1999 Houston Astros season

Offseason

• November 17, 1998: Ken Caminiti was signed as a free agent by the Astros.
• December 9, 1999: Signed Craig Biggio to a 4-year extension for $28 million.
• January 19, 1999: Ryan Thompson was signed as a free agent by the Astros.
• January 21, 1999: Alex Diaz was signed as a free agent by the Astros.

Regular season

New stadium

In 1999, the Astros played their final season in the Astrodome as their new stadium was being prepared for play to begin in the 2000 season. The ballpark was first named as Enron Field on April 9, 1999, with naming rights sold to the Houston energy and financial trading company in a 30-year, $100 million deal. Astros management faced a public relations nightmare when the energy corporation went bankrupt in the midst of one of the biggest corporate scandals in American history in 2001, and they bought back the remainder of Enron's thirty years of naming rights for $2.1 million, renaming the ballpark as Astros Field on February 7, 2002. The field was unofficially known as "The Field Formerly Known As Enron" by fans and critics alike, in the wake of the Enron scandal. On June 5, 2002, Houston-based Minute Maid, the fruit-juice subsidiary of Coca-Cola, acquired the naming rights to the stadium for 28 years at a price exceeding $100 million.

Based on its downtown location next to the old Union Station buildings, one of the suggested names (and nicknames) is the Ballpark at Union Station, or the BUS. During its days as Enron Field, it was also dubbed "Ten-Run" or "Home Run" Field due to its cozy left-field dimensions. In keeping with this theme while paying homage to its current sponsor, the nickname "The Juice Box" is colloquially used today.

Summary

April—May

;Opening Day starting lineup

On the 35th and final anniversary of the opening of the Astrodome, April 9, Tim Bogar singled home Richard Hidalgo for the winning run to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, 3–2. Starting pitcher Sean Bergman homered but it was Scott Elarton who picked up the win relief. On April 11, Craig Biggio scored his 1,000th run along with two hits to lead a 5–2 win over the Brewers. Shane Reynolds was the winning pitcher.

On April 21, Jeff Bagwell hit three home runs in a 10–3 win against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, his second career three-home run game. The second home run surpassed Jimmy Wynn as the Astros' all-time home run leader at 224, while his six runs batted in (RBI) tied a career-high. Bagwell joined Glenn Davis as Astros with multiple three-home run games (September 10, 1987, and June 1, 1990).

Houston staged an offensive onslaught on May 11, routing the Pittsburgh Pirates 19–8 at the Astrodome. This matched a 1995 explosion against the Chicago Cubs for the club record for runs, which stood until the 2015 season. The Astros' batting order cranked 10 extra-base hits—all doubles. Leading the way, Bagwell reached base 5 times, including 2 hits for doubles and 3 bases on balls, scored 4 runs and had 4 RBI. Carl Everett added 5 RBI, and Ken Caminiti also had 4 RBI. Sean Bergman was the winning pitcher after having allowing 11 hits and 6 runs over 5 innings. The doubles tally broke a club record, which stood until another banner offensive performance, when they collected 11 doubles en route to defeating the Seattle Mariners, 21–1, on September 8, 2019.

During a 10–5 win over the San Francisco Giants on May 15, second baseman Craig Biggio powered a 4-for-4 performance, including a three-run home run. Bagwell also slugged a three-run home run in the effort.

June—July

Bagwell connected for another three-home run game on June 9 against the Chicago White Sox. He was also a grand slam short of hitting for the "home run cycle," with a solo home run, a three-run home run, and a two-run home run, respectively. The two three-home run games made him the only player to accomplish this feat at two different stadiums in Chicago in the same season. Hence, Bagwell became the first Astro with three such games, breaking a tie with Glenn Davis.

On June 13, manager Larry Dierker collapsed in the dugout mid-game versus the San Diego Padres due to a grand mal seizure. He was hospitalized and required brain surgery, but recovered well to miss just 27 games. The game was suspended with Houston leading, 4–0. In spite of losing Dierker, two other coaches to lengthy absences, and 14 players to the disabled list (DL), the Astros kept the competitive momentum going throughout the season.

Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker promoted bench coach Matt Galante to serve as interim manager of the Astros in Dierker's stead. Galante, who had been in the organization since 1980 and was bench coach for one year, led the team to a performance result of . It was during this time that the team absorbed the absences of other coaching staff members on medical leave. First base coach José Cruz was on leave after an irregular heart beat. Hitting coach Tommy McCraw underwent treatment for prostate cancer.

