- published: 03 Aug 2012
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- author: MoonlightSwami
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Alvin, Texas
Alvin is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and Brazoria County. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 21,413. Alvin's claim to fame is Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, who moved with his family to the city in 1947 as an infant and lived there until he moved to Round Rock in 2003. The Nolan Ryan Museum is in the Nolan Ryan Foundation and Exhibit Center on the campus of Alvin Community College. The museum covers the entire life and sports career of Nolan Ryan, and includes a machine that lets the visitor feel what it is like to catch one of Nolan Ryan's pitches.
The Alvin area was settled in the mid-19th century when bull ranches were established in the area. The Santa Fe Railroad eventually expanded into the area and a settlement was established along the railroad. Alvin was originally named Morgan by the town's residents in honor of the settlement's original resident, Santa Fe employee Alvin Morgan. But upon discovery the name Morgan had been taken, the town named itself after Morgan's first name. The town was officially incorporated in 1893, making it the oldest incorporated settlement in Brazoria County.
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Baltimore
Baltimore (
/ˈbɒltɨmɔr/, colloquially /ˈbɔl.mɔr/) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is located in the central area of the state along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. The independent city is often referred to as Baltimore City to distinguish it from surrounding Baltimore County.
Founded in 1729, Baltimore is the largest seaport in the Mid-Atlantic United States and is situated closer to Midwestern markets than any other major seaport on the East Coast. Baltimore's Inner Harbor was once the second leading port of entry for immigrants to the United States and a major manufacturing center. After a decline in manufacturing, Baltimore shifted to a service-oriented economy.
At 620,961 residents in 2010, Baltimore's population has decreased by one-third since its peak in 1950. The Baltimore Metropolitan Area has grown steadily to approximately 2.7 million residents in 2010; the 20th largest in the country. Baltimore is also a principal city in the larger Baltimore–Washington combined statistical area of approximately 8.4 million residents.
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Boca Chica
Boca Chica is a municipality (municipio) of the Santo Domingo province in the Dominican Republic. Within the municipality there is one municipal district (distritos municipal): La Caleta.
As of the 2012 census the municipality had 123,510 inhabitants, 70,184 living in the city itself and 53,326 in its rural districts (Secciones).
For comparison with other municipalities and municipal districts see the list of municipalities and municipal districts of the Dominican Republic.
It has a popular beach with the same name, located about 30 kilometers east of Santo Domingo de Guzmán in the south shore of the island of Hispaniola.
Boca Chica was originally developed by Juan Bautista Vicini Burgos, who established sugar plantations there in the early twentieth century. Vicini was very fond of the place but the golden era of Boca Chica was in the 1950s, when dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo ordered the construction of a modern hotel named "Hotel Hamaca", which subsequently became something of an icon. The hotel got all the more famous because it was there that Trujillo granted asylum to Fulgencio Batista after the Cuban Revolution.
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Chicago
Chicago (
i/ʃɪˈkɑːɡoʊ/ or /ʃɪˈkɔːɡoʊ/) is the largest city in the US state of Illinois and the third most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles. The city has around 2.7 million residents. Its metropolitan area, sometimes called "Chicagoland", is the third largest in the United States, with an estimated 9.8 million people. Chicago is the county seat of Cook County, though a small portion also extends into DuPage County.
Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837, near a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed. Today, Chicago is listed as an alpha+ global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, and ranks seventh in the world on the 2012 Global Cities Index. The city retains its status as an international hub for finance, industry, telecommunications and infrastructure, with O'Hare International Airport being the second busiest airport in the world in terms of traffic movements. In 2008[update], the city hosted 45.6 million domestic and overseas visitors. Among metropolitan areas, Chicago has the 4th largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world, ranking just behind Tokyo, New York City, and Los Angeles. Chicago is one of the most important Worldwide Centers of Commerce and trade.
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Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati (pronounced /sɪnsɨˈnæti/) is a city in and the county seat of Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. Settled in 1788, the city is located north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits was 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's third-largest city. According to the 2011 Census Bureau estimate, the Cincinnati metropolitan area had a population of 2,138,038, the 27th most populous Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the United States, and the most populous in Ohio. Residents of Cincinnati are called Cincinnatians.
In the early 19th century, Cincinnati was the first American boomtown in the heart of the country to rival the larger coastal cities in size and wealth. As the first major inland city in the country, it is sometimes thought of as the first purely American city. It developed initially without as much recent European immigration or influence as took place in eastern cities. However, by the end of the 19th century, with the shift from steamboats to railroads, Cincinnati's growth had slowed considerably and the city became surpassed in population and prominence by another inland city, Chicago.
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Colosseum
The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium, Italian Anfiteatro Flavio or Colosseo), is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.
Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started in 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign (81–96). The name "Amphitheatrum Flavium" derives from both Vespasian's and Titus's family name (Flavius, from the gens Flavia).
Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.
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Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic (
i/dəˌmɪnɨkən rɨˈpʌblɪk/; Spanish: República Dominicana [reˈpuβlika ðominiˈkana]) is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries. Both by area and population, the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba), with 48,442 square kilometres (18,704 sq mi) and an estimated 10 million people.
Taínos inhabited what is now the Dominican Republic since the 7th century. Christopher Columbus landed on it in 1492, and it became the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, namely Santo Domingo, the country's capital and Spain's first capital in the New World. Santo Domingo can boast of many firsts in the Americas, including the first cathedral, and castle, both in the Ciudad Colonial area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Greater Houston
Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown is a 10-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas. The metropolitan area is colloquially referred to as "Greater Houston" and is situated in Southeast Texas, just west of the Golden Triangle.
Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the United States with a population of 6,086,538 as of U.S. Census Bureau's July 1, 2011 estimates. The population of the metropolitan area is centered in the city of Houston—the largest economic and cultural center of the American South, with a population of 2.1 million.
Houston is among the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. The area grew 25.2 percent between the 1990 and 2000 censuses—adding more than 950,000 people—while the nation's population increased 13.2 percent over the same period. From 2000 to 2007, the area grew by 912,994 people. From 2000 to 2030, the metropolitan area is projected by Woods & Poole Economics to rank fifth in the nation in population growth—adding 2.66 million people. In 2009, Milken Institute/Greenstreet Real Estate Partners ranked Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown as the fifth-best performing metropolitan area; the Houston area had moved up 11 spaces from the previous year's ranking.
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Houston
Houston ( /ˈhjuːstən/) (Alibamu: Yosti ) is the largest city in the state of Texas, and the fourth-largest city in the United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of 656.3 square miles (1,700 km2). Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown, which is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the United States, with 6.08 million people as of July 1st, 2011.
Houston was founded in 1836 on land near the banks of Buffalo Bayou. It was incorporated as a city on June 5, 1837, and named after then-President of the Republic of Texas—former General Sam Houston—who had commanded at the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place 25 miles (40 km) east of where the city was established. The burgeoning port and railroad industry, combined with oil discovery in 1901, has induced continual surges in the city's population. In the mid-twentieth century, Houston became the home of the Texas Medical Center—the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions—and NASA's Johnson Space Center, where the Mission Control Center is located.
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Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee ( /kɨˈsɪmiː/ kə-SIM-ee) is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County. Kissimmee is a Principal City of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2010 population of 2,134,411.
Founded in the mid-19th century as Allendale, it was renamed Kissimmee when incorporated as a city in 1883. Its growth can be credited to Hamilton Disston of Philadelphia, who based his two-million acre (8,000 km2) drainage operation out of the small town. Disston had contracted with the financially wobbly state of Florida to drain its southern lands, for which he would own half of all he successfully drained. This deal made Disston the largest single landowner in the United States.
Disston's dredging and land speculation required a small steamboat industry to transport people and goods along the new waterway. The Kissimmee shipyard was responsible for building most of these large steamships, which were just one jump ahead of civilization—with Kissimmee as the jumping off point. Concurrently, the South Florida Railroad was growing and extended the end of its line from Sanford down to Kissimmee, making the town on Lake Tohopekaliga a transportation hub for Central Florida. On February 12, 1885, the Florida Legislature incorporated the Kissimmee City Street Railway.
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Lenny Dykstra
Leonard Kyle "Lenny" Dykstra ( /ˈdaɪkstrə/; born February 10, 1963 in Santa Ana, California), nicknamed "Nails" and "Dude", is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. Dykstra played for the New York Mets during the late 1980s before playing for the Philadelphia Phillies during the early 1990s.
Dykstra was signed by the Mets as a 13th round draft pick in 1981. A star in the minors, in 1983 he led the Carolina League in at-bats, runs, hits, triples, batting average, and stolen bases with 105, which was a league record for 17 years. That season, he batted .358 with 8 HR, 81 RBI, and 105 stolen bases while recording 107 walks against just 35 strikeouts. He was consequently named the Carolina League's MVP. Dykstra soon emerged as one of the Mets' prized prospects, and while playing in AA in 1984, he befriended fellow outfielder and teammate Billy Beane. Beane would later say that Dykstra was "perfectly designed, emotionally" to play baseball and that he had "no concept of failure." According to Beane, his first comments upon seeing Steve Carlton warming up on the mound were, "Shit, I'll stick him."
