As I write this column or blog ....or whatever these things are properly called .... it's 11pm on Tuesday night. I'm sweaty and worn out from a very long day and night at Minute Maid Park. Just like the thousands of fans that were there with me. It's July 24th and it's a day I'll never forget ...nor will any fans of Craig Biggio and the Astros.

The day began with Craig Biggio announcing that he would officially retire at the end of the season after 20 seasons in the majors. All with the Astros. It ended ... fairy-tale style ..... with Biggio hitting a grand slam homer to win the game. Earlier in the day Biggio told me quite simply that he was retiring now because he didn't want to be remembered as that old broken down guy who didn't know when to quit the game. Well, rest assured ...he'll never be remembered in that way.

Biggio received a standing ovation before his first plate appearance or the night ....and another one after his game-winning grand slam. Earlier in the day ....he admitted the night of his 3,000th hit was his favorite moment of his long career ...ranking just ahead of appearing in the World Series in 2005. But I guarantee you, this night will also rank up there at least in his career top ten.

My first vivid memory of Biggio was of a young player at spring training. The owners had locked the players out of MLB camps and there was no activity anywhere. Still .... I had a job to do and a story to file so I contacted Biggio. He had just gotten married and he said his wife, Patty, really wouldn't appreciate it if he took off to do an interview that day. Still ....I persisted and I explained that it would only take a couple of minutes. So, Craig says,"Okay ....meet me over by the garage area in my condo complex. I'll go out to walk the dog ...and while I'm out you can interview me and Patty will never know." So that's what I did .....I met Craig with my photographer George Jensen. We talked for a couple of minutes and he walked his dog back to the condo. We laughed about it later.

In 1989 Biggio was hit by a DWI charge. He was with his buddy Ken Caminiti. Biggio immediately apologized publically the next day for doing something so stupid ....and as far as I know he never made another slip up like that. Bidge doesn't like to talk about that incident much ...but I believe it shows that if a person really wants to .... he can overcome the mistakes he's made in his life. Biggio should be proud of the fact that he learned from his mistake, matured from it ....and as a result went on to achieve greatness.

The next vivid memory that I have of Biggio ...was when he became an All-Star in 1991 as a catcher ....only to be moved to 2nd base the next season by the organization in an effort to prolong his career. Biggio responded by becoming an All-Star 2nd baseman in 1992. No player has ever done that in major league history ....and odds are ..... none ever will again.

A few years later something significant happened with the ballclub and while the Astros were in the middle of a road trip I desparately needed an interview from one of the players. So....I reached Biggio ....I believe it was in Cincinnati ...and I told him if he would just walk to the home plate area the photographer would hook him up with a microphone and earpiece so we could do a live interview. Well ....once he got there it turned out that the photographer was actually set up in centerfield not at home plate and Craig had to walk all the way out behind the centerfield wall for the live interview. He gave me a little static about it ....but in the end he did the interview in a professional way just like he has always done things.

Biggio never liked to show much emotion while doing interviews...."Just take it a game at a time..." etc, etc. But I was so happy for Biggio, Bagwell and the guys in 1997 when they won their first division title of their era. Biggio and the rest showed a lot emotion that night. Biggio was one of the original Killer B's and if you don't think he belongs in the Hall of Fame try these numbers on for size: He is the only player in MLB history to have 600 career doubles, 250 homers, 3,000 plus hits and 400 steals.

Astros shortstop Adam Everett told me that the most amazing thing about Biggio is the effort he gives at all times. Everett told me, "What is he 52 or something and he still runs out every ground ball? He gets from home plate to first in 4.1 to 4.2 seconds. The major league average is 4.3 seconds, so at his age Biggio still is better than most!"

Biggio has done it the right way...and now with his announcement .....he'll give countless fans in Houston and in the cities the club visits the rest of the season a chance to show their love for Biggio. They will all get a chance to salute the guy from New Jersey, who has always played the game the right way!!

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