, which was a record for the Astros in a single month.
He also hit three home runs in one game, becoming the first Astro since Glenn Davis to do so. He then became the NL Player of the Month for June and was selected to his first All-Star Game. Bagwell had an amazing 1994 season, leading the major leagues in several categories.
Continued Peak
He had a high batting average, hit a ton of home runs, and drove in a lot of runs. He came close to winning the Triple Crown but finished second in batting average. Jeff also was able to win the NL Most Valuable Player Award unanimously and became the first Astros player to win it. Bagwell also went on to receive Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, and Player of the Year Awards. On top of that, the Astros rewarded him with a lucrative contract.
Moreover, the 1995 season was a challenging one for him due to the players’ strike. He had a slump in May but bounced back in June and July, setting a club RBI record with Derek Bell. He even hit his first two career home runs against Maddux. But, sadly he suffered a broken bone in his left hand but returned strong in September. After his return, his determination and training paid off, earning him ESPY Awards.
Jeff and Biggio went on to become senior members of the Astros in the year 1996. Both of them were popular as the “Killer B’s”. Also, he had a remarkable season, reaching his 500th RBI and joining Willie Stargell as the only player to hit two upper-deck home runs at Three Rivers Stadium. During that time, he was able to earn the NL Player of the Month award and a spot in the 20-20 club. He even went on to play all 162 games that year.
In the year 1997, Jeffrey hit his 1,000th career hit, a home run against the Phillies, and was selected to play in the All-Star Game. He also became the first full-time first baseman to join the 30-30 club, with 31 steals and 43 home runs. He finished second in the league in both home runs and RBI, and the Astros made it to the playoffs for the first time in 11 years.
After 1998
Then, in the next years, he hit his first career grand slam. And tied a career-high with six RBI in a game against Cincinnati. He was able to finish the season with a .304 batting average, 34 home runs, 111 RBI, 124 runs scored, 19 stolen bases, and 109 walks.
The Astros had a fun lineup with eight players whose last names started with ‘B’, including Bagwell, Bell, Berkman, and Biggio in the year 1999. Bagwell on the other hand, had a game where he hit a solo home run, a three-run home run, and a two-run home run, just missing the grand slam. And, his performance helped him earn a nomination for the All-Star Game.
Bagwell was able to finish with a career-high 47 home runs, a .310 average, and a .615 SLG in 2000. Also, his 152 runs scored was the highest since Lou Gehrig in 1936.
He reached some incredible milestones like his 700th extra-base hit and a game with seven RBI in the 2001 season. Moreover, he also hit for the cycle against the St. Louis Cardinals. In the first three months of the 2002 season, he struggled with his throwing due to shoulder surgery. And, in July, he had a .349 batting average with six home runs and 23 RBI.
He was able to get his 2,000th career hit with an infield single, joining Biggio in this achievement in April 2003. He even went on to have a great moment in June when he assisted in the final out of a combined no-hitter against the Yankees. Jeff hit his 400th career home run in July, becoming the 35th player in MLB history to reach that milestone.
Caption: Jeff Bagwell playing the game (Source: House of Houston)
2004 to 2007
Bagwell was able to hit his sixth career grand slam, tying a club record in the year 2004. He went on to reach his 200th stolen base while hitting 400 home runs. Becoming the tenth player in MLB history to do so. He also collected his 1,500th career RBI and scored his 1,500th run, making him the first Astro to achieve both milestones. Also, in the playoffs, he hit his first career postseason home run and helped the Astros win their first-ever playoff series.
Moreover, his chronic arthritic shoulder condition became too severe, sidelining him for most of the season in 2005. Him unable to throw due to his surgery, and returned as a pinch hitter. He went on to play a symbolic role in the Astros’ journey to their first World Series appearance. Bagwell along with Biggio finally made it to the World Series together in 2005 and despite the loss, they were able to receive Baseball America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Furthermore, the Astros wanted to claim insurance money for Bagwell’s health, but the claim was rejected because he had played in the 2005 World Series. This decision ended his chances of playing in the Major Leagues again.
But, he still showed up for spring training, hoping to contribute in some way and test his injured shoulder. He did play a few games, but the Astros put him on the disabled list with bone spurs. He eventually was able to receive the full amount of his contract when the Astros and the insurance company settled the claim. And, on the same day, he announced his retirement.
And, the Astros decided not to exercise his $18 million club option for 2007 and bought it out for $7 million instead. Bagwell then went on to file for free agency but then announced his retirement. The team then offered him a role in the player development department as an assistant to the general manager.
After Retirement
Jeff Bagwell went on to join Biggio on the field to celebrate his 3,000th career hit. They were able to receive a warm reception from the Astros fans, who appreciated their dedication to the team and the city. Biggio was later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in the year 2015. The Houston Astros retired Bagwell’s jersey number 5 on August 26, 2007.
Also, in the year 2009, he went on to receive the Bill Shea Distinguished Little League Graduate Award. Likewise, Bagwell along with Biggio were able to receive their World Series rings during a special ceremony in 2018.
In the year 2007, Jeff was able to serve as a coach during spring training. He then became the hitting coach for the Astros but decided not to return after the season. Bagwell was eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in the year 2011. Amid suspicions of using performance-enhancing drugs due to the “steroid era”, no concrete evidence was found. Despite differing opinions, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017 after several years of eligibility, receiving 86.2% of the vote.
Furthermore, he had a remarkable baseball career, ranking sixth in WAR among first basemen. He consistently was able to perform well and achieve impressive milestones, such as hitting over .300, 30+ home runs, and 100+ RBI, runs, and walks multiple times. Jeff is one of the few players to hit 400 home runs with a .400 career on-base percentage. He also is the Astros’ all-time leader in home runs and RBI and was the first Astro to win an MVP award.
Relationship Status
Jeff Bagwell tied the knot with Rachel Bagwell who is his third wife. They don’t have children of their own. However, Rachel had three children before meeting Jeff, and Jeff had two daughters, Blake and Bryce.
The first wife of Bagwell’s name is Shaune Bagwell. They tied the knot in the year 1992 and divorced in 1996. Later on, he went on to marry Ericka Bagwell on October 26, 1997. The pair has two daughters together. However, they divorced on November 1, 2012.
Caption: Jeff Bagwell with his wife, Rachel Bagwell (Source: CultureMap Houston)
Jeff Bagwell – Body Measurements
Jeff Bagwell has a height of 6 feet and his weight is 98 Kg but his other body measurements are still under review. Moreover, Bagwell has blue eyes and brown hair which is turning white and grey as he is getting old.
Social Media
Jeff Bagwell doesn’t seem to have any social media accounts until now. However, he might have kept his social accounts private and away from the public and the media. Also, by only giving access to his close friends and family.
Jeff Bagwell – Net Worth 2023
As per celebritynetworth, Jeff Bagwell has a net worth of $65 million. And his main income source has to be his career as a baseball player.
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