Houston Astros: Top 30 players in franchise history

15. Dickie Thon, SS, 1981 – 1987

Dickie Thon came to the Houston Astros by way of a trade with the Angels and his career really began to take off. in 1982, he hit 10 triples and stole 37 bases with a decent average. Then 1983 came around and his power stroke developed. He his 20 homers, 9 triples, stole 34 bases, drove in 79 RBIs with a .286 BA.

Thon’s career was derailed by a fastball to the face that fractured his orbital bone early that next season in 1984. If it wasn’t for that, Thon could have had an absolutely phenomenal career. He played for another 10+ years but was never the same after that. Regardless, he remains the best shortstop to ever wear an Astros uniform though Carlos Correa could surpass him.

Thon was peaking at the perfect time as there were other shortstops doing the same and Thon was among the best of them. He was an All-Star, a silver slugger, and finished seventh in MVP voting after that ’83 season. The sky seemed the limit.

Thon will remain one of the greatest “what if”s in Astros history for as long as major league baseball is around. He could have been truly great, the sky was the limit. But, settling in as the best shortstop in team history isn’t a bad consolation prize.