MLB All-Star Game

• Home Run Derby: Jeff Bagwell—Round 1: 5 / Round 2: 1 / Total: 6 (4th place) • Winner: Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)—Total:16

Four Astros selected to fortify the National League roster at the MLB All-Star Game, hosted at Fenway Park in Boston. It was the fourth selection for Bagwell, who became the first Astro to make the starting lineup as the designated hitter, and first for each of the pitchers Mike Hampton, José Lima, and Billy Wagner. Bagwell collected a single off David Cone in three at bats, while Lima (1 inning pitched), Hampton (), and Wagner () each tossed a scoreless outing. However, the American League (AL) triumphed, 4–1.

Rest of July

On July 23, the Astros and Padres resumed the contest interrupted by Dierker's seizure. to Phil Nevin and Rubén Rivera. However, the Astro held on for a 4–3 win.

Bagwell crushed his second career grand slam on July 28, capping a 16–8 thrashing of the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Bagwell's victim was Mike Porzio in the top of seventh. However, during an all-round hit parade, Houston piled on 21 hits to Colorado's 18. Derek Bell had a four-hit game for Houston, Tony Eusebio logged three with a double, Biggio doubled, and both Russ Johnson and Daryle Ward went deep. Moreover, starter Mike Hampton (14–3), in spite of ceding 5 runs on 13 hits to the Rockies, stroked his third triple among three hits and two RBI at the plate, helping to pave his own way to victory. Mercifully, games are concluded when the scored is not tied after nine innings. Ignited by five runs in the fourth, the Astros tallied in each of the final six innings, while the Rockies scored in each of the final five frames.

August—October

To cap an extra inning marathon on August 20, Ken Caminiti crushed his second homer of the game, tipping the final score to Houston, 6–4, in the 16th over the Florida Marlins. The contest featured an NL-record 16 bases on balls coaxed by the Astros hitters, while they also whiffed 21 times.

During the August 31 contest, Caminiti launched the final grand slam hit at the Astrodome, with Houston hosting the New York Mets. The big knock proved crucial, as all the scoring transpired after the sixth inning. Caminiti's two out error in the top of the eighth injected new life into the Mets, and John Olerud leveraged the opportunity by homering to tie the game, 2–2. In the bottom of the eighth, Turk Wendell (3–2) issued the intentional walk to Bagwell to face Caminiti instead, who launched the grand slam to put the Astros ahead, 6–2. Meanwhile, Lima (18–7) tossed eight smooth innings, with just two unearned runs allowed, while Wagner closed out the contest with a clean ninth.

During a Friday night contest on September 24 at Milwaukee County Stadium, Bill Spiers, stationed in right field, endured an ambush by a fan who had crawled down the adjacent wall. On a dare from his peers, the assailant, a 23-year-old Berley Visgar tackled Spiers from behind, toppling him, and delivered a bloody nose, a welt under the left eye and induced whiplash. Astros starting pitcher Mike Hampton immediately saw what was unfolding and sprinted to his right fielder's aid—arriving before anyone else—and pummeled Visgar with several kicks before being separated by teammates and Milwaukee Brewers players.

On October 2, Lima and Wagner combined to hurl the final shutout pitched at the Astrodome.

Final regular-season game at the Astrodome

The Astros won their final regular-season contest at the Astrodome on October 3, 9–4 over the Los Angeles Dodgers, while also clinching a third consecutive National League Central division title in record-setting fashion and with style. Hampton became the first 22-game winner in club history, while Biggio extended his club-record 56th double. Daryle Ward also doubled, driving in runs with the bases loaded in the first inning to begin the scoring. Tony Eusebio secured the final regular-season putout at the Astrodome.

Following the game, members of the 1965 club appeared and were honored along with an All-Time Astros Team before a jubilant crowd. they made history before yet another sellout crowd. In a season where standing-room only access became more commonplace than ever, Astros fans turned in yet another record-setting year of attendance, with 2.7 million, shattering the previous record set just the year prior, at 2.45 million.

Performance overview

Incorporating the 102-win campaign of the year prior, these Astros editions matched the 1979 (89 wins) and 1980 (93) outfits as the second period in franchise annals in which Houston won 89 or more contests successively.

Having won a third division title—all consecutively—Dierker became the first manager to guide his rosters to these feats for the Astros, surpassing Bill Virdon (1980 and 1981 second-half division winner). The franchise record of three successive division titles was matched when the 2017, 2018, and 2019 squads each claimed an American League (AL) West title, and remained as the franchise record until Houston captured four successive AL West titles from 2021 to 2024.

The accomplishments of the club two decades later and beyond notwithstanding, Dierker maintained a share of the club record as manager to lead his club to division titles—he was equaled by A. J. Hinch, who guided the 2017–2019 clubs, and Dusty Baker, leader of the 2021–2023 editions. In 2024, Joe Espada took over for Baker.

