Houston Astros: Top 30 players in franchise history
By T.A. Mock
8. Cesar Cedeno, CF, 1B, 1970 – 1981
Cesar Cedeno redefined what speedsters could do in the batter’s box. He took the league by storm in 1970 as a 19-year-old and never looked back. Cedeño blended power and speed in a way that league hadn’t seen too often before.
Cedeño had an incredible six-year stretch where stole at least 50 bases per season with the peak being 61. During that time, he also displayed his impressive pop that could have looked even better had he not played his home games in the Astrodome. Regardless, he had three seasons of 20+ homers with many more years with numbers in the teens.
He was also a very adept centerfielder. His speed allowed him to roam the vast Astrodome centerfield room to spare. He won four gold gloves in his career because of his speed and arm. He later made a switch to first base as well. Cedeño was an excellent player for the Astros and will forever go down as one of, if not the best centerfielder in team history.
Cedeno was far ahead of his time and, unfortunately, played at a time when the Astros received almost zero national attention so his star never shined quite as brightly as it should have. He was a tried and true five-tool player that would be a bonafide star in today’s MLB.