Happy Birthday - 12/23

No future Astros are celebrating, but these former Astros have birthdays today ~

RHP Al "Bozo" Cicotte (died November 29, 1982 at 52)
Purchased from the Cardinals in October 1961, Cicotte pitched in five games for the Colt 45's in 1962 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.929 WHIP.

RHP Brad "Lights Out" Lidge (37)
A first round draft pick by Houston in 1998, Lidge played for the Astros from 2002 to 2007 with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.197 WHIP and 123 saves in 378 games. He was an All-Star for Houston in 2005 when he had 42 saves in 70 games. Lidge was traded, along with Eric Bruntlett, to the Phillies for Mike Costanzo, Michael Bourn and Geoff Geary in November of 2007. In 2008 he was on the All-Star team for the Phillies and won a World Series with them. He retired at the end of 2012 after last pitching for the Washington Nationals.

RHP Shawn Chacon (36)
Originally drafted by the Rockies in the third round in 1996, Chacon started 15 games for Houston in 2008, going 2-3 with a 5.04 ERA and a 1.506 WHIP. He was an All-Star for the Rockies in 2003. For some reason, I can't help but get choked up whenever I think of Chacon.