HOUSTON -- When a young outfielder named Carlos Beltran landed at Minute Maid Park halfway through the 2004 season, he stepped into a clubhouse that had a huge veteran presence. Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Roy Oswalt, Brad Ausmus and Jeff Kent were accomplished stars who had seen everything in the game.
Beltran, a budding star at only 27 who possessed every tool on the field to be great, soaked in the experience. He listened and learned from a group with Hall of Fame resumes and watched how they did things on and off the field.