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Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington (officially Lexington-Fayette Urban County) is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region. In the 2010 Census the city's population was 295,803, anchoring a metropolitan area of 472,099 people and a Combined Statistical Area of 687,173 people.
Lexington ranks tenth among US cities in college education rate, with 39.5% of residents having at least a bachelor's degree. It is home to the headquarters of Tempur-Pedic, International, Lexmark International, the Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland race course, Red Mile race course, Transylvania University, the University of Kentucky and Bluegrass Community & Technical College.
Lexington was selected as the site of the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games.
Lexington was founded in June 1775 in what was then Virginia (17 years before Kentucky became a state in 1792). A party of frontiersmen, led by William McConnell, camped on the Middle Fork of Elkhorn Creek (today called Town Branch and rerouted under Vine Street) at the location known today as McConnell Springs. Upon hearing of the colonists' victory in the Battles of Lexington and Concord, on April 19, 1775, they named their campsite Lexington after Lexington, Massachusetts. Due to the danger of Indian attacks, permanent settlement was delayed for four years. In 1779, Colonel Robert Patterson and 25 companions came from Fort Harrod and erected a blockhouse. Cabins and a stockade were soon built, making the fort, known as Bryan Station, a place of importance. Colonists defended it against a British and American Indian attack in 1782, during the last part of the American Revolution.
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NASA
Coordinates: 38°52′59″N 77°0′59″W / 38.88306°N 77.01639°W / 38.88306; -77.01639
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. Since February 2006, NASA's mission statement has been to "pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research." On September 14, 2011, NASA announced that it had selected the design of a new Space Launch System that it said would take the agency's astronauts farther into space than ever before and provide the cornerstone for future human space exploration efforts by the U.S.
NASA was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 29, 1958, replacing its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The agency became operational on October 1, 1958. U.S. space exploration efforts have since been led by NASA, including the Apollo moon-landing missions, the Skylab space station, and later the Space Shuttle. Currently, NASA is supporting the International Space Station and is overseeing the development of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and Commercial Crew vehicles. The agency is also responsible for the Launch Services Program (LSP) which provides oversight of launch operations and countdown management for unmanned NASA launches.
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Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City (Pawnee: Uukuhuuwasiri ) is the capital and the largest city in the US state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma City-Shawnee Combined Statistical Area had a population of 1,322,249 residents. Oklahoma City's city limits extend into Canadian, Cleveland, and Pottawatomie counties, though much of those areas outside of the core Oklahoma County area are suburban or rural (watershed). The city ranks as the eighth-largest city in the United States by land area (including consolidated city-counties; it is the largest city in the United States by land area whose government is not consolidated with that of a county).
Oklahoma City features one of the largest livestock markets in the world. Oil, natural gas, petroleum products and related industries are the largest sector of the local economy. The city is situated in the middle of an active oil field and oil derricks dot the capitol grounds. The federal government employs large numbers of workers at Tinker Air Force Base and the United States Department of Transportation's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. (These two sites house several offices of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Department's Enterprise Service Center, respectively.)
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Philadelphia
Philadelphia ( /ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə/) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States, with a population of 1,526,006 as of the 2010 U.S. Census. Philadelphia is also the commercial, cultural, and educational center of the Delaware Valley, home to 6 million people and the country's fifth-largest metropolitan area. The Philadelphia metropolitan division consists of five counties in Pennsylvania and has a population of 4,008,994. Popular nicknames for Philadelphia are Philly and The City of Brotherly Love, the latter of which comes from the literal meaning of the city's name in Greek (Greek: Φιλαδέλφεια ([pʰilaˈdelpʰeːa], Modern Greek: [filaˈðelfia]) "brotherly love", compounded from philos (φίλος) "loving", and adelphos (ἀδελφός) "brother").
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Rome
Rome (/ˈroʊm/; Italian: Roma pronounced [ˈroːma] (
listen); Latin: Rōma) is a city and special comune ("Roma Capitale") in Italy. Rome is the capital of Italy and the capital of Lazio (Latin: Latium). With 2.8 million residents in 1,285.3 km2 (496.3 sq mi), it is also the country's largest and most populated comune and fourth-most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. Between 3.2 and 3.7 million people live in the Rome metropolitan area. The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.
Rome's history spans two and a half thousand years. It was the capital city of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, which was the dominant power in Western Europe and the lands bordering the Mediterranean for over seven hundred years from the 1st century BC until the 7th century AD and the city is regarded as one of the birthplaces of western civilization. Since the 1st century AD Rome has been the seat of the Papacy and, after the end of Byzantine domination, in the 8th century it became the capital of the Papal States, which lasted until 1870. In 1871 Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, and in 1946 that of the Italian Republic.
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St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis /seɪnt ˈluːɪs/ (French: Saint-Louis or St-Louis, [sɛ̃ lwi] ( listen)) is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States, and is the second-largest city in the state. With a population of 318,069 in July 2011, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) population of 2,812,896 is the 18th-largest in the country. The Greater St. Louis combined statistical area's (CSA) population of 2,878,255 is the 16th-largest CSA in the country, the fourth-largest in the Midwest. The Greater St. Louis area is the largest metropolitan area in Missouri.
The city of St. Louis was founded in 1764 by Pierre Laclède and Auguste Chouteau, and after the Louisiana Purchase, it became a major port on the Mississippi River. Its population expanded after the American Civil War, and it became the fourth-largest city in the United States in the late 19th century. It seceded from St. Louis County in March 1877, allowing it to become an independent city and limiting its political boundaries. In 1904, it hosted the 1904 World's Fair and the 1904 Olympic Games. The city's population peaked in 1950, then began a long decline that reversed only at the beginning of the 21st century.
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Texas
Texas (i/ˈtɛksəs/) (Alibamu: Teksi ) is the second most populous and the second most extensive of the 50 United States, and the most extensive state of the 48 contiguous United States. The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in East Texas. Located in the South Central United States, Texas shares an international border with the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the south, and borders the US states of New Mexico to the west, Oklahoma to the north, Arkansas to the northeast, and Louisiana to the east. Texas has an area of 268,820 square miles (696,200 km2), and a growing population of 25.7 million residents.
During the Spanish colonial rule, the area was officially known as the Nuevo Reino de Filipinas: La Provincia de Texas. Antonio Margil de Jesús was known to be the first person to use the name in a letter to the Viceroy of Mexico in July 20, 1716. The name was not popularly used in daily speech but often appeared in legal documents until the end of the 1800s.
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Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital District. The city is one of the three major centers for the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which has a population of 850,957. At the 2010 census, the population of Troy was 50,129. Troy's motto is Ilium fuit, Troja est, which means "Ilium was, Troy is".
Before European arrival, the area was settled by the Mahican Indian tribe. There were at least two settlements within today's city limits, Panhooseck and Paanpack. The Dutch began settling in the mid 17th century; the patroon Kiliaen van Rensselaer called the area Pafraets Dael, after his mother. Control of New York passed to the English in 1664 and in 1707 Derick Van der Heyden purchased a farm near today's downtown area. In 1771 Abraham Lansing had his farm in today's Lansingburgh laid out into lots. Responding to Lansing's success to the north, in 1787, Van der Heyden's grandson Jacob had his extensive holdings surveyed and laid out into lots as well, calling the new village Vanderheyden.
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Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a federal district to become the national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution. The District is therefore not a part of any U.S. state. It was formed from land along the Potomac River donated by the states of Maryland and Virginia; however, the Virginia portion was returned by Congress in 1846.
A new capital city named after George Washington was founded in 1791 to the east of the preexisting port of Georgetown. Congress consolidated the City of Washington, Georgetown, and the remaining unincorporated area within the District under a single municipal government in 1871. The city shares its name with the U.S. state of Washington, located on the country's Pacific coast.
Washington, D.C., had an estimated population of 617,996 in 2011. The city was the 24th most populous place in the United States as of 2010. Commuters from the surrounding Maryland and Virginia suburbs raise the city's population to over one million during the workweek. The Washington Metropolitan Area, of which the District is a part, has a population of nearly 5.6 million, the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the country.
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African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans or Afro-Americans, and formerly as American Negroes) are citizens or residents of the United States that have ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa.
African Americans make up the single largest racial minority in the United States. Most African Americans are of West and Central African descent and are descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States. However, some immigrants from African, Caribbean, Central American or South American nations, or their descendants, may be identified or self-identify with the term.
African-American history starts in the 16th century with African slaves who quickly rose up against the Spanish explorer Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón and progresses to the present day, with Barack Obama as the 44th and current President of the United States. Between those landmarks there have been events and issues, both resolved and ongoing, including slavery, racism, Reconstruction, development of the African-American community, participation in the great military conflicts of the United States, racial segregation, and the Civil Rights Movement.
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Al Rosen
Albert Leonard Rosen (born February 29, 1924), nicknamed "Al", "Flip", and the "Hebrew Hammer", is a former American professional baseball player who was a third baseman and right-handed slugger in the Major Leagues for ten seasons in the 1940s and 1950s.
