From The Hall to The Hall; Craig Biggio

Craig Biggio (AP Photo)

Seton Hall baseball alum Craig Biggio will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday. Biggio joins pitchers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz as members of the 2015 class and becomes the first former Seton Hall player to earn the sport’s highest distinction.

One of only 29 players in Major League Baseball history to record more than 3,000 career hits, Biggio was elected in his third year on the Hall of Fame ballot after receiving votes on 82.7% of the ballots cast.

In Biggio’s 20 professional seasons, all with the Houston Astros, he batted .281 as a catcher, outfielder and second baseman, and while collecting 3,060 career hits. He was a five-time Silver Slugger, a four-time Gold Glove recipient and the 2007 awardee of the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes a player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.”

Biggio’s names remains in the MLB record books. The former Pirate ranks second in baseball history in hit by pitches, 11th in plate appearances, 13th in at bats, 15th in runs scored and only four players in Major League Baseball history have recorded more doubles, Tris Speaker, Pete Rose, Stan Musial and Ty Cobb.

A two-time First Team All-BIG EAST selection, Biggio dominated as Seton Hall’s catcher from 1985-1987. Named NJBCA Player of the Year in 1986 and First Team All-America by Baseball America in 1987, he led the Pirates to a three-year record of 121-55-1 and their first BIG EAST Championship in 1987.

Biggio is Seton Hall’s career leader in triples, is seconds in runs scored and ranks in the Pirates’ top-10 in 18 other single-season and career statistical categories. A career .342 batter with 27 home runs, 148 RBIs and 90 steals, he was inducted into the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996 and saw his #44 retired in 2012.