The Wait is Over: Jeff Bagwell Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

HOUSTON, TX -- After seven years of waiting, the call up to Cooperstown is finally over for former Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell.

As expected, Bagwell became only the second man to wear an Astros uniform to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and will join Tim Raines and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez in the 2017 class

In 2016, Craig Biggio, who played three positions over his 20 years in Houston and spent 15 of those years as a teammate of Bagwell’s, became the first Houston Astro to reach Cooperstown.

Bagwell, who was known for his slugging in the 1990s, was part of the vaunted Killer B’s in the Astros batting order that included Biggio, Derek Bell and Sean Berry.

This was Bagwell's seventh year of Hall of Fame eligibility, but the the former Astros great's time in the spotlight was slowed in part because of a backlog of candidates and writers who declined to support Bagwell amid suspicions of steroid use.

Last year, the former slugger was only 15 votes shy of election last year, so it was no surprise Bagwell would finally get in.

Bagwell was a third base prospect early in his career, before coming to the Astros in a trade in 1990.

For the next 15 years, Bagwell would stand pat at first base.

During his career, Bagwell slugged more than 400 home runs and stole more than 200 bases, and is the only player ever at his position with a 30-homer, 30-steal season, a feat he accomplished in 1997 and 1999.

Meanwhile, players who didn’t make it for the 2017 class include Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Astros Pitcher Billy Wagner and former Astros second baseman Jeff Kent.

Image: M&R Glasgow via Flickr