Houston Astros

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Houston Astros

Established:	1962
Former Team Names:	Colt .45's (1962-64)
Ballpark:	Minute Maid Park
World Series Titles:	0
Pennants:	1
Division Titles:	7
Wild Cards:	2

1 Franchise History
2 Retired Numbers
3 Local Media
4 External Links

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Franchise History

Subsequent to the Giants and Dodgers leaving for California, an abortive attempt was made to start a third major league, to be called the Continental League. Though the league never got off the ground, it nonetheless established the demand for major league baseball in other markets. 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. In addition to the Houston Colt .45s, the New York Mets would also join the NL in 1962, and the Los Angeles Angels one year after the Washington Senators joined the AL in 1961.

The team would begin play on April 10, 1962 and for the next three years, the team would play in Colt Stadium.

On Sunday, September 29, 1963, the final day of the regular season, Colt 45's outfielder John Paciorek would have a career day, going 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs, 2 walks and 4 runs scored as the team beat the Mets 13-4. Unfortunately, because of chronic injuries, the game would mark Paciorek's only major league appearance. Through 2005, Paciorek still holds the record of having a perfect 1.000 average with the most at-bats. Sadly, September 29, 1963 would also mark the last major league game for the winning pitcher of that game, Astros pitcher Jim Umbricht. Stricken with cancer, Umbricht would pass away on April 8, 1964. His number 32 was the first jersey number retired by the Astros.

Despite these tragic events, the franchise's first decade displayed some great hitters (e.g., Joe Morgan, Jimmy Wynn) and many great pitchers (e.g., Bob Bruce, Ken Johnson, Mike Cuellar, Don Wilson, Larry Dierker, Dave Giusti, and Denny LeMaster.)

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