Sometimes I can’t help clicking on some clickbait. I mean that is why it exists – to get people money based on tempting us silly folks with our clickable mice.
Today I saw this one and it of course got me thinking.
All 30 MLB Teams’ Mount Rushmore: Which 4 Players Made It For Your Team?
For those who don’t want to go searching – the Astros’ Mount Rushmore was called out as Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Lance Bergman and Nolan Ryan. Not a bad list. We can argue about whether Jose Altuve should be in there and who he would replace. We can argue if Nolan pitched here long enough, etc. , but for one of these usually poorly done looks from the outside – this was not bad.
So, it made me think about maybe throwing out some Astro related Mount Rushmore lists of my own. I’m not going to spend any time pulling up a bunch of stats to back any of this up – I’m going to go with my gut feelings and toss these out there. You get to spend time arguing about it.
The Mount Rushmore of players from the Renaissance period (2015 – Today)
- Jose Altuve
- Justin Verlander
- George Springer
- Alex Bregman
Note – This was really, really hard.
The Mount Rushmore of Astros teams
- 2017 Astros – First Champs
- 2022 Astros – Untainted Champs
- 2019 Astros – A few outs away
- 2005 Astros – First ones to the WS
Note – If you want to replace the 2005 with the 2021 Astros – I get it.
The Mount Rushmore of best Astros positions
Note – I know that a number of these guys played other positions
- Second Base – Biggio, Altuve, Joe Morgan, Jeff Kent, Bill Doran
- First Base – Bagwell, Bob Watson, Berkman, Glenn Davis, Yuli Gurriel
- Center fielder – Cesar Cedeno, Jimmy Wynn, George Springer, Michael Bourn, Steve Finley
- Left Fielder – Berkman, Jose Cruz, Moises Alou, Carlos Lee, Luis Gonzalez
The Mount Rushmore of Astro Pitchers
- Nolan Ryan
- J.R. Richard
- Justin Verlander
- Joe Niekro
The Mount Rushmore of Astros – What Could Have Beens
- J.R. Richard – Struck down with a stroke in 1980
- Dickie Thon – Struck in the face with a fastball in 1984 and was never the same
- Joe Morgan – Dealt away to the Reds before the 1972 season and went on to two MVPs and a Hall of Fame career
- Mike Cuellar – Traded to the Orioles before the 1969 season, went on to a Cy Young, four 20+ win seasons and a 139-75 record over the next 7 seasons
The Mount Rushmore of Astros Best Trades
- P Larry Andersen for 1B Jeff Bagwell in 1990
- P Franklin Perez, C Jake Rogers, and OF Daz Cameron for P Justin Verlander in 2017
- P Josh Fields for OF/DH Yordan Alvarez in 2016
- OF/1B Danny Heep for P Mike Scott in 1982
Anyways, you get the idea.
Your assignment – critique these Mount Rushmores – do your own version – or come up with totally new ones.
Have a great day!
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
27 responses to “Some Astros’ Mount Rushmores”
I want to put the 1986 team above the 2019 team. Some others might suggest the 1981 team, but that’s before I moved to the city. That 2019 team was ridiculous. The offense was historic and pitching staff featured JV narrowly edging out Gerrit Cole for Cy Young in a decision that could have gone either way. However, the loss to the Nationals and uncertainty as to whether they were still cheating are blemishes. That 1986 team was a thrill to watch (and listen) culminating in such a memorable series against the Mets. Perhaps this just illustrates how good we’ve had it over the last decade though.
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1986 was a special team – if….. they hold that 3 run lead in the 9th in Game 6 – Mike Scott was going to take them down a third time in Game 7 – we were sure of it. But NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Oh well a good alternate choice Devin
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I’m still stewing about this offense. If you missed my rant at the very end of the last blog go read it and let me know your thoughts. But I’ll give you this exercise –
Mount Rushmore of Astros – Bagwell and Biggio are obvious. That writer not putting Altuve on there was balarky. He has already given more to the Astros than anyone not named Bagwell and Biggio even if he had left via FA this year. My 4th spot is eh – Jose Cruz is actually 4th in all time franchise WAR. Cesar Cedeno was 5th, and the fact that Cesar was both an offensive monster and won 5 gold gloves that also stole 50 bases a year in an era where stealing bases was considered premium – he gets my vote. So, Bagwell, Biggio, Altuve, Cedeno. When it comes to WAR, Nolan is all the way down at 19th, so I can’t put him on the Rushmore. If it was a Rushmore of players that have played in Houston but reflective of their overall career, he and Verlander would be there with Bagwell and Biggio, but I’m just considering time in the uni.
2019 may have been the best team ever. If only Greinke had been left out there, what might have been.
I think your trades were spot on. We have a history of getting over on someone ever so often. I think in a few years we are going to be talking about Yainer for Myles as the 5th best ripoff.
How about Mount Rushmore of defensive players! – Adam Everett is the most obvious. I would put Correa on that list, along with Ausmus. My 4th is more of a feeling, I don’t know that defensive metrics justify, still putting Bregman on that list.