He played his entire 10-year career (1947–1956) with the Cleveland Indians in the American League, where he drove in 100 or more runs 5 years in a row, was a 4-time All-Star, twice led the league in home runs and twice in RBIs, and was an MVP. Rosen was extremely muscular, and had tremendous power and excellent bat control.
Rosen was a .285 career hitter, with 192 home runs and 717 RBIs in 1,044 games. He was selected for the All-Star Game every year between 1952 and 1955. Rosen appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1955.
Rosen was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He and his family moved to Miami, Florida when he was three years old. He grew up in the southwest section of Miami, which is now the heart of Little Havana. Rosen grew up without a father, and was raised by three women: his grandmother, mother and aunt.
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Al Spangler
Albert Donald "Spanky" Spangler (born July 8, 1933, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a retired American Major League Baseball outfielder.
Spangler attended Duke University. He was signed as a free agent by the Milwaukee Braves on June 14, 1954. He made his debut on September 16, 1959, and would go on to play his final game on September 11, 1971.
In 1962, Spangler was drafted by the expansion Houston Colt .45s with a required salary of $125,000, and led the .45's in hitting their first two seasons. In the Colt .45s' first game against the Chicago Cubs, Spangler drove in the first run in Houston baseball history with an RBI triple in the bottom of the 1st inning off Cubs starter Don Cardwell, driving in teammate Bob Aspromonte.
On June 12, 1969, Spangler hit two Home runs and drove in four runs to help lift his Cubs to a 12 to 6 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
Following his active career, he was a coach and minor league manager for the Chicago Cubs.
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Al Weis
Albert John Weis (born April 2, 1938 in Franklin Square, New York) is a former Major League Baseball infielder.
Weis grew up in Bethpage, New York, and graduated from Farmingdale, New York, High School in 1955. He was a high school teammate of Jack Lamabe, who pitched for several major league teams including the Red Sox, Mets, Pirates and Cardinals.
Weis played for the Chicago White Sox from 1962 to 1967 and the New York Mets from 1968 to 1971. He was a switch hitter until the end of the 1968 season, after which he batted exclusively right-handed.
Signed by the White Sox as an amateur free agent, Weis played 99 games as a utility infielder in his rookie season of 1963, with 48 of those games at second base and 27 at shortstop. In 1964 he and Don Buford shared second base duties after the trade of the popular Nellie Fox. Weis batted .247 and established career highs with 81 hits and 22 stolen bases; that year the White Sox finished second in the American League, one game behind the New York Yankees for the pennant.
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Alan Ashby
Alan Dean Ashby (born July 8, 1951 in Long Beach, California) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros. He made his MLB debut 4 years after graduating from San Pedro High School in Los Angeles.
Ashby is a Latter-day Saint.
Ashby tied an NL record by catching three no-hitters during his career: Ken Forsch's (April 7, 1979), Nolan Ryan's fifth (September 26, 1981), and Mike Scott's division title clincher (September 25, 1986).
He owns the distinction of being the first ever player acquired via trade for the Toronto Blue Jays when he was traded from Cleveland to Toronto on November 5, 1976 along with 1B/OF Doug Howard in exchange for RHP Al Fitzmorris. He was then traded from Toronto to Houston on November 17, 1978 for P Mark Lemongello, OF Jose Cannon and IF Pedro Hernandez.
Ashby was also the first Astro to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game (September 27, 1982).
After his playing career, Ashby worked as the Astros' bullpen coach in 1997. He later worked alongside Milo Hamilton as a radio broadcaster for the Astros from 1998-2005.
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Albert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara (born January 16, 1980), better known as Albert Pujols (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈalβert puˈxols]), is a Dominican-American professional baseball first baseman for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Major League Baseball. Pujols is considered one of the top players in Major League Baseball, and was the most feared hitter in baseball in 2008, according to a poll of all 30 MLB managers.
During his eleven seasons as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, Pujols won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2001, was selected as an All-Star nine times, and won the National League Most Valuable Player Award three times. He has also twice won the National League Hank Aaron Award, and has two World Series rings from the Cardinals' 2006 and 2011 titles.
At the end of the 2011 season, he led all active players in batting average (.328),slugging percentage (.617), and OPS (1.037), and ranked 37th in number of home runs in Major League Baseball history. He was selected by ESPN.com as the greatest player of the decade from 2000–09. He stands 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) tall, weighs 230 pounds (100 kg), and bats and throws right-handed.
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Alex Treviño
Alejandro Treviño Castro (born August 26, 1957 Monterrey, Nuevo León) is a Mexican retired professional baseball catcher. Trevino played 13 seasons in the Major Leagues beginning with the New York Mets for four seasons (1978–81), followed by the Cincinnati Reds (1982–83) for two full seasons before splitting the 1984 season between the Reds and the Atlanta Braves. Trevino then spent the next three years playing in California, first with the San Francisco Giants in (1985), then the Los Angeles Dodgers (1986–87). Trevino next joined the Houston Astros (1988–89). After two full seasons in Houston, Trevino spent his final year in Major League baseball with three different teams. Trevino began the 1990 season in Houston, then returned to the New York Mets briefly before finishing his career back in Cincinnati with the Reds. He is currently an analyst for the Astros on their Spanish radio broadcasts.
Alex Trevino is the younger brother of Bobby Treviño.
In 13 seasons he played in 939 games, had 2,430 at bats, 245 runs, 604 hits, 117 doubles, 10 triples, 23 home runs, 244 RBI, 19 stolen bases, 205 walks, a .249 batting average, a .310 on-base percentage, a .333 slugging percentage, 810 total bases, 27 sacrifice hits, 20 sacrifice flies and 30 intentional walks.
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Aneury Rodríguez
Aneury Rodriguez (born December 13, 1987) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros.
Rodriguez signed with the Colorado Rockies as an international free agent in 2005. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for Jason Hammel in 2009. Following the 2010 season, Rodriguez was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Astros.
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Arcenio León
Below is a partial list of minor league baseball players in the Houston Astros system and rosters of their minor league affiliates:
Adam Bailey (born March 6, 1988) is the right fielder for the Class A-Advanced Lancaster JetHawks of the California League.
Bailey attended Arizona State, helping the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team reach the 2007 College World Series. He transferred to South Mountain Community College. When Bailey transferred to Nebraska, he led the Huskers in homers, RBIs, slugging percentage (.598), hits (63), doubles (15) and total bases (116). He recorded his first multi-homer day against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners on May 9, going 3-for-5 with four RBIs.
He was selected by the Houston Astros in the 23rd round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. After being drafted, Bailey played for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the short season New York-Penn League hitting .235 in 66 games.
He was sent to the Lexington Legends to begin his second year in the minors with a .282 average and 16 homeruns before being promoted to the Class A Lancaster JetHawks of the California League. He went .289 with 27 RBIs in 30 games before being promoted again to AA Corpus Christi starting off strong helping the team end a 12-game losing streak.
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Art Howe
Arthur Henry Howe Jr. (born December 15, 1946 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a former Major League Baseball infielder, coach, scout and manager. He managed the Houston Astros (1989–1993), Oakland Athletics (1996–2002), and New York Mets (2003–2004), compiling a career record of 1,129 wins against 1,137 defeats (.498).
Howe is an alumnus of the University of Wyoming, and signed his first playing contract at age 24, with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971. He came to the major leagues as a part-time player with Pittsburgh in 1974–75, before a trade to the Astros for infielder Tommy Helms on January 6, 1976. He played all four infield positions, mostly as a third baseman and second baseman, for Houston from 1976–82. In only playing in 125 games in 1977 and alternating between 2B, SS and 3B, Howe only committed 8 errors. On May 7, 1980, Art suffered a fractured jaw when hit by a pitch from Expos pitcher Scott Sanderson. After missing the entire 1983 season with an injury, he finished his playing career with the St. Louis Cardinals (1984–85). The right-handed hitter appeared in 891 games over all or parts of 11 seasons, compiling a lifetime batting average of .260 with 43 home runs.
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Aubrey Huff
Aubrey Lewis Huff III (born December 20, 1976, in Marion, Ohio) is a Major League Baseball first baseman with the San Francisco Giants. He debuted in 2000 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and later played for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers. He is the starting first baseman for the San Francisco Giants who won the 2010 World Series. He played college baseball at the University of Miami.
Huff grew up in Mineral Wells, Texas. When he was six years old, his father, Aubrey II, was killed as an innocent bystander in a workplace domestic dispute, fatally shot attempting to take away a gun from a threatening man. Huff attended Mineral Wells High School, then transferred to Brewer High School in Fort Worth before his junior year in 1992. Huff was an All-District baseball player and also excelled in basketball for the Brewer Bears, and graduated in 1995.
After attending Vernon College in north Texas, Huff transferred to the University of Miami in Florida and, as a junior, was named second team "All-American" by Baseball Weekly. In his final season, he set a school season record with 95 RBIs and led the Hurricanes in home runs (21), doubles (20) and total bases (179).
