If we were to have made this list based on their iconic stature, Deacon Jones would have been #1.

With the vast amount of players who suited up for the Rams (regardless of the city) that it would be difficult to narrow it down to one player, and it certainly was.  There were other Pro Football Hall of Famer with whom we easily could have slid into the top spot, but we elected to go with Merlin Olsen, the ultimate coach's player who led by example and who went down in history as one of the most outstanding Defensive Tackles the game has ever seen.  (This was written before Aaron Donald took over that spot)

When Alex Bregman took over the hot corner in Houston, the franchise didn't just gain a gold-glove defender; they inherited a psychological edge. A player defined by a relentless, almost obsessive preparation, Bregman arrived mid-2016 and immediately injected a sense of high-stakes swagger into the lineup. He wasn't just a cog in the machine; he became the ignition switch for the most successful era in the organization's history.

His best period occurred during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns, finishing in the top five of the MVP voting in back-to-back summers. The 2019 season remains a monument to his craft: a .296 average punctuated by 41 home runs and a staggering 112 walks. He didn't just out-slug the competition; he out-thought them, leading the major leagues in walks while maintaining a specialized ability to deliver the soul-crushing hit when the leverage was at its peak. This two-year stretch solidified his status as a premier run-producer, amassing a combined 16.0 bWAR that few infielders in the modern game have matched.

The most defining aspect of his game, however, is his transformation into a postseason titan. Bregman’s fingerprint is visible on every major milestone of the Astros’ dynasty, from his walk-off single in the 13-12 thriller of the 2017 World Series to his steady-state defense during the 2022 championship run. He possessed a professional resilience that allowed him to thrive under the harshest scrutiny, serving as the clubhouse’s vocal leader as it navigated multiple deep playoff runs. Whether he was famously staring down a pitcher after a home run or providing the tactical adjustments needed to solve an elite closer, he competed with a grit that made him the face of Houston’s relentless winning culture.

Following the 2024 season, Bregman signed a lucrative three-year deal with the Boston Red Sox. Bregman compiled 1,132 hits, 191 home runs, and 663 RBIs while winning two World Series titles as an Astro.

When Justin Verlander stepped off a plane in Houston in the final minutes of August 2017, the trajectory of a franchise shifted instantly. Many across the league viewed the veteran as a spent force whose best days remained in the rearview mirror of a decorated Detroit tenure. Instead, Verlander treated the trade as a career rebirth, evolving from a Motown workhorse into the strategic cornerstone of a Houston dynasty. He arrived as a mercenary hired to hunt a ring and left as a statistical titan who orchestrated a dominant late-career arc in the history of the mound.

Verlander’s initial stay in Houston was a masterclass in high-leverage efficiency. He hit the ground running with a 5-0 record following the trade, but it was the 2017 postseason where he reached a historic apex. During the ALCS against the Yankees, he delivered a clinical performance to earn MVP honors, serving as the primary engine for a squad that finally secured the city’s first World Series title. He proved he was no "rent-a-player," following that triumph with a 2018 campaign where he led the league in strikeouts and WHIP, narrowly finishing as the Cy Young runner-up.

The most profound chapter of his first run unfolded in 2019, a season so far an outlier that it defied his age. Verlander captured the Cy Young Award by leading the American League in wins (21), innings (223), and a microscopic 0.803 WHIP. He possessed a specialized ability to maintain triple-digit velocity deep into games, providing the veteran-like poise required to lead the Astros back to the Fall Classic. Even after a significant elbow injury and Tommy John surgery sidelined him for the bulk of two years, he authored an "impossible" 2022 comeback. That summer, he didn't just return; he dominated, leading the circuit in wins (18) and a staggering 1.75 ERA to claim his third Cy Young and anchor the club to a second championship.

The second act of his Houston story began with a dramatic mid-season return in 2023. After a brief dalliance with the Mets, Verlander was traded back to the Astros to stabilize a rotation eyeing another deep October run. He stepped back into the clubhouse with a focused intensity, helping the club navigate a tight divisional race and secure another postseason berth.

His journey in Houston concluded with a scintillating 73-28 record, a winning percentage that borders on the mythical. He departed as a two-time champion and a two-time Cy Young winner in an Astros uniform, leaving behind a legacy of power pitching that redefined the expectations for a modern ace.