How about reverse Mount Rushmore – bad trades. Billy Wagner for who? Exactly what happened in 2003. Schilling for Grimsley made no sense then, makes less sense now. I know most people would say Morgan for May, but May gave us two good years before turning into Enos Cabel for 6 years, nah, lets still put it there. Joe Morgan ended up with a cap in a building. My last one – Staub for Alou. Jesus has a fun baseball reference page though. Talk about a guy that put the ball in play. 1971 – 455 plate appearances, he had 13 walks, 17 Ks, and 4 HBPs. He put the ball in play 421 times in 455 plate appearances. That’s nuts.
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The defensive one is interesting – it is tough to compare them across generations. I like your picks Steven. From way back I always thought Doug Rader and Roger Metzger were impressive. Cesar Cedeno was just such an athlete who could do anything. Caminiti had the strongest arm I ever saw until Correa came.
Lots of bad trades back in the day – shipping Morgan, Staub, Cuellar, Billy Wags, John Mayberry for Jim York. They traded Jimmy Wynn to the Dodgers and he almost carried them to the championship.
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Metzger would not be allowed to play in todays game with that lifetime .584 OPS, although they might find a place for him on this years Astro roster.
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I did read your comment and feel the same way. However, I suggest looking at the hitting stats for the Baltimore Orioles. We’re not the only team underperforming in a baffling way.
Jose Cruz deserves mention and credit for being good for a really long time.
If we’re talking bad trades don’t forget about Kenny Lofton!
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Steven, yeah, I missed your post too. I just decided not to commit at all after watching the 3-0 embarrassment, because I kept reminding myself that we still have a pretty good chance to win our first road series of the season. I do think Gusto needs a confidence building trip back to Sugar Land though.
But I am getting worn down by Walker. A hot month can get his OPS up to .750 pretty easily, but I’m starting to wonder if it’s going to happen. I’ve also thought about what might happen if a deep pockets team somehow ended up with a need at first base as the deadline approached. I’d move Christian without hesitation. As I keep saying, let’s get younger and more athletic. Full disclosure though. I was happy to get Walker when we signed him and I did not see his struggles coming.
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Steven, yeah, I missed your post too. I just decided not to commit at all after watching the 3-0 embarrassment, because I kept reminding myself that we still have a pretty good chance to win our first road series of the season. I do think Gusto needs a confidence building trip back to Sugar Land though.
But I am getting worn down by Walker. A hot month can get his OPS up to .750 pretty easily, but I’m starting to wonder if it’s going to happen. I’ve also thought about what might happen if a deep pockets team somehow ended up with a need at first base as the deadline approached. I’d move Christian without hesitation. As I keep saying, let’s get younger and more athletic. Full disclosure though. I was happy to get Walker when we signed him and I did not see his struggles coming.
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I’d like to have Joe Morgan over at second base right now. And based on BP dWAR, he actually played good defense at that position even late into his long career.
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I’d like to have Joe Morgan over at second base right now. And based on BP dWAR, he actually played good defense at that position even late into his long career.
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As I consider a Mount Rushmore attempt, I admit to mostly considering who I would want in certain positions, whether in the field or at the plate, during playoff games. I would include those Astros who never were on a playoff team.
I will attempt later…
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For the Renaissance
I’d probably put Correa ahead of Springer …. that defense, and then finally some SS offensive production.
For the teams I’d probably find space for the 1998 team in there. How did they not win it all?
And somewhere I’d make space for Berkman and Oswalt
And how about a Manager’s Rushmore?
Dusty (aargh)
Hinch
Garner
Dierker
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Simon, the answer is the 1998 Astros discovered what steroids could do for an opponent.
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I can’t give Nolan a place on the Mount either, even though I never missed a game he pitched in Houston while I was still living there. The guy played for a quarter century! Alas, only 9 of those with the Astros. John McMullin had to go ruin things.
I have a real place in my heart for the 2015 team. That year was more fun for me than any except for the first big win in 2017. And 2005 was a magic season too, until it wasn’t.
Glad to see you included J.R. He had gotten so good. He was a tragedy that probably could have been avoided.
Dickie Thon also makes my what could have been list. He was so smooth out at short. He lead MLB in WAR in 1983 with a 7.4, of which 3.2 came from his defense.
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Just some tidbits after I found what I thought was a crazy line from Jesus Alou –
Joe Sewell, HOFer, struck out 114 times over 8333 career plate appearances. He had multiple seasons of 550+ PAs and just 4 strikeouts in each season.
BTW – France has been sent to Florida to throw to live hitters, which is further than Javier or Garcia are. It’s expected JP will beat them both back and be ready sometime in mid-July.
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If anyone can figure out the Astros rehabbing habits by pitcher – let me know.
Arrighetti who is shown as coming back the soonest – July – is only playing catch.
France is shown as coming back in late 2025 is throwing a bullpen like you say.
Garcia is coming back late July /early August – just threw a bullpen
Javier is shown as coming back a nebulous mid-season 2025 – threw off a mound a month ago and no further updates since then.