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Bill Virdon
William Charles Virdon (born June 9, 1931 in Hazel Park, Michigan) is a former outfielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. A premier defensive outfielder during his playing days (1955–65) as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates (winning a Gold Glove in 1962), Virdon also had a long tenure in the major leagues as a manager, with the Pirates (1972–73), New York Yankees (1974–75), Houston Astros (1975–82), and Montreal Expos (1983–84). He was the American League Manager of the Year in 1974, his only full season working for the Yankees of George Steinbrenner. Bill also was named National League Manager of the Year in 1980 while with the Houston Astros.
Virdon initially signed with the Yankees, but he never played for the big league club. As a minor league prospect, he was traded to the Cardinals in a multi-player deal before the 1954 season for veteran outfielder Enos Slaughter, now a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. After one more year of seasoning in the minors, Virdon joined the Cardinals in 1955 and was named National League Rookie of the Year. He was traded to Pittsburgh in May 1956.
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Billy Hatcher
William Augustus Hatcher (born October 4, 1960) is a former left and center fielder in Major League Baseball player for the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers, and former first base coach for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Hatcher is currently first base coach for the Reds.
In 1979, Billy graduated from Williams High School in Williams, Arizona, where he had pitched an eleven-inning no-hitter as a junior. Hatcher then played for Yavapai Community College in Prescott, Arizona, where he was a junior college All-America selection.
Hatcher was drafted by the Cubs in the sixth round of the January 1981 MLB draft. He rose quickly through the Cubs' minor league system, playing exactly one season at each minor league level before receiving a late-season call-up to the major league club in 1984. He split time between AAA and the Cubs during the 1985 season before being traded to the Astros along with Steve Engel for Jerry Mumphrey.
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Bob Aspromonte
Robert Thomas Aspromonte (born June 19, 1938 in Brooklyn, New York) is a former utility player who had a 13-year career in 1956 and from 1960 to 1971. He played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Colt 45's/Astros, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets all of the National League.
During his career, Aspromonte played first base, second base, shortstop, third base, and outfield. In 1971, he was the last Brooklyn Dodger player to retire. He appeared in 1,324 games, and came to bat 4,369 times.
Aspromonte is the younger brother of former Major League Baseball player Ken Aspromonte. He currently resides in Houston, Texas.
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Bob Boone
Robert Raymond Boone (born November 19, 1947) is an American former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who was a four-time All-Star. Born in San Diego, California, Bob Boone is the son of a major league player, the late third baseman Ray Boone, and the father of two major leaguers: former second baseman Bret Boone and former utility infielder Aaron Boone. All four family members were named All-Stars during their careers.
Bob Boone was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth round of the 1969 amateur draft after attending Stanford University, where he was admitted to the Zeta Psi fraternity. He was brought to the majors in late 1972, and, while he never had excellent hitting numbers, he was a phenomenal defensive catcher, committing only eight errors and allowing only three passed balls in the 1977 season. He made the National League All-Star team three times in a Phillies uniform, and helped the team win the 1980 World Series.
In 1982, the Phillies decided to trade the veteran catcher to the California Angels, following an unproductive year from Boone, and also as a possible retaliation for Boone's key role in leading the players in negotiations during the 1981 Major League Baseball strike. But Boone rebounded by throwing out 21 of the first 34 steal attempts and helping the Angels to the AL West title, and followed in 1983 with his fourth and final All-Star appearance.
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Bob Knepper
Robert Wesley Knepper (born May 24, 1954 in Akron, Ohio) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball with a 15-year career from 1976 to 1990. He played for the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros, both of the National League.
On December 8, 1980, Knepper was traded from the Giants along with Chris Bourjos to the Astros for OF Enos Cabell and a player to be named.
He was voted to the National League All-Star team twice (1981 and 1988).
He led the National League in shutouts in 1978, with six, and in 1986, with five. He also led the league in hit batsmen in 1980, with eight, and losses in 1987, with 17.
In 1988, Knepper had one of the best seasons in his career, and he was selected to the National League All-Star Team.
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Bob Lillis
Robert Perry Lillis (born June 2, 1930, in Altadena, California) is a retired American infielder, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball. Lillis was an original member of the 1962 expansion Houston Colt .45s who remained with the club (renamed the Astros in 1965) for more than two decades and later became its manager.
After attending the University of Southern California, Lillis signed his first contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951. A shortstop by trade, he spent eight years in the Dodger farm system, buried (along with many others) behind Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reese. Finally, in 1958, the team's first season in Lillis's home city of Los Angeles, he made the major league team. But Lillis never claimed the regular shortstop job — that would go to Maury Wills — and in the middle of the 1961 campaign, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. After a half season with the Redbirds, he was selected by Houston in the 1961 MLB expansion draft.
Lillis then spent 5½ seasons as a shortstop and utility infielder for the Astros, retiring to a coaching position in the middle of 1967. Over his ten-year MLB career, Lillis appeared in 817 games and batted .236 with three home runs. He threw and batted right-handed.
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Bob Watson
Robert Jose Watson (born April 10, 1946 in Los Angeles, California) is a former first baseman for the Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves from 1966-1984, and currently serves as Major League Baseball's vice president of rules and on-field operations.
Nicknamed "Bull," Watson was originally a catcher in the minor leagues, however, he converted to first base and the outfield by the time he made his major league debut with the Astros on September 9, 1966. Watson was a dependable hitter whose home run numbers were somewhat hurt by the fact that he played the majority of his career in the Astrodome.
Watson was credited with scoring the 1,000,000th run in major league history on May 4, 1975 at 12:32 in the afternoon. Watson scored from second base on a three-run homer by teammate Milt May at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. It was known that the 999,999th run had already scored, with sponsored updates being provided by and to every ballpark. Despite the lack of in-game urgency, Watson ran at full speed, reaching home plate approximately four seconds before Dave Concepción, who had just homered in Cincinnati and was also racing around the basepaths. "I never ran so fast in my entire life," said Concepcion. But it was Watson who won $10,000 and one million Tootsie Rolls provided by the event's sponsor. The 1,000,000th run total only included runs scored in the National and American Leagues (not "3rd" major leagues, such as the Federal League). Watson joked that in the aftermath of the event, his fan mail doubled—from 4 letters to 8. Later, more accurate recalculations of baseball's record-keeping showed that neither Watson nor Concepcion scored baseball's actual millionth run, and it is not known who did.
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Bobby Meacham
Robert Andrew Meacham (born August 25, 1960) is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who spent his entire six year career with the New York Yankees. Currently, he is serving as the first base coach for the Houston Astros.
Meacham was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California in the fourteenth round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft, but chose, instead, to play baseball at San Diego State University.
He earned third team All-America accolades as a freshman, and was named San Diego State Aztecs team MVP in 1979. He was second team All-American in 1981 after batting .375 with seven home runs, 51 runs batted in and 44 stolen bases, and was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the eighth overall pick in the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed, ending his college career as SDSU's all-time leader in runs (214), hits (277) and at bats (767), and was second in career stolen bases (116), including a streak of thirty consecutive.
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Brad Lidge
Bradley Thomas "Brad" Lidge (born December 23, 1976 in Sacramento, California) is a reliever who is currently a relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals. Nicknamed "Lights Out", he is the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings (12.2 K/9) among pitchers with at least 200 appearances in their career. Lidge throws a four-seam fastball that consistently reaches 91 or 92 miles per hour, as well as a hard, sharp breaking slider that ranges from 85 to 87 mph. He sealed the Phillies' 2008 World Series Championship with the final out, a strikeout of Eric Hinske in Game 5.
Brad Lidge was born in Sacramento, California on December 23, 1976. At a young age, the Lidge family moved to Englewood, Colorado. Growing up, Lidge was very active, playing football, basketball and baseball among other sports. Lidge attended Cherry Creek High School.
Lidge attended Notre Dame. He won the Big East player of the year award during his junior season under coach Paul Mainieri, leading the conference with an 8–2 record and 93 strikeouts in 80.1 innings.
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Brandon Lyon
Brandon James Lyon (born August 10, 1979 in Salt Lake City, Utah) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Houston Astros. He has been used for part of his career as a setup man and has also been a closer.
Lyon made his major league debut halfway through the 2001 season, posting a respectable 5-4 record for the Toronto Blue Jays, with a 4.29 ERA from 11 starts. He was the second youngest winning pitcher in Blue Jays' history after winning on debut (2-1 over Baltimore).
2002, however, was a different story. Lyon started the season as a starter for the Jays, but lost three of his first four decisions of the season, including a career-high 7 earned runs against the Yankees on April 10, and against the Angels on May 3. Three weeks later, Lyon was kicked from the rotation, and placed in the bullpen. He made his debut in this role at the Skydome, against Boston, pitching 3 1/3 innings. In five games of relief, Lyon had no decisions against him with a 5.19 ERA.
During the postseason, the Red Sox claimed Lyon off waivers.
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Brett Myers
Brett Allen Myers (born August 17, 1980, in Jacksonville, Florida) is a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who is currently playing for the Houston Astros. Myers has spent most of his career as a starter, but in 2012 he became Houston's closer, a role with which he had experimented in Philadelphia in 2007.