Having hit 42 home runs and stolen 30 bases, Bagwell repeated to be in the 30 home runs—30 stolen bases club, (first in 1997), and he was the first Astro to accomplish such an achievement.

Bagwell also drew 149 bases on balls to eclipse the franchise record of 148 sustained by Jimmy Wynn in 1969. The 149 free passes led the major leagues, as well as Bagwell's 331 times on base, 143 runs scored and power–speed number of 35.0.

In addition to entrenching the club record with 56 doubles, Biggio also led the major leagues, at the time, the third Astro to headline the National League, and his club-record third time doing so. Previously, Biggio had led the league in 1994 and 1998. The seventh occasion by an Astros hitter, those preceding Biggio included Rusty Staub (1967), César Cedeño (twice, 1971 and 1972), and Bagwell (1996).

Also for the first time in franchise history, with Hampton (22 wins) and Lima (21), the Astros sported a 20 game-winner duo, The third in a succession of Astros hurlers who led the league the in wins over decennial intervals, Hampton joined Niekro in 1979 and Scott in 1989 (20). Dierker, who became the Astros' first-ever 20-game winning pitcher in 1969,

Hampton was recognized with The Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year Award, the third Astro to receive this honor, following Joe Niekro in 1979 and Mike Scott in 1986.

Bagwell was awarded his third career Silver Slugger Award, extending his club record for first baseman. Meanwhile Hampton, who also claimed a Silver Slugger, became the first in club history to win among pitchers. It was the third successive campaign that Houston had boasted at least two Silver Sluggers, and fourth overall (1983).

Closer Billy Wagner was recognized with the NL Rolaids Relief Man Award, the first Astro be named with an annual reliever award since 1992, when Doug Jones was named The Sporting News NL Fireman of the Year:

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

• August 3, 1999: Josh Dimmick (minors) was traded by the Astros to the Minnesota Twins for George Williams.
• August 31, 1999: Alex Diaz was released by the Astros.

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

National League Divisional Playoffs

Main article: 1999 National League Division Series

Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros

Atlanta wins series, 3-1

Awards and achievements

Offensive achievements

Grand slams

30–30 club

Career honors

Annual awards

• Associated Press (AP) All-Star—First baseman: Jeff Bagwell
• Fred Hartman Award for Long and Meritorious Service to Baseball: Mickey Herskowitz
• Houston-Area Major League Player of the Year: Mike Jackson (CLE)
• Houston Astros Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award: Jeff Bagwell
• Houston Astros Pitcher of the Year: Mike Hampton
• Houston Astros Rookie of the Year: Daryle Ward
• MLB All-Star Game:
  • Starting designated hitter / Home Run Derby contestant—Jeff Bagwell
  • Reserve pitcher—Mike Hampton
  • Reserve pitcher—José Lima
  • Reserve pitcher—Billy Wagner
• NL Player of the Week—May 16: Carl Everett
• Players Choice Award for NL Outstanding Pitcher: Mike Hampton
• Rolaids Relief Man Award: Billy Wagner
• Silver Slugger Award:
  • First baseman: Jeff Bagwell
  • Pitcher: Mike Hampton
• The Sporting News NL All-Stars
  • First baseman—Jeff Bagwell
  • Pitcher—Mike Hampton
  • Pitcher—José Lima
• The Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year: Mike Hampton

League leaders

;NL batting leaders

• Bases on balls: Jeff Bagwell (149—led MLB)
• Games played: Jeff Bagwell (162—tied for MLB lead)
• Doubles: Craig Biggio (56—led MLB)
• Plate appearances: Craig Biggio (749—led MLB)
• Runs scored: Jeff Bagwell (143—led MLB)

;NL pitching leaders

• Bases on balls per nine innings pitched (BB/9): Shane Reynolds (1.4—led MLB)
• Games started: José Lima & Shane Reynolds (35—tied for MLB lead)
• Strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB): Shane Reynolds (5.32)
• Wins: Mike Hampton (22)
• Winning percentage: Mike Hampton (.846)

Astrodome career leaders

;Batting leaders

• Bases on balls: Jimmy Wynn (458)
• Home runs: Jeff Bagwell (126)
• Triples: José Cruz (50)

Source:

;Pitching leaders

• Complete games: Larry Dierker (67)
• Strikeouts: Nolan Ryan (1,004)

Source:

Minor league system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Martinsville

;Awards

• Houston Astros Minor League Player of the Year: Aaron McNeal, 1B
• Midwest League All-Stars
  • First baseman—Aaron McNeal
  • Second baseman—Aaron Miles
• Midwest League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award: Aaron McNeal

Notes

References

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