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Starting rotation
Relief pitching
Position players
1st base – Bagwell, Berkman, Watson, Davis
2nd base – Morgan, Altuve, Biggio, Kent
3rd base – Caminiti, Bregman, Rader, Mathews
SS – Correa, Thon, Pena, Menke
Outfield – Beltran, M. Alou, Wynn, Bell
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Good effort by the Astros last night. Maybe Issac is emerging from his slump. Pena keeps acting like an All Star. Melton got a big hit and two RBI’s with it.
Framber played the ace role. I hope they sent Colton Gordon over to Cleveland on an early flight. Not sure why Dana had a conniption. The last thing a team wants to do is have to make a special trip in September on a rare day off to play a make up game. Yeah, I understand that it might have been nice to be able to push the rotation back a day and start Valdez tonight in Cleveland.
I’ll say this though. Getaway games should always be day games, even if the next stop is just 134 miles away. Weather is very erratic this time of year.
The Astros won their second road series of the season. That’s a positive. I’d like to see them come out and play a good game against a good team tonight.
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Thoughts
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Dave – I also wondered why he got so wound up about it. I don’t know that it would serve them to lose an off day in September to get out of town early. The only thing I can think of is that he was upset at Pittsburgh for deciding to have a night game on a getaway day – but a few franchises are doing it now that suffer from chronic attendance problems where day games are even worse. But still, it was set months ago, and only MLB can cancel the game regardless of what Kelly or Espada think.
Dan – it doesn’t look like much is going to Rodgers, Salazar or Whitcomb. Espada is pretty well known for doing like Dusty and moving parts a lot, but he seems pretty set on this lineup right now. I haven’t seen today’s yet but given the late night I wouldn’t be surprised to see Altuve and Diaz both sit and see 2 of the 3 in.
Part of this is Dubby. After never really getting a chance to get a rhythm early on with Rodgers getting the primary work – he has found a little of one. Neither of them are going to call up the ghost of great Astros 2B of the past, but Dubby has vastly outperformed Rodgers and looks better defensively to me. I know he isn’t walking, that doesn’t seem to be a thing he has ever done, but man has 5 K’s in 107 PAs. That’s elite level contact. Question the quality of the contact, but Rodgers has 42 in 111 PAs. One thing I know is a fact me and Yogi can agree on, you can’t get hits if you can’t hit. Really, unless the Astros catch a lefty, Whitcomb doesn’t have anywhere to play and is probably the first going down when any one of McCormick, Yordan or Dezenzo is ready, though I would much rather see them just release Rodgers.
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Yeah, Kelly can provide his opinion, but indeed, playing or not playing is up to MLB . And I’ll add that the tarp was on the field before any rain came down. That field was in pretty good shape to play on after the poker game in the clubhouse.
I’d rather see Whitcomb in left tonight rather than Dubon, especially against a lefty. Why bring him up? I have a confession to make though. In spite of his varied defensive abilities, Dubon remains my least favorite Astro, maybe with the exception of Forrest Whitley. But I forgot about Rodgers. Why he’s collecting 2 million sure beats me.
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The worst hail storm I’ve ever seen or heard hit us six weeks ago. Roof ruined. A/C ruined. Skirting completely ruined. Sheetrock damaged. Windows damaged.
The aftermath with insurance and contractors has followed. Still waiting for roofers. Since then, there have been two water leaks and a diagnosis of cancer on my face and an operation for it.
The reason I mention all this is because I have contributed almost nothing to the blog because of the stress. I follow your comments and I keep up with the team, but it is so hard to gather and offer my thoughts. My son’s house has more damage than we do and his life is three times as stressful as ours and that weighs heavily on mom and I, too. When the plumber and roofer get finished, things will settle down and by then the Astros will probably be rolling. Amen?
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Good luck. Our prayers and thoughts are with you. I’ve seen video of some of the recent hail storms in Texas. One of them was so bad you couldn’t even see the guys grass after 2 minutes. Hopefully the fight with the insurance companies won’t be as bad as we all expect it will be.
We definitely look forward to having your voice back.
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Yes, so sorry OP – we understand when our “distraction” of a blog falls low on the priority list. I will add you and yours to my ever-lengthening prayer list each morning. I just hope it turns out right for you and your son’s houses.
Pray they took care of your skin cancer – never enjoyable.
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Prayers ol’ friend.
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1oldpro, I’ve been thinking about you lately, as I’ve not seen much of you here. I was concerned that something might be amiss. God bless and stay well.
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After I admitted publicly that Frenchie Dubon is my least favorite Astro, he did something in the first inning I don’t ever remember seeing before with those two excellent throws. And then Rodgers hit a bomb and made a heck of a play in the 9th after I dogged him too.
Speaking of plays, the ball Melton caught in the right field corner might be my favorite of the year.
I’m worried about Jose Altuve. Discounting his brief hot streak, he’s never had such a bad season at the plate. He’s swinging at more bad pitches than ever, he’s bunting when he should not, and as we’ve seen so many times before he took us out of a bases loaded situation in the 9th with brain fart on the bases.
On the flip side, we’re 7 games over .500 for the first time all season. Someone new seems to step up in all of the tight games we’ve been playing and does something important. Team wins.
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