The fourth installment of our Legends Series features former Astros second baseman Bill Doran. Doran spent 9 of his 12 major league seasons in Houston. A 6th round selection in the 1979 Draft, he’d become a fan favorite of Astros fans all around the world.
Q: Let’s start at the beginning. The call up in September 1982. You played 26 games to end that season. How special of a time was that for you to be in the lineup?
A: When I got called up, they moved Phil Garner from second base over to third, and Ray Knight from third to first. The way those guys treated me was just amazing. They were two veterans, both good players and both unselfish to make that happen. I knew of those guys from watching them, but then being teammates with them and how they carried themselves, it’s a lesson that I still carry with me today.
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Q: You had over 5000 plate appearances in your career. Was there one or two that stood out?
A: I grounded out my first at bat (laughs). I worked in player development for a long time, and to see those kids go through what they go through and then they get their chance it always brought back memories to when I got mine. Every time I’d see one of those kids get called up, I’d remember my career.
Q: You had three different managers with the Astros in Bob Lillis, Hal Lanier and Art Howe. Was there one that you enjoyed playing for the most?
A: At the time, I required a lot of patience. Bob Lillis was the perfect guy at the time for me. He was so knowledgeable and was a very kind person. He was so patient with me. I’d get off to these slow starts, and Bob stuck with me and in some places that wouldn’t have happened. I was always thankful to Bob for that. That was also something that I carried with me in my player developmental days. He was a great teacher for me.
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Q: Who was the toughest pitcher you ever faced?
A: It was Mario Soto on the Reds without question. You know some of the great pitchers, when they have it going, you’re in trouble and it’s going to be a long day. Mario never seemed to have an off when he’d play us. We had some real battles. Every time out he had his A game.
I actually got a chance to work with Mario later on in Cincinnati in player development, and he would often talk about how much he hated facing our club because of the way we stayed after it.
Q: Best memories from that 1986 season?
A: We were so steady and consistent. We were unselfish. We were always in games because of our pitching. We had guys who just competed every day. Guys like Jose Cruz and Phil Garner, they ran the show, they set the bar really high.
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That’s the way we played, we’d chip and claw away and then Glenn Davis came along with his power, and we were fully balanced. It was fun going to the ballpark every day with those guys.
Q: Anyone that sometimes gets overlooked from that era of Astros baseball?
A: Alan Ashby. He was one of the most underrated catchers in the game. Everyone talked about our pitching staff with Mike, Nolan and Jimmy, but Alan handled all of their stuff and made it look easy. Alan was a model of consistency.
Good teams play with pace, and the bad teams don’t have it. Alan kept up the pace and the rhythm of the game.
Q: You’re of course in the Astros Hall of Fame. Where do you keep that Orange Jacket? A: It’s in my closet, dry cleaned and hanging up.
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