1990 Donruss Best of the NL: Astros Team Set

This is our fourth team set from the 1990 Donruss Best of the National League set; we've already looked at the Pirates, Dodgers, and Padres.  I'm not traversing the map in any particular order, and have chosen the Astros for this week.

Craig Biggio.

Ken Caminiti.

We start off with Hall-of-Famer Craig Biggio.  Catchers take great pictures for baseball cards, and this is no exception.  By 1989, Biggio was the Astros' starting catcher, and batted .257 with 60 RBI, winning a Silver Slugger.  It was just the start of a long and productive career.  Ken Caminiti was another young Astro, who went on to have a long career with solid numbers, and several awards, including NL MVP in 1996.  Like Biggio, 1989 was his first full season, and he had similar productivity, batting .255 with 72 RBI.

Eric Anthony.

Glenn Davis.

Eric Anthony was another rookie in 1989, but he didn't start playing everyday until 1992.  In 1989 he hit .180 in 25 games, and in 1990 he hit .192 in 84 games.  In 1992, he hit over .200 for the first time, with .239.  Glenn Davis was a big star back then, a power-hitting first baseman.  In 1989 he hit a career-high 34 home runs, and then in 1990, his last year with the Astros, his slugging declined, hitting 22 home runs.  He played with Baltimore for a few years after that.

Jim Deshaies.

Dave Smith.

I'll always remember Jim Deshaies for his 1987 Topps Record Breaker card, since that set really got me into baseball cards.  In 1989 he went 15-10 with a 2.91 ERA, and that was his last winning season in his career.  In 1990 he went 7-12 with a 3.78 ERA.  He stayed in the majors until 1995, playing with the Padres, Twins, Giants, and Phillies after leaving Houston.  Dave Smith was a long-time Astros relief pitcher, having taken part in their losing postseason efforts in 1980, 1981, and 1986.  He made his second and final All-Star appearance in 1990.

Rafael Ramirez.

Franklin Stubbs.

Rafael Ramirez played for the Braves and Astros from 1980-1992.  He hit .261 in 132 games, mainly as the starting shortstop, in 1990, and after that his playing time declined for his final two seasons.  Franklin Stubbs only spent the one year, 1990, with the Astros, splitting his time between first base and the outfield as he hit .261 in 146 games.

Mike Scott.

Danny Darwin.

Mike Scott was a big deal for a few years, including winning the 1986 NL Cy Young award.  He was accused, at least by the 1986 Mets, of doctoring the ball.  He denied it at the time, but years later admitted to cheating via scuffing.  Veteran pitcher Danny Darwin won the 1990 NL ERA title with a 2.21.  Darwin pitched 1978 through 1998 in the majors for many teams, compiling a career record of 171-182 with a 3.84 ERA and 1942 strikeouts.

Eric Yelding.

Bill Doran.

Finally, we have Eric Yelding and Bill Doran.  Yelding played with the Astros from 1989 through 1992, and then with the Cubs in 1993 before retiring.  He had 64 steals in 1990, and led the NL by being caught stealing 25 times.  Bill Doran also led the NL in being caught stealing, but in 1986 with 19, on his way to 42 successful steals.  Doran played with the Astros from 1982 through mid-1990, before being traded to the Reds for players to be named later.  He played with the Reds through 1992, and played with the Brewers in 1993 before retiring with a career .266 batting average, 1366 hits, and 497 RBI.

That's it for this week.  Thanks for reading!  Next Friday, we'll take a look at the Cubs.