Houston Astros: An open letter to Carlos Beltran with reflection

With the news of Carlos Beltran announcing his retirement coming from the Player’s Tribune, he decided to thank the game of baseball. But for Houston Astros fans, we should take a moment to honor what he meant to us and to the game of baseball. It’s time we write him a farewell letter.

Dear Carlos Beltran,

You first arrived at the Major League level in 1998 looking to fulfill your dreams like every other player. The Kansas City Royals didn’t know it at the time, but they were getting a rare player that would build a resume unlike any other. Around the same time, the Houston Astros were in the midst of putting together the best season in franchise history and losing in the first round of the playoffs.

Around the same time, the Houston Astros were in the midst of putting together the best season in franchise history and losing in the first round of the playoffs. We didn’t think too much about you not because you weren’t well-liked. But rather because we were more focused on the Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs, and Pirates.

It seemed like you won 1999 because that was the year you were named Rookie of the Year while we only had the Atlanta Braves to thank for ending our Astrodome run.

As the 2000s got started, we started to take notice of you. Whether it was through Backyard Baseball or Sportscenter, we could see how much of a star you were becoming. Of course, you couldn’t build on your star by sticking with the Royals, who were just bad when you played.