1965
The Houston Colt .45s played their first three seasons at Colt Stadium in the unforgiving Houston summer heat. For the 1965 campaign, the franchise moved into its new home, the Houston Astrodome. The stadium was the first of its kind in Major League Baseball and was deemed the Eighth Wonder of the World. With the change in location, came a name change as well. The Colt .45s became the Houston Astros, a moniker they still hold today.
The Astrodome opened for business on April 9th, 1965, with an exhibition game between the Astros and the New York Yankees. The home team won the game 2-1 in front of 47, 876 spectators including U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, Texas Governor John Connally and National League President Warren Giles. Yankee centerfielder Mickey Mantle hit the first home run at the Astrodome.
The Astros opened their home schedule on April 12th against the Philadelphia Philles and were shutout by Phillie starter Chris Short 2-0. After a 2-6 start to the season, the Astros won ten straight games between April 23rd and May 1st. The Astros struggles returned and by the end of June, they were eight games under the .500 mark. The young Astros floundered in the second half going 31-55 the rest of the way and finished ninth in the ten-team National League.
The Astros starting rotation featured four right-handers; Bob Bruce (9, 3.72, 145), Turk Farrell (11, 3.50, 122), Don Nottebart (4, 4.67, 77) and Larry Dierker (7, 3.50, 109). The pitching staff allowed 4.39 runs per game for the season, the third worst mark in the Senior Circuit. Farrell would be named the Astros lone representative to the All-Star Game in Minnesota.
Relievers Dave Giusti (8, 4.32, 92) and Claude Raymond (7, 2.90, 79) combined for fifteen wins out of the pen while closer Jim Owens (6, 3.28, 53) saved eight games.
Offensively, the Astros had trouble scoring runs totaling 569 for the year. Their 3.51 runs per game was only better than the New York Mets 3.02 runs per game in the National League. Twenty-one-year-old second baseman Joe Morgan (.271, 14, 40) led the National League in walks (97) and finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting. Morgan had a career day on July 8th, recording six hits, including two home runs, three RBIs, four runs and thirteen total bases against the Milwaukee Braves. Centerfielder Jim Wynn (.275, 22, 73) led the team in average, home runs and RBIs. Right fielder Rusty Staub (.256, 14, 63) added additional pop to the Astros lineup. Astros fans were witnesses to history on September 13th when Willie Mays of the visiting San Francisco Giants hit his 500th career home run at the Astrodome.
500th Home Run:
Willie Mays
1966
1967
No Hitter:
Don Wilson
vs. Atlanta Braves (2-0)
1968
National League 1
American League 0
1969
1970
1971
N. L. Co-Triples Leader (11)
Joe Morgan (HOU)
N. L. Co-Triples Leader (11)
Roger Metzger (HOU)
1972
Cycle:
Dave Kingman (SFG)
vs. Houston Astros
Cycle
Cesar Cedeno (HOU)
vs. Cincinnati Reds
1973
N. L. Triples Leader (14)
Roger Metzger (HOU)
1974
Two Home Runs
6th Inning
vs. Chicago Cubs
Mike Schmidt Hits Astrodome Speaker
vs. Houston Astros (12-0)
June 10th, 1974
1975
1976
No Hitter:
Larry Dierker
vs. Montreal Expos (6-0)
1977
Baseball Scenes Filmed
at the Astrodome
Baseball Scenes Filmed
at the Astrodome
Cycle:
Bob Watson (HOU)
vs. San Francisco Giants
1978
N. L. Strikeout Leader (303)
J. R. Richard (HOU)
1979
N. L. Co-Wins Leader (21)
Joe Niekro (HOU)
N. L. ERA Leader (2.71)
J. R. Richard (HOU)
N. L. Strikeout Leader (313)
J. R. Richard (HOU)
No Hitter:
Ken Forsch
vs. Atlanta Braves (6-0)
1980
N. L. West Division Champions
Houston Astros
1981
N. L. West Division Champions – 2nd Half
Houston Astros
N. L. ERA Leader (1.69)
Nolan Ryan (HOU)
N. L. Co-Triples Leader (12)
Craig Reynolds (HOU)
No Hitter:
Nolan Ryan
vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (5-0)
1982
N. L. Triples Leader (10)
Dickie Thon (HOU)
1983
1984
1985
4,000th Strikeout:
Nolan Ryan
1986
N. L. West Division Champions
Houston Astros
N.L. Cy Young Award
Mike Scott (HOU)
N. L. Manager of the Year
Hal Lanier (HOU)
N. L. ERA Leader (2.22)
Mike Scott (HOU)
N. L. Strikeout Leader (306)
Mike Scott (HOU)
American League 3
National League 2
Home Run Derby Co-Champions
Wally Joyner (CAL) & Darryl Strawberry (NYM)
Five Stolen Bases
Tony Gwynn (SDP)
vs. Houston Astros
No Hitter:
Mike Scott
vs. San Francisco Giants (2-0)
1987
N. L. ERA Leader (2.76)
Nolan Ryan (HOU)
N. L. Strikeout Leader (270)
Nolan Ryan (HOU)
1988
N. L. Strikeout Leader (228)
Nolan Ryan (HOU)
1989
Baseball Scenes Filmed
at the Astrodome
N. L. Wins Leader (20)
Mike Scott (HOU)
1990
N. L. ERA Leader (2.21)
Danny Darwin (HOU)
1991
N.L. Rookie of the Year
Jeff Bagwell (HOU)
Immaculate Inning (7th)
Pete Harnisch (HOU)
vs. Philadelphia Phillies
1992
N.L. Co-Fireman of the Year
Doug Jones (HOU)
Cycle:
Andujar Cedeno (HOU)
vs. St. Louis Cardinals
1993
N. L. Triples Leader (13)
Steve Finley (HOU)
No Hitter:
Darryl Kile
vs. New York Mets (7-1)
1994
N. L. Most Valuable Player
Jeff Bagwell (HOU)
N. L. RBI Leader (116)
Jeff Bagwell (HOU)
N. L. Stolen Base Leader (39)
Craig Biggio (HOU)
Jeff Bagwell (HOU)
Two Home Runs
6th Inning
vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
1995
1996
1997
N. L. Central Division Champions
Houston Astros
Immaculate Inning (9th)
Mike Magnante (HOU)
vs. Colorado Rockies
1998
N. L. Central Division Champions
Houston Astros
N. L. Manager of the Year
Larry Dierker (HOU)
1999
N. L. Central Division Champions
Houston Astros
N. L. Wins Leader (22)
Mike Hampton (HOU)
Immaculate Inning (1st)
Shane Reynolds (HOU)
vs. Detroit Tigers
