Remember, there’s only 3 days left to like Baseblog on Facebook, follow on Twitter or Tumblr and be entered to win ten free months of Sports Illustrated. Keep spreading the word and at the end of January we’ll find out who wins! In the meantime, the “Reliving SI Covers” mini-series will feature some of my favorite covers from the NL Central Division since the year 2000. Take a look at today’s installment.

Similarly to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Houston Astros unfortunately have not appeared on enough SI covers since 2000 to make a top five list. Just barely making the cut is this issue from 1998 featuring Randy Johnson. Honestly, I didn’t even know that Johnson played for the Astros. He started 11 games and won 10 of them with a 1.28 ERA. You learn something new every day!

2. Brad Lidge, “World Series” – October 31st, 2005
While fans sit at home digesting a 100 loss season, contemplating the eventual move following Albert Pujols to the AL West, they can always remember just a few short years ago when the Astros were in the World Series. Despite getting swept by the Chicago White Sox, actually making it to the World Series is more than anyone else besides the Cardinals in the division can say has happened since the early nineties. Making it to the Fall Classic is great, but I put this cover at number two since it pictures Scott Posednik hitting a home run off of Brad Lidge and the hole that the Astros were already in, down 2-0.

1. Roger Clemens, “Bringing It Home” – May 24th, 2004
The ‘Stros second cover in my lifetime features another 300+ game winning power pitcher. Clemens would go on to win the Cy Young award a few months after this was printed. He went 18-4 that season with over 200 strikeouts and an ERA just under three. During his time with the team in his early forties, Clemens was good for fifteen and a half wins above replacement. Success is always sweeter in your hometown.

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