Houston Astros infielder Jose Altuve carves more real estate into the Major League Baseball history books with each passing game.
Jose Altuve might be one of the smallest Major League Baseball players height-wise. However, he comes up big under pressure, especially during the postseason. His excellence in the playoffs helped him earn two World Series titles and one American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award.
This year, he and the Houston Astros are playing in their seventh consecutive ALCS. Standing in their way to a third consecutive World Series appearance are their intrastate rivals Texas Rangers. It’s the fourth team they’ve face in the ALCS during their dominant stretch.
But while their foes have changed, Altuve continues to deliver when it matters most. He’s not only playing for another chance at a World Series victory. Instead, the Venezuelan icon continues to etch his name into more spaces of the MLB history books.
Jose Altuve in a class of his own
Facing a potential 0-3 hole, Altuve willed the Astros to victory in Game 3 of the 2023 ALCS at Globe Life Field. Aside from making the series more competitive, Altuve grew his legend after making two hits, including a third-inning homerun, in five at-bats.
According to OptaStats, those numbers comprise his 15th career playoff game with multiple hits and a home run. That’s the most in MLB postseason history, surpassing Derek Jeter and Manny Ramirez. Altuve also picked up an RBI in their 8-5 win over the Rangers.
The @astros' Jose Altuve recorded his 15th career playoff game with multiple hits and a HR last night, passing Derek Jeter & Manny Ramirez for the most such games in MLB postseason history. pic.twitter.com/vvturM99rP
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 19, 2023
He has a chance to increase that total, depending on how the Astros will fare in the remaining ALCS games.
Altuve plays his 100th postseason game
His 2023 ALCS Game 3 performance is just a prelude to another inspired performance. But by suiting up for ALCS Game 4, Jose Altuve is joining an elite group of baseball immortals who have played 100 postseason games.
Six players are in front of him on the list, including Jeter with 158 and Ramirez with 111. Yadier Molina had 104 postseason games while David Justice had 112. Former New York Yankees players Bernie Williams (121) and Jorge Posada (125) complete the list, as tweeted by Astros beat writer Brian McTaggart.
Jose Altuve will play in his 100th career playoff game today. Only six players have played in more: Jeter (158), Posada (125), Williams (121), Justice (112), Ramirez (111) and Molina (104).
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) October 19, 2023
But with the series tied at 2-2, Altuve will play at least two more playoff games, putting him closer to the long-time St. Louis Cardinals catcher.
Jose Altuve joins Jeter in another historic postseason group
The 13-year MLB veteran doesn’t want his 100th playoff game to be a dud. That’s why he helped the Astros level the ALCS count by having three hits and three runs in four at-bats. MLB Network pointed out that his performance tied him with Carlos Correa for third-most postseason games with at least three hits.
Players with the most 3+ hit #Postseason games:
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 20, 2023
Bernie Williams - 12
Derek Jeter - 12
Carlos Correa - 10
Jose Altuve - 10 (includes tonight) pic.twitter.com/VRnlu0vlV8
That exclusive company includes Williams and Jeter, who both have 12. More importantly, their series against the Rangers has become a virtual best-of-three after losing the first two games at Minute Maid Park.