Steve Finley arrived in the Houston organization via a January 1991 blockbuster trade with the Baltimore Orioles, a deal that famously sent slugger Glenn Davis to the AL in exchange for Finley, Pete Harnisch, and a young Curt Schilling. While he had been a promising speedster in Baltimore, Finley evolved into a premier all-around threat in the National League.
Finley took over as the starting centerfielder in 1991 Spring Training, and in his second season with the Astros, Fonley used the vast dimensions of the Astrodome to his advantage, recording 13 triples and a career-high 44 stolen bases by appearing in all 162 games and recording 177 hits, finishing the year with a career-high 5.7 bWAR.
His tenure in Houston was equally defined by his specialized defensive quality in center field. While he would later gain national recognition for winning five Gold Gloves with other clubs, he actually recorded his highest career defensive efficiency in Houston, tallying a 5.0 dWAR over his four seasons with the club. Even as his power numbers remained modest compared to his later "30-homer" seasons, he remained a high-frequency contributor, leading the league in triples again in 1993 with 13.
Houston was, however, in the process of rebuilding. Finley was part of a massive 12-player trade to the San Diego Padres in December 1994, the same transaction that sent Ken Caminiti west. Finley compiled 595 hits, 110 stolen bases, and a 5.0 dWAR as an Astro.
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