Houston Astros - Definition and Overview

The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team based in Houston, Texas. They are in the Central Division of the National League.

Founded: 1962 (National League expansion)

Formerly known as: Houston Colt .45s (1962-1964). The team changed its name to the Astros when the team began to play in the Houston Astrodome in 1965.

Home ballpark: Minute Maid Park, Houston (formerly known as Astros Field and Enron Field)

Former ballparks: Colt Stadium, Houston Astrodome

Uniform colors: Brick red, black and sand

Logo design: Red five-pointed star with the word "Astros" below it in script

Wild Card titles won (1): 2004

Division titles won (7): 1980, 1981, 1986, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001

National League pennants won (0): none

World Series championships won (0): none

Franchise history

• 1960s
  • On October 17th, 1960, Judge Roy Hofheinz and the ownership group from Houston is awarded a franchise in the ten-team National League, called the Houston Colt .45s who begin play on April 10, 1962. On April 9, 1965, the Houston Colt .45s become the Houston Astros and inaugurate indoor baseball in the Astrodome. The franchise's first decade displayed some great hitters (Joe Morgan, Jimmy Wynn) and many great pitchers (Bob Bruce, Ken Johnson, Mike Cuellar, Don Wilson, Larry Dierker, Dave Guisti, Denny LeMaster)
• 1970s
  • The Astros first don the "rainbow uniforms" that stay with them with some variation through 1992. Nolan Ryan joins the team in 1979.
• 1980s
  • The Astros make the playoffs in 1981, and again in 1986, culminating in a wild 16-inning loss to the eventual champion New York Mets. Nolan Ryan is sent to the Texas Rangers in 1989, considered too old by then-owner John McMullen. After pitching one for Houston, Ryan would pitch two more no-hitters for the Rangers in the early 90s to achieve a grand total of 7. This is three more than anyone else in major league history.
• 1990s
  • After finishing second in their division in 1994, 1995, 1nd 1996, the Astros won several division titles, in 1997, 1998, and 1999. Each of these titles was followed by a first round playoff ejection, twice at the hands of the Atlanta Braves.
• 2000s
  • The Astros win another NL Central title in 2001, and were again eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by the Braves.
  • In 2004 the Astros took the National League wild card title and finally got past the first round of the playoffs, beating the Atlanta Braves in five games of the National League Division Series to advance to the National League Championship Series for the third time (they were previously in the NLCS in 1980 & 1986), where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in 7 games.
  • The Astros' 2004 success had much to do with the cancelled retirement of star pitcher Roger Clemens (a Houston resident), who ended 2004 with a record 7th Cy Young award (his first in the NL), and the mid-season addition of Carlos Beltran in a trade with the Kansas City Royals (on January 9, 2005, Beltran accepted a better offer and signed with the New York Mets.).

Players of note

Baseball Hall of Famers

• Joe Morgan
• Robin Roberts
• Nolan Ryan
• Don Sutton

Current stars

• Brad Ausmus (C)
• Brandon Backe (SP)
• Jeff Bagwell (1B)
• Craig Biggio (LF)
• Lance Berkman (RF)
• Raúl Chávez (C)
• Roger Clemens (SP)
• Morgan Ensberg (3B)
• Adam Everett (SS)
• Chad Harville (RP)
• Carlos Hernández (SP)
• Mike Gallo (RP)
• Jeff Kent (2B)
• Jason Lane (OF)
• Brad Lidge (RP)
• Dan Miceli (RP)
• Pete Munro (SP)
• Darren Oliver (SP)
• Roy Oswalt (SP)
• Andy Pettitte (SP)
• Jose Vizcaíno (IF)
• David Weathers (RP)

Not to be forgotten

• Moises Alou
• Enos Cabell
• Ken Caminiti
• César Cedeño
• José Cruz, Sr.
• Steve Finley
• Art Howe
• Joe Niekro
• J.R. Richard
• Mike Scott
• Johnny Temple
• Dickie Thon
• Billy Wagner
• Bob Watson

Retired numbers

• 25 Jose Cruz Sr.
• 32 Jim Umbricht
• 33 Mike Scott
• 34 Nolan Ryan
• 40 Don Wilson
• 42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball)
• 49 Larry Dierker

Minor league affiliates

• Round Rock Express (AAA, Pacific Coast League)
• Corpus Christi Hooks (AA, Texas League)
• Salem Avalanche (High-A, Carolina League)
• Lexington Legends (A, South Atlantic League)
• Tri-City Valley Cats (Short-Season A, New York-Penn League)
• Greeneville Astros (Rookie, Appalachian League)

External links

• Houston Astros official web site (http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/hou/homepage/hou_homepage.jsp)
• AstrosDaily.com reference site (http://www.astrosdaily.com)
• AstrosZone.com reference site (http://www.astoszone.com)