Myers was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. As a senior at Englewood High School, he posted an 8–2 record and an 0.80 ERA in 78.0 innings pitched. He was an amateur boxer when he was a teenager. Myers attended Englewood High with Rashean Mathis, cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Myers made his major league debut in the summer of 2002, starting on July 24 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He finished his rookie season 4–5 with an earned run average of 4.25, pitching 72 innings. Myers also pitched the 2003 season with the Phillies, posting 14 wins in 32 starts. He threw his first career shutout in June 2003 against the Boston Red Sox.
Expectations for Myers were high entering the 2004 season; however, these were tempered somewhat by his 11–11 record. He pitched his second career shutout in May and recorded a five-game losing streak from June 22 to July 23, receiving minimal run support from the Phillies offense. 2004 was Myers' strongest year on offense, posting a .196 batting average and tying for the team lead in sacrifice hits with Randy Wolf.
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Brett Wallace
Brett Alexander Wallace (born August 26, 1986 in Sonoma, California) is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball.
A 2005 graduate of Justin-Siena High School in Napa, California, Wallace earned four varsity baseball letters for head coach Allen Rossi. He helped lead Justin-Siena to a 97-9 record during his prep career, including a perfect 27-0 senior season. He broke nine school records during his prep career and holds single-season school records for walks, runs, hits, RBI, home runs and slugging percentage. Among his numerous accolades, Wallace was named a Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger All-American and 2005 first-team All-State (CalHiSports.com) and 2005 California Small Schools Player of the Year. He was also a four-time All-Marin County Athletic League selection, 2004 and 2005 All-Napa County Offensive Player of the Year.
Wallace is a two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year (2007 & 2008) and a two-time Triple Crown Winner at Arizona State University. He was the 12th Sun Devil to win the Pac-10 Player of the Year award, and the first since Dustin Pedroia shared the award in 2003.
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Brian Bixler
Brian Joseph Bixler (born October 22, 1982 in Sandusky, Ohio) is a Major League Baseball player who primarily plays shortstop, although he has played seven different positions in his major league career. He currently plays for the Houston Astros.
Bixler attended college at Eastern Michigan. Bixler also played in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League for the Delaware Cows.
Bixler was Pittsburgh's second-round pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. He spent 2004 in the short-season New York - Penn League playing for the Williamsport Crosscutters. He spent his first full professional season with the Class-A Hickory Crawdads. In 2006, Bixler played for both the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats and the Double-A Altoona Curve. He was invited to spring training by the Pirates in 2007, batting .359 with a .970 OPS. [1] In 2007, Bixler played for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, and was named the team's most valuable player. On November 20, 2007, the Pirates purchased his contract, protecting Bixler from the Rule 5 Draft.
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Brian Bogusevic
Brian Bogusevic (born February 18, 1984 in Palos Heights, Illinois) is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Houston Astros.
Bogusevic was a two-way star player for Tulane University, playing in the outfield and also used as a starting pitcher. He was drafted 24th overall in the 2005 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros as a starting pitcher. He remained a pitcher in the Houston Astros organization until mid-2008 before converting to an outfielder. In 2008, he was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League as an outfielder.
On August 16, 2011, he became the 26th player in Major League History to hit an "ultimate grand slam," a pinch-hit walk-off home run which won the game by one run.
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Brooks Robinson
Brooks Calbert Robinson, Jr. (born May 18, 1937) is an American former professional baseball player. He played his entire 23-year major league career for the Baltimore Orioles (1955–1977). Nicknamed "The Human Vacuum Cleaner", he is generally acclaimed as the greatest defensive third-basemen in major league history. He won 16 consecutive Gold Glove Awards during his career, tied with pitcher Jim Kaat for the second most all-time for any player at any position. Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983.
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas to Brooks Calbert and Ethel Mae (née Donkey) Robinson. His father worked for a large bakery in Little Rock, Colonial Bakery, and then went to work for the Little Rock Fire Department (rising to the rank of captain ), while his mother at first worked for Sears Roebuck & Company, and then in the controller's office at the state capitol. His father played second base for a semi-pro team. Young Brooks Robinson, Jr., delivered the Arkansas Gazette on his bike, and also operated the beer and sold wine at Lamar Porter Field.
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Bud Selig
Allan Huber "Bud" Selig /ˈsiːlɨɡ/ (born July 30, 1934) is the ninth and current Commissioner of Major League Baseball, having served in that capacity since 1992 as the acting commissioner, and as the official commissioner since 1998. Selig oversaw baseball through the 1994 strike, the introduction of the wild card, interleague play, and the merging of the National and American leagues under the Office of the Commissioner. He was instrumental in organizing the World Baseball Classic in 2006. Selig also introduced revenue sharing. He is credited for the financial turnaround of baseball during his tenure with a 400 percent increase in the revenue of MLB and annual record breaking attendance. Selig enjoys a high level of support from baseball owners, but has been widely decried by both the MLB Players' Union for his policies and by the general public for presiding over the game during one of its most contentious periods.[citation needed]Jerome Holtzman, Major League Baseball's official historian from 1999 until his death in 2008, believed Selig to be the best commissioner in baseball history.
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Carlos Beltrán
Carlos Iván Beltrán (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkarloz βelˈtɾan]; born April 24, 1977 in Manatí, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball.
In his youth, Beltrán excelled in many sports, with volleyball and baseball being his favorites. At his father's urging, he gave up volleyball to concentrate on baseball when he was seventeen. Graduating from Fernando Callejo High School in 1995, the highly-regarded five tool player was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of that year's amateur baseball draft.
After selecting Beltrán in the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft, the Kansas City Royals assigned him to their rookie-level team in the Gulf Coast League, the Wilmington Blue Rocks. Beltrán made his Major League debut on September 14, 1998, playing 15 games. Going into 1999, he won the job as the Royals' starting center fielder and leadoff hitter. He displayed significant power by midsummer, and was moved to the #3 slot in the batting order. Beltrán won the American League Rookie of the Year award, batting .293 with 22 home runs, 108 RBI and 27 stolen bases. On September 27, 1999, Beltran made the final out at Tiger Stadium striking out against relief pitcher Todd Jones as the Detroit Tigers beat the Royals 8–2.
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Carlos Lee
Carlos Noriel Lee (born June 20, 1976, in Aguadulce, Panama) is a first baseman in Major League Baseball who plays for the Houston Astros. He bats and throws right-handed.
Lee made his major league debut with the Chicago White Sox on May 7, 1999, hitting a home run in his first Major League at-bat. He would remain in the White Sox organization until being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for outfielder Scott Podsednik and pitcher Luis Vizcaino.
Lee was the White Sox' starting left fielder for the first six years of his career, with only a few games a season as a designated hitter. He can hit for both average and power. From 2001–02, his batting average slumped to the .260s, but he has returned to exceeding .300, and has a career average of .288. His home run totals increased over the years. White Sox television announcer Ken Harrelson gave Lee his nickname "El Caballo," which means "The Horse."
Lee's best showing was in the National League with 114 RBI. He was selected for the National League All-Star team in his first two seasons as a Brewer, and participated in the Home Run Derby in 2005.
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Cecil Cooper
Cecil Celester Cooper (born December 20, 1949 in Brenham, Texas), nicknamed "Coop," is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former manager of the Houston Astros. From 1971 through 1987, Cooper played for the Boston Red Sox (1971–76) and Milwaukee Brewers (1977–87). He batted and threw left-handed, and attended Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas.
Cecil Cooper was born on December 20, 1949, in Brenham, Texas, a city with a population of 13,000 and located 70 miles northwest of Houston. Raised in nearby Independence, Cooper was the youngest of 13 children, seven boys and six girls. Cooper's mother Ocie died when he was just 10. His ball-playing father, Roy, worked with a nearby Department of Public Works. A 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) left-hander, Cecil was taught baseball by his brothers John, Sylvester, and Jessie. John and Sylvester later played with the barnstorming Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues.* John as a pitcher while Sylvester was a catcher who according to Cecil once caught Satchel Paige According to a 1980 Sports Illustrated story, father Roy also played in the Negro Leagues.
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Cesar Cedeno
César Cedeño Encarnación (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈθesar θeˈðeɲo]; born February 25, 1951 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Houston Astros (1970–81), Cincinnati Reds (1982–85), St. Louis Cardinals (1985) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1986). He batted and threw right-handed.
Signed by Houston as an amateur free agent in 1967, Cedeño debuted on June 20, 1970 at 19 years of age. He never became "The next Willie Mays", as Houston manager Leo Durocher once suggested he would, but certainly he had a distinguished career and was a solid performer in the Major Leagues.
Cedeño showed signs of superstardom early in his career, batting .310 in his rookie season in 1970, and .320 in both 1972 and 1973. Possessing a rare combination of power, blazing speed, and good defense, he became the second man in Major League history (after Lou Brock in 1967) to hit 20 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season. Cedeño accomplished the feat three years in a row (1972-1974). He also stole 50-plus bases the next three years (1975-1977), twice led the league in doubles (1971-1972) and collected 102 RBI in 1974.
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Chad Qualls
Chadford Michael Qualls (born August 17, 1978, in Lomita, California) is a professional pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Qualls was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros. He began his career as a starting pitcher with the Michigan Battle Cats in 2001. He was converted to relief in 2004 while with the New Orleans Zephyrs, and made his major league debut with Astros on July 22.
