There’s obviously tons of players that go hand-in-hand with Major League Baseball in the 1990s. There’s Ken Griffey Jr. and Greg Maddux. Right below that? Craig Biggio and Frank Thomas, who have continued to chip away at hallowed baseball achievements. Both of their chases completed yesterday, with Biggio gaining his 3,000th hit and Thomas hitting his 500th career homer.

Biggio became the 27th player in MLB history to reach the remarkable 3,000 hit plateau, a testament to his incredible longevity. Biggio came up with the ‘Stros in 1989 and has played through three different uniform eras with the team. He’s had to change positions several times but hasn’t stopped hitting. In a way, I think he’s been underrated for much of his career. Seeing fellow Astros legend Jeff Bagwell come out to congratulate Biggio was a nice touch. I’m sure he feels a bit extremely slighted by the organization. But that didn’t stop him from coming to congratulate his friend. The Killer B’s were together again last night.

Unlike Biggio, Frank Thomas has had to take his slugging services to new teams the last couple years. But he’ll be remembered for his time with the Chicago White Sox, where he slugged 448 homers and got a World Series ring. Having to reach this hallowed achievement with Toronto is a bit unconventional, but it’s not the first time a baseball legend has done something like it. Thomas celebrated his 500th jack by later running his mouth and getting ejected. I’d say that’s a first.

For the second time this week, Major League Baseball has found a reason to piss me off. This time, it’s their sudden power trip against Astros’ star Craig Biggio. The MLB Commissioner’s Office has ordered Biggio to stop wearing a yellow pin on his hat, the same pin he’s worn for most of his 20 year career. It’s the logo for Sunshine Kids, a foundation dedicated to helping children with cancer.

“I’m not a disrespectful person and I don’t disrespect the game,” Biggio said. “But I’ve been wearing this pin for 20 years because it puts smiles on 20,000-something cancer patients’ faces.”

Biggio said someone in the commissioner’s office contacted the Astros about instructing him to remove the pin, but he wasn’t sure who it was. He said Houston general manager Tim Purpura was sent a fax with a picture of Biggio from Wednesday night’s game.

This is absolutely pathetic. This is worse than the NFL’s demand to stop honoring fallen soldier Pat Tillman. Tillman’s sacrifice was remembered by former teammates and friends but the suits running the NFL felt a sticker violated the dress code. Biggio’s pin has been a part of his uniform for 20 years. Why is it an issue now?

Biggio has been the lead spokesperson for the Sunshine Kids for the last decade. His annual golf tournament has raised $2 million for the foundation. He’s received awards from MLB themselves for his great work in the community. Every year, he hosts several hundred young patients and invites them to play baseball with the Astros.

If this was an issue, why did Major League Baseball wait until 2007 to say something? It makes zero sense. Biggio has been a class act on and off the field. His yellow pin identifies him as much as his dirty helmet and ridiculous amounts of pine tar. He’s just 70 hits from 3,000 and the league pulls this crap. Craig Biggio helps kids. Bud Selig eats them for dinner.

Craig Biggio is looking to play one more year in the big leagues, and he is looking to do it with the Houston Astros. I personally hope that we can see Biggio’s dirty helmet on the diamond for at least one more year. Unfortunately I’m not so sure this is going to be the case.

We all know how the Astros handled the Jeff Bagwell situation last year, and that certainly wasn’t well. The organization shamed themselves and embarrassed Jeff Bagwell with that entire shoulder injury and insurance claim debacle. It made the Astros seem like they had no class and that the organization didn’t have any respect for some of the long time players who have gotten them where they are.

The last thing that the Astros need is to let another one of the “Killer B’s” leave unceremoniously. Biggio has always been a team player, and has done everything possible for this organization. Biggio came up as a catcher, and when the organization asked for him to move to second base, he did so. When they brought in Jeff Kent, Biggio went to play outfield so as to give way to Kent who could take over at second base. Biggio, who had more tenure and clout, graciously stepped aside to help his team.

Biggio voluntarily moving positions is an appropriate summary of what he meant to the Astros. He did everything for this team, and after 18 years the Astros need to resign him. Biggio is 70 hits away from the 3000 mark, and securing his place in the hall of fame, and I can only hope that this occurs in an Astros uniform this coming year.