document.write ("?zoneid="+zoneId+"&block=1&blockcampaign=1"); Rodriguez also set a Major League record by catching his 2,227th career game on June 17 at Texas, and Tejada reached 2,000 hits on June 13. The rookie gave up a run in the first inning, then held the Astros at bay until the sixth inning. McMullen showed the city of Houston that he too wanted a winning team, signing nearby Alvin, Texas native Nolan Ryan to the first million-dollar-a-year deal. Real Fans.

The Astros bid adieu to the Astrodome in dramatic fashion, clinching their third straight NL Central title on the final day of the regular season before a sold out crowd... standing-room only crowds were commonplace during the last year of baseball in the Dome as a record 2.7 million fans flocked to the Eighth Wonder of the World...despite an injury-riddled year that landed 14 players on the DL and sidelined three members of the coaching staff for significant periods of time, Houston won 97 games, only five victories fewer than its record-setting 102-win season of 1998...the pitching staff produced two 20-game winners for the first time in club history in Mike Hampton (22-4) and Jose Lima (21-10)...Hampton and Jeff Bagwell were recognized as the best offensive players at their respective positions as each was a recipient of the Silver Slugger Award...four Astros were selected to represent the National League in the 70th annual All-Star Game (Bagwell, Hampton, Lima, Billy Wagner)...Wagner was the recipient of the 1999 Rolaids Relief Man Award.
The road uniforms remained the same save for the Astros logo replacing the Texas flag (the same logo was also applied on the home uniforms). Over the years, many highlight reel catches have been made by center fielders running up the hill to make catches. They bounced back to first with a ten-game winning streak, but the Dodgers had regained a two-game lead when they arrived in Houston on September 9. ...Brad Ausmus won his second consecutive Gold Glove award. Springer, one of the club's top prospects, made his debut in April and was named AL Rookie of the Month for May, during which he hit seven homers in a seven-game span. The Astros won the first two games of that series and the two teams were tied for the division lead. Key fact: 546 RBIs is the second most by an Astros third baseman. They had an off year in 1971, but were the National League Pennant winner in 1972. [32] Cabell would go on to become a big part of the team's success in later years. if (!document.MAX_used) document.MAX_used = ','; The players' last names were added to the back of the jerseys.
In addition, the navy cap returned with this uniform and the orange cap was eventually retired in 1983. Coinciding with the change in ownership, the team switched uniforms and team colors after the 1993 season in order to go for a new, more serious image. Richard attempted a comeback, but would never again pitch a big league game.[24][40].

Three weeks after Phil Garner took over the managerial duties, the Astros began an unprecedented 36-10 run that leapfrogged them over five teams en route to the National League Wild Card. The bright stripes were meant to appear as a fiery trail like a rocket sweeping across the heavens.

However, Smith would walk Gary Carter and Darryl Strawberry, giving up a sacrifice fly to Ray Knight, tying the game. The Houston Astros have had several excellent second basemen in their short history. The Astros run production was down, even though the same five sluggers the year before were still punching the ball out of the park. Cuellar was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Curt Blefary. [87], On January 13, 2020, MLB announced that its investigation found that the Astros did use cameras and video monitors to steal signs of opposing catchers and signal to hitters throughout the 2017 regular season and postseason, and at least part of the 2018 season. Players numbers not only appeared on the back of the jersey, but also on the pant leg. The Astros finished in fourth place in 1985. His second came in the next inning when he circled the bases after a shot to right field. What was navy was now orange and what was orange was now a lighter shade of blue. Strong list. He was traded to the Pirates for Art Howe. Just as the excitement was settling down over the Astrodome, the 1966 season found something new to put the domed stadium in the spotlight once again – the field. A similar feature was located in Crosley Field. [38] The season started with a boost from pitcher Ken Forsch, who threw a no-hitter the Braves the second game of the season. Jimmy Wynn, Rusty Staub, and Joe Morgan all made their major league debuts in the 1963 season. He also led the AL with 56 steals. This was the best start in the Astros' 55-year history. Roger Clemens returned for a third season on June 22 and finished 7-6 with a 2.30 ERA. It was also in 1967 that Wynn hit his famous home run onto Interstate 75 in Cincinnati. I loved every minute of it.”. Nellie Fox (1964-65) finished his Hall of Fame career with the Colt .45s/Astros, serving as a player/coach while mentoring a young player named Joe Morgan in ‘65. The Astros played .500 ball under Virdon in the last 34 games of the season. The two biggest moves the Astros made in the offseason were the acquisitions of Joe Niekro and José Cruz. The Mets would score a total of three runs in the inning to take what appeared an insurmountable 7–4 lead. He became the first player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame wearing an Astros cap on his plaque when he was voted into Cooperstown in 2015. He became the first Astros player to win a batting title when he led the AL with a .341 batting average in ’14 while smashing Biggio’s club record with 225 hits. The letters were written in a more futuristic manner. The Reds won more games than any other team in the National League, but they won neither half of the strike-divided season.

He's engaging with his teammates. Key fact: 546 RBIs is the second most by an Astros third baseman. The Phillies added an insurance run on the way to a 3–1 win. [63] After over fifty years of the Astros being a part of the National League, this move was unpopular with many Astros fans.[64][65].

The time I had in Houston, albeit short, was pretty great. Here is Brian McTaggart’s ranking of the top 5 second basemen in Astros history.