Qualls pitched the next three seasons for the Astros. He recorded 6 saves and a 3.39 ERA.
On December 14, 2007, Qualls was dealt to the Arizona Diamondbacks along with Chris Burke and Juan Gutiérrez for José Valverde. Qualls replaced Brandon Lyon as the closer for the Diamondbacks in mid-September 2008 after Lyon struggled in the second half of the season.
He is one of four pitchers who pitched in at least 70 games every season from 2004–08.
Qualls was the closer for the Arizona Diamondbacks at the start of the 2009 season. On August 30, 2009, he suffered a patellar dislocation on the final play of a winning effort against the Astros. He required surgery and missed the rest of the season.
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Chris Carpenter
Christopher John Carpenter (born April 27, 1975 in Exeter, New Hampshire) is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who has played for the St. Louis Cardinals since 2003, and is currently signed with the team through the 2013 season.
Carpenter was 22 years old and a highly-regarded prospect when he broke into the majors in 1997 with the Toronto Blue Jays. He stayed with Toronto until after the 2002 season. He is 6' 6" tall and weighs 230 pounds.
Carpenter began his pro career with the Medicine Hat Jays of the short-season Pioneer League in 1994. In his debut against the Great Falls Dodgers, he tossed six scoreless innings of one-hit ball, fanning nine along the way. He ended up with a mark of 6–3 and turned in the league’s third-lowest ERA. He was also picked as the Pioneer League’s #3 prospect by league managers, behind Aaron Boone and Ray Brown.
Carpenter made his major league debut as a starter against the Minnesota Twins on May 12, 1997, pitching three innings in a 12–2 loss. He would lose his first five decisions before defeating the Chicago White Sox 6–5 on August 19, 1997. Carpenter pitched his first career complete game and shutout on September 9, 1997 as Toronto defeated the Anaheim Angels 2–0. Carpenter finished his rookie season with a 3–7 record and a 5.09 ERA.
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Chris Sampson
Christopher Keith Sampson (born May 23, 1978 in Channelview, Texas, United States) is an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Sampson is 6'0". Sampson attended Texas Tech University, where he played for the Red Raiders.
Sampson originally began his professional baseball career in the late 1990s as a shortstop. After batting .239, and hitting only one home run during the 1999 season in Class A baseball, Sampson decided to retire since his chances of making the Major Leagues were slim due to his poor batting stats. In the years following his retirement, he coached baseball for Collin College in Plano, Texas, just outside of Dallas, where he would frequently throw batting practice. It was then that he realized his potential as a pitcher.
In 2003, Sampson contacted the Astros for a try-out as a pitcher. Astros Assistant General Manager Tim Purpura was impressed with Sampson's pitching ability and signed him to a minor league contract. Sampson developed as a pitcher, and impressed the Astros with his performance at Triple A Round Rock Express where he began the 2006 baseball season with a 7-1 record and a 2.64 ERA in 10 starts. His performance resulted in the Astros purchasing Sampson's contract on July 1, 2006. He made his debut the next day when he entered a blowout game for the Houston Astros against the Cincinnati Reds in relief of starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez.
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Chris Snyder
Christopher Ryan Snyder (born February 12, 1981) is a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros. He has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks. He bats and throws right-handed.
Snyder attended Spring Woods High School and the University of Houston. In 2001, Snyder started every game and hit .316; he also led the team in home runs, hits, doubles, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and hit by pitches. He was named All-Conference USA second team and also played for Team USA hitting 1 home run and having 9 RBIs. In 2002, he hit .348 with 15 home runs and 70 RBIs.
Snyder had been drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft, but chose to attend college. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2nd round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft.
Snyder began his professional career with the High-A Lancaster JetHawks and hit .258 with 9 home runs and 44 RBIs. He began 2003 with Lancaster again and was promoted to Double-A El Paso after hitting .314 with 10 home runs and 53 RBIs. He began 2004 with El Paso and hit .301 with 15 home runs and 57 RBIs and was promoted to the major league team.
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Craig Biggio
Craig Alan Biggio (born December 14, 1965) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman, catcher, and outfielder. He played his entire 20-year baseball career with the Houston Astros (1988–2007). He ranks 21st all-time with 3,060 career hits, and is the ninth player in the 3000 hit club to get all his hits with the same team. He is currently the head varsity baseball coach for St. Thomas High School in Houston, Texas.
Craig Biggio graduated from Kings Park High School on Long Island, New York, where he excelled as a multi-sport varsity athlete. Most notably, after the 1983 season, Biggio was awarded the Hansen Award, which recognized him as being the best football player in Suffolk County. However, Biggio's passion lay with baseball, such that he turned down football scholarships for the opportunity to play baseball for Seton Hall University.
An infielder in school, Biggio switched to catcher at Seton Hall University because his team needed one. Biggio was an All-American baseball player at Seton Hall, where he played with other future Major League Baseball stars Mo Vaughn and John Valentin. Biggio, Vaughn and Valentin, along with Marteese Robinson, were featured in the book The Hit Men and the Kid Who Batted Ninth by David Siroty which chronicled their rise from college teammates to the major leagues. Biggio was drafted by the Houston Astros in the first round (22nd overall) in 1987.
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Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague Schilling (born November 14, 1966) is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in 1993 and won World Series championships in 2001 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in 2004 and 2007 with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a career postseason record of 11–2. His .846 postseason winning percentage is a major-league record among pitchers with at least 10 decisions.
After retiring, he founded Green Monster Games which was renamed 38 Studios. The company released Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning in February 2012, but just three months later, Schilling laid off his entire staff amid severe financial troubles that resulted in the company missing payroll the previous week.
Schilling graduated from Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1985, before attending Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona.
Schilling began his professional career in the Red Sox farm system as a second-round pick in what would be the final January draft in MLB. He began his professional career with the Elmira Pioneers, a then Red Sox affiliate. After two and a half years in the minor leagues, he and Brady Anderson were traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 1988 for Mike Boddicker. His major league debut was with the Orioles (1988–1990), and he then spent one year with the Houston Astros (1991).
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Danny Heep
Daniel William Heep (born July 3, 1957 in San Antonio, Texas), is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder.
Heep played for five different ballclubs during his 13-year career: the Houston Astros (1979–1982), New York Mets (1983–1986), Los Angeles Dodgers (1987–1988), Boston Red Sox (1989–1990), and Atlanta Braves (1991).
Heep played for two different World Series champions: the New York Mets in 1986, and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988.
Heep played baseball for, and graduated from, Lee High School in San Antonio.
Heep played for St. Mary's University in San Antonio where he was twice an All-American, in 1976 and 1978, as a pitcher. At St. Mary's he earned his bachelor's degree in physical education, and he is a member of that school's Athletic Hall of Fame.
Danny Heep was the 4000th strikeout victim to Nolan Ryan on July 11, 1985.
He was the first DH (designated hitter) in a World Series to have the initial "DH".
He was traded to the New York Mets for future Cy Young winner Mike Scott.
Currently, Heep is the head coach for the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. Since becoming head coach in 1998, Heep has helped the team to two division championships.
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Darryl Kile
Darryl Andrew Kile (December 2, 1968 – June 22, 2002) was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1991 to 2002 for three different teams in his career. In his first season for the Cardinals, he won 20 games in 2000 as the team reached the postseason for the first time in four years. They advanced to the playoffs in the next two seasons. Kile, known for his sharp, big-breaking curveball, died of coronary disease in Chicago, where he and the Cardinals were staying for a weekend series against the Chicago Cubs. He was the first active major league player to die during the regular season since the New York Yankees' Thurman Munson died in an aviation accident in 1979. The cause of death was attributed to a 90% blockage in two coronary arteries.
Kile was selected by the Houston Astros in the 30th round of the 1987 Major League draft. Having been successful with the Tucson Toros, the Astros' AAA club in the Pacific Coast League, Kile entered the majors in 1991, going 7–11 in 22 starts. In his first major league start on April 24, 1991, Kile had a no-hitter going when he was lifted after six innings by manager Art Howe, who wanted to protect the 22-year-old rookie's arm. Kile's breakthrough year came in 1993 when he went 15–8 with a 3.51 earned run average and made the All-Star team. On September 8, Kile pitched a no-hitter against the New York Mets. He pitched seven seasons with the Astros, mostly as a starter. Another strong season was 1997, when he went 19–7, compiled a 2.57 ERA, made the All-Star team again, threw a career-high 255-2/3 innings, and pitched four shutouts. He finished fifth in voting for the NL Cy Young Award. Kile made his first postseason appearance in Game 1 of the 1997 National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, giving up only two hits but suffering a hard-luck 2–1 loss. Atlanta swept Houston in the best-of-five series.
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Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Eugene Strawberry (born March 12, 1962) is a former American Major League Baseball outfielder. Strawberry was well known for his play on the field and for his controversial behavior off it. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Strawberry was one of the most feared sluggers in the game, known for his prodigious home runs and his intimidating presence in the batter's box with his 6-foot-6 frame and his long, looping swing that elicited comparisons to Ted Williams.
