The retiring Biggio doubled in his first at-bat and scored in the first inning of his final game as the Houston Astros beat the Atlanta Braves 3-0 before a record crowd at Minute Maid Park.

Biggio, 41, who played his entire 20-season career in Houston, became the 27th player to reach 3,000 hits on June 28 and announced his retirement a month later. He will leave as the franchise's all-time leader in games, at-bats, hits, doubles and total bases.

He finished with 3,060 career hits and will finish 20th on the all-time list, just behind Cap Anson (3,081). Of the 19 players ahead of him, only Pete Rose is not in the Hall of Fame.

Chipper Jones, who came into the game trailing Matt Holliday by one point in the batting race, went 0-for-3 to fall to .337.

The weekend series with Atlanta was a three-day tribute for Biggio, with fans packing the park for one last glimpse at the franchise's most beloved all-time player. His final game drew 43,235, the largest crowd in the park's 7-year history.

"The respect for the fans and the appreciation I have for them, it's hard to really put into words," Biggio said before the game. "It's a tremendous feeling."

Biggio tipped his beat-up helmet to another standing ovation in the first inning before doubling off the left-field scoreboard off Atlanta starter Buddy Carlyle (8-7). Biggio finished his career with 668 doubles, fifth all-time and the most by a right-handed hitter.

He scored on Carlos Lee's single, his 1,843rd career run. The Astros took a 3-0 lead in the first and Biggio batted again in the second and grounded out.

Biggio flew out to center in the fifth and grounded out to Jones in the seventh. He trotted out to second base for the last time to start the eighth inning and manager Cecil Cooper replaced him with Cody Ransom.

Biggio fought off tears as he tipped his black cap to the fans and trotted off the field. The Astros all came out of the dugout to meet him and Biggio embraced each one. He doffed his cap to the Braves dugout and savored another minute of cheers before disappearing into the dugout for the last time.

Hunter Pence added an RBI double in the Astros' 3-run first and Houston rookie Felipe Paulino (2-1), making his third major-league start, allowed only two hits in six shutout innings.

But the day belonged to Biggio.

In the pre-game ceremony, the Astros presented Biggio with a commemorative second base and a letter from baseball commissioner Bud Selig.

"I wish you the best of luck as your playing career comes to an end," the letter concluded, "and I look forward to our paths crossing in the very near future and again, several years from now, in Cooperstown."

The franchise also gave him a check for $3,059 — a dollar for every career hit — for Biggio's charity, the Sunshine Kids, which benefits children stricken with cancer.

The Astros and Braves joined fans in a minute-long salute before Biggio took the microphone from owner Drayton McLane and addressed the crowd.

"People ask me why I play the game the way I do," he said. "It's because you guys expect it."

In the fifth inning, Houston manager Cecil Cooper replaced catcher Brad Ausmus and shortstop Mark Loretta. The veterans both embraced Biggio before leaving the field.

Biggio made a diving stop to retire Pete Orr for the second out. He led off the bottom of the inning and flew out to center.

Lee and Berkman left the game in the sixth inning and also hugged Biggio on their way off the field.