During his 17-year career, he helped lead the New York Mets to a World Series championship in 1986 and the New York Yankees to three World Series championships in 1996, 1998 and 1999. A popular player during his career, Strawberry was voted to the All-Star Game eight straight times from 1984–1991. Strawberry was formerly an analyst for SportsNet New York. His memoir, "Straw: Finding My Way," written in collaboration with author John Strausbaugh, was published on April 28, 2009 by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins publishers.
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Dave Borkowski
David Richard Borkowski (born February 7, 1977) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher He began his major league career in 1999 with the Detroit Tigers, and briefly appeared with the Baltimore Orioles in 2004. From 2006-2008, he played for the Houston Astros. Borkowski spent part of the 2009 season in the Philadelphia Phillies organization but did not get the call.
As of 2012, Borkowski is the pitching coach for the Lexington Legends.
Borkowski attended Sterling Heights High School in Sterling Heights, Michigan and was a letterman in basketball and baseball.
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Dave Raymond
Dave Raymond (born August 12, 1972) is a professional radio broadcaster for the Houston Astros Major League Baseball team. He graduated from Stanford University and worked for the San Francisco Giants (2003) and Baltimore Orioles (2005) before being hired by Houston in the winter of 2005.
A native of Gering, Nebraska [1], Raymond is a 17-year broadcasting veteran with experience that includes minor league stops with the independent Brockton Rox (2005), Triple-A Iowa Cubs (2000–2004), Single-A Charleston RiverDogs (1999) and the independent Sonoma County Crushers (1995–1998). Raymond spent parts of four years providing television and radio play-by-play for several Drake University football and men's basketball games as well as radio for women's basketball games (2002–2005). He also broadcast four seasons of Stanford University women's basketball (1998–2001).
Raymond worked as a fill-in announcer for the Giants in 2003 and the Orioles in 2005. He was recommended for the jobs by Jon Miller.
Miller, who broadcasts for the Giants and, formerly ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, said Raymond "is a radio guy. He understands the medium. He understands how to paint a picture of the game, and that's his first priority."
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Del Unser
Delbert Bernard Unser (born December 9, 1944 in Decatur, Illinois) is a retired Major League Baseball center fielder and utility player who had a 15-year career from 1968 to 1982. Unser played for the Washington Senators from 1968 to 1971 and the Cleveland Indians in 1972. He also played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1973 to 1974, the New York Mets from 1975 to 1976, the Montreal Expos from 1976 to 1978, and again for the Phillies from 1979 to 1982. In 1977 he began to be used primarily as a pinch-hitter, and also split his time on the field between the outfield and first base.
Unser led the American League in triples in 1969 with eight. He had one 5-hit game, in which he hit four singles and a home run against the Oakland Athletics on August 20, 1968. Unser's career totals include 1,799 games played, 1,334 hits, 87 home runs, 481 Runs batted in, and a lifetime batting average of .258. Unser, along with Lee Lacy, is one of two players to hit three pinch-hit home runs in consecutive at-bats.
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Denis Menke
Denis John Menke (born July 21, 1940 in Algona, Iowa, United States) is a former professional baseball infielder. He played all or part of thirteen seasons in Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1974. He played for the Milwaukee Braves (1962–65), Atlanta Braves (1966–67), Houston Astros (1968–71, 1974) and Cincinnati Reds (1972–73), all of the National League. He was elected to the National League All-Star team in 1969 and 1970.
During his career, Menke hit 101 home runs and compiled a batting average of .250. In 1964, Menke hit 20 home runs, his single season best. In 1970, as a Houston Astro, he compiled a .304 batting average, the only time he hit over .300 as a major leaguer. In 1969, Menke and Houston outfielder Jim Wynn hit grand slam home runs in the same inning.
Menke was a versatile player in the field. He played first, second, third base, shortstop, and 5 games as an outfielder. Menke complied a career fielding percentage of 969. He played his last major league game July 10, 1974 with the Houston Astros.
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Dennis Sarfate
Dennis Scott Sarfate (born April 9, 1981 in Queens, New York) is a is a right-handed pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball.
Sarfate graduated from Gilbert High School in Gilbert, Arizona. He was an All-American and First Team All-State. He was Scottsdale Tribune Pitcher of the Year in 1999.
Sarfate was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 1999 in the 15th round. He made his MLB debut on September 3, 2006 with the Milwaukee Brewers.
He was traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Houston Astros on September 11, 2007, for cash considerations. On December 12, 2007, Sarfate was traded by the Houston Astros along with Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers and Troy Patton, and third baseman Michael Costanzo to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for shortstop Miguel Tejada.
After beginning his professional career as a starter, Sarfate spent 2007 and began 2008 as a relief pitcher, but on July 28, 2008, he was moved to the Orioles starting rotation. He returned to the bullpen after just 4 starts, in which he went 0-2 while allowing 18 runs in just 15 2/3 innings.
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Denny Lemaster
Denver Clayton Lemaster (born (February 25, 1939 in Corona, California) was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 to 1972 for the Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, and Montreal Expos. During his decade-long career, LeMaster won 90 games and lost 105. While with the Atlanta Braves he pitched a one-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals.
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Denny Walling
Dennis Martin Walling (born April 17, 1954 in Neptune, New Jersey) is a former Major League Baseball player. Walling played all or part of eighteen seasons in the majors, from 1975 to 1992. He played his most games as a third baseman, but also saw significant time as an outfielder and first baseman.
Walling may be best known as a pinch-hitting specialist for the Houston Astros. Nicknamed "Good Wood", Walling was a valuable bat off the bench for most of his career. Entering the 2009 season, his 108 career pinch hits are tied for 13th all-time. He hit .271 out of 2,945 lifetime at bats. Walling currently serves as a roving hitting instructor for the Baltimore Orioles.
Walling played at Howell High School in New Jersey.
Walling played college baseball at Clemson University. He was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 8th round of the 1974 Major League Baseball Draft, but chose to remain at Clemson. He was then drafted in the secondary phase of the 1975 draft by the Oakland Athletics.
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Dick Wagner
Dick Wagner (born December 14, 1942, in Oelwein, Iowa) is an American rock music guitarist, songwriter and author best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Lou Reed and KISS.
Growing up in the Saginaw area, Wagner's first band, called The Bossmen, was a favorite in the Detroit area and scored radio play with the Wagner penned composition "Baby Boy". His next band, The Frost, with Donny Hartman, Bobby Rigg, and Gordy Garris, was formed in the late 1960s and built up a substantial following in the Michigan area. The band released three albums during their tenure together on Vanguard Records: 1969's Frost Music and Rock and Roll Music, plus 1970's Through the Eyes of Love.
Wagner then formed the short-lived group "Ursa Major" with former Amboy Dukes bassist Greg Arama and released one self-titled album. Wagner was soon recruited for Lou Reed's band along with Steve Hunter. They are best known for the intro to the Rock 'n' Roll Animal live album song "Sweet Jane". Many famous guitarists[who?] have stated this intro is some of the most influential guitar playing ever. Soon after, producer Bob Ezrin brought both Wagner and Steve Hunter into sessions with Alice Cooper , Wagner having already featured on the School's Out album playing the memorable guitar solo on the track 'My Stars'.
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Dickie Thon
Richard William "Dickie" Thon (born June 20, 1958 in South Bend, Indiana) is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball.
Thon was raised in Puerto Rico after spending only the first two weeks of his life in Indiana where his father had just completed a bachelor's degree at the University of Notre Dame.
He was signed by the California Angels as an amateur free agent on November 23, 1975 while in high school in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. During his 15-year career, Thon spent two seasons with the Angels (1979–1980), seven seasons with the Houston Astros (1981–1987), one season with the San Diego Padres (1988), three seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies (1989–1991), one season with the Texas Rangers (1992), and finished his career with the Milwaukee Brewers (1993).
Touted by some as a future Hall of Famer, his career was permanently altered on April 8, 1984, when he was hit in the face by a Mike Torrez fastball. [1] The pitch broke the orbital bone around his left eye and ended his 1984 season. He returned in 1985, but suffered from problems with depth perception that permanently hampered his potential. In 1991, Thon received the Tony Conigliaro Award in recognition of his recovery from this severe injury.
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Don Sutton
Donald Howard Sutton (born April 2, 1945) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher and current radio sportscaster. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.
Sutton was born in Clio, Alabama, a small town in Barbour County, and on the same date as future Dodger teammate Reggie Smith. He was born to sharecroppers at the end of World War II, in a tar-paper shack. At the time Sutton was born his father was 18 and his mother was 15. Sutton's father, Howard, gave him the strong work ethic that he had throughout his career. His father tried logging and construction work, and in looking for work, moved the family to Molino, Florida, just north of Pensacola.
Sutton attended J. M. Tate High School in Cantonment/Gonzalez, Florida where he played baseball, basketball, and football. He led his baseball team to the small-school state finals two years in row, winning his junior year, 1962, and losing 2–1 in his senior year, and was named all-county, all-conference, and all-state for both of those seasons. He graduated in 1963, and was voted "Most Likely to Succeed". He wanted to attend the University of Florida, but then coach Dave Fuller was not interested. Instead he attended Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida for one year, and then after a good summer league, was signed by the Dodgers.
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Doug Brocail
Douglas Keith Brocail (born May 16, 1967 in Clearfield, Pennsylvania) is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently the interim pitching coach for the Houston Astros.
Brocail attended Lamar High School in Lamar, Colorado and was a good student and won All-State honors in football, basketball, and baseball.
Doug was the first round draft pick of the San Diego Padres in 1986, but didn't make his major league debut until 1992 because of injuries sustained in the minors. Initially a starter, Brocail went 4-13 in his first full season (1993) before being converted to relief. More arm problems kept Brocail out of the big leagues for nearly four years (2000–04).
After the Houston Astros fired pitching coach Brad Arnsberg on June 14, 2011, Brocail was named the interim pitching coach.
Doug and his wife, Lisa Brocail, have five daughters, Taylor, McKinzie, Madisyne, Camdyn, and Parker Elisabeth. The family lives in Missouri City.
On September 13, 2004, Brocail was involved in an ugly incident at the McAfee Coliseum, when his Texas Rangers were playing the Oakland Athletics. His rookie teammate Frank Francisco, angry at fan Craig Bueno for heckling Brocail about his stillborn child, hoisted a folded chair into the stands, striking Bueno's wife and breaking her nose. [1] Brocail would later pitch 1/3 of an inning.
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Drayton McLane
Drayton McLane, Jr. is an American entrepreneur. He is chairman of the McLane Group, a high technology firm. He was, until 1990, the CEO of the McLane Company, a grocery and food service warehouse, supply, and logistics firm, and was, from 1993 until 2011, the chairman and CEO of the Major League Baseball's Houston Astros. On the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans, he was ranked #301 in 2008 with an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion and #272 in 2009 with an estimated net worth of $1.45 billion.
He was born (1936-07-22) July 22, 1936 (age 75) in Cameron, Texas. His father, Drayton McLane, Sr., owned a wholesale grocery distribution center. At age nine, the young McLane went to work for his father's business that had been established by his grandfather, Robert McLane, in 1894. His grandfather came from Abbeville, S.C., to Cameron, Texas, in the late 1800s and worked as a farm laborer until about 1885, when he was able to buy and build a small retail grocery and in 1894 went into the wholesale grocery business in a small way. McLane, Jr., spent most Saturdays and summers during his teen years sweeping floors and learning various aspects of the wholesale grocery business. He graduated from C.H. Yoe High School in Cameron in 1954.
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Drayton McLane, Jr.
Drayton McLane, Jr. is an American entrepreneur. He is chairman of the McLane Group, a high technology firm. He was, until 1990, the CEO of the McLane Company, a grocery and food service warehouse, supply, and logistics firm, and was, from 1993 until 2011, the chairman and CEO of the Major League Baseball's Houston Astros. On the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans, he was ranked #301 in 2008 with an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion and #272 in 2009 with an estimated net worth of $1.45 billion.
He was born (1936-07-22) July 22, 1936 (age 75) in Cameron, Texas. His father, Drayton McLane, Sr., owned a wholesale grocery distribution center. At age nine, the young McLane went to work for his father's business that had been established by his grandfather, Robert McLane, in 1894. His grandfather came from Abbeville, S.C., to Cameron, Texas, in the late 1800s and worked as a farm laborer until about 1885, when he was able to buy and build a small retail grocery and in 1894 went into the wholesale grocery business in a small way. McLane, Jr., spent most Saturdays and summers during his teen years sweeping floors and learning various aspects of the wholesale grocery business. He graduated from C.H. Yoe High School in Cameron in 1954.
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Ed Armbrister
Edison Rosanda "Ed" Armbrister (born July 4, 1948 in Nassau, Bahamas) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who had a five-year career from 1973 through 1977 with the Cincinnati Reds. Originally in the Houston Astros system, he was traded to the Reds in the deal that also sent Joe Morgan, César Gerónimo, Denis Menke and Jack Billingham to Cincinnati for Lee May, Tommy Helms and Jimmy Stewart.
Armbrister is probably best remembered for his involvement in a controversial play in the 1975 World Series. In the tenth inning of Game 3, with teammate César Gerónimo on base and nobody out, Amrbrister collided with Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk while attempting to sacrifice bunt, leading to a wild throw by Fisk and his subsequent failure to get Gerónimo out; home plate umpire Larry Barnett did not make the expected interference call on Armbrister, a decision which was harshly criticized after the Reds won the game 6–5.
In the film Fever Pitch, Ben Wrightman (Jimmy Fallon) and his friends attempt to explain the "Curse of the Bambino" to his new girlfriend, Lindsay Meeks (Drew Barrymore). The Armbrister play is among the incidents mentioned.
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Ed Wade
Ed Wade (born January 31, 1956) is the former General Manager of the Houston Astros.
Wade started his baseball career in 1977 as an intern in the Phillies public relations department. In 1977, he was named public relations assistant for the Astros and was promoted to public relations director in 1979, replacing Kenneth "Flannel" Mung. In 1981, he left Houston to become the public relations director for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he remained with that club for five seasons.
In 1986, Wade returned to Houston to work as an associate for Tal Smith Enterprises, a firm that has provided consulting services to 26 of the 30 Major League Baseball clubs. The most recognized functions have been in the preparation of arbitration cases, the financial appraisal of franchise, contract negotiations and other baseball-related matters.
Wade worked for the company until May 5, 1989, when he rejoined the Phillies as assistant to the general manager. In 1995, he was promoted to assistant general manager, and he served in that role until assuming the general manager duties for Philadelphia in 1998.
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Eddie Mathews
Edwin Lee Mathews (October 13, 1931 – February 18, 2001) was an American professional baseball player He played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman, most notably on the Milwaukee Braves. Mathews is regarded as one of the greatest third basemen ever to play the game. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978.
Mathews was born in Texarkana, Texas. He was six years old when his family moved to Santa Barbara, California. The Santa Barbara High School baseball field, where he developed into a star high school baseball player, is named after him. Mathews was signed by the Boston Braves in 1949. He continued to shine in their farm system as a left-handed hitting third baseman who hit towering home runs.
Mathews was brought up to the major leagues in 1952, Mathews hit 25 home runs, including three in one game. In 1953 the Braves moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he batted .302, hit 47 home runs, and drove in 135 runs. For nine straight seasons he hit at least 30 home runs, including leading the National League twice (1953, 1959).
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Enerio del Rosario
Enerio Del Rosario (born October 16, 1985 in Santa Lucia, Dominican Republic) is a right-handed pitcher with the Houston Astros. He was signed in 2005 at the age of 19.
He was added to the Reds' 40 man roster after the 2009 season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He was designated for assignment on September 13, 2010.
On September 16, 2010 Del Rosario was traded to the Houston Astros for cash considerations and added to the 40-man roster.
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Enos Cabell
Enos Milton Cabell, Jr. (pronounced "ca-BELL", born October 8, 1949 in Fort Riley, Kansas) is a former third baseman and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played 15 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, the Houston Astros, the San Francisco Giants, the Detroit Tigers, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cabell is a cousin of center fielder Ken Landreaux.
Cabell was traded from Baltimore to Houston on December 3, 1974 for 1B Lee May. On December 8, 1980, Cabell was then traded to San Francisco for P Bob Knepper and OF Chris Bourjos.
On February 28, 1986, Cabell and six others were suspended for the entire season for admitting during the Pittsburgh drug trials that they were involved in cocaine abuse. The suspensions for all seven were avoided after agreeing to large anti-drug donations and community service.
In December 2008, Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young filed suit against Cabell and two others for applying for a trademark to use Young's initials and "Invinceable" nickname to sell products without Young's permission in 2006. The suit claims that their use of Young's name has damaged endorsement deals for Young; he is asking the court to give him the exclusive rights to use the initials and nickname. Cabell denies any wrongdoing.
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Eric Bruntlett
Eric Kevin Bruntlett (born March 29, 1978, in Lafayette, Indiana) is a former Major League Baseball player most notable for his years as a reserve infielder on the Philadelphia Phillies. Bruntlett also played for in the Houston Astros organization and the New York Yankees organization. He retired from baseball in November 2009 to spend more time with his family.
Bruntlett is a 1996 graduate of William Henry Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana where he was a two-time All-Indiana selection in both baseball and football. He attended Stanford University. During his tenure as a Cardinal, Stanford made 3 appearances in the College World Series.
Bruntlett was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 9th Round of the 2000 Amateur Entry Draft. He was assigned to the Martinsville Astros. He quickly progressed through the minor league system and reached the major leagues in 2003 with Houston.
Throush his first years with the Astros, Bruntlett primarily served as a backup to shortstop Adam Everett but also played second base, third base, and the outfield. His best season was in 2006 where he hit .277 in 73 games. During that season, he posted a .412 batting average as a pinch hitter. On November 7, 2007, Bruntlett was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Brad Lidge for Geoff Geary, Michael Bourn, and Mike Costanzo.
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Ezequiel Astacio
Ezequiel Franklin Astacio (born November 4, 1979 in Hato Mayor del Rey, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who currently plays for the San Angelo Colts in the United Baseball League.
Obtained by the Houston Astros from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2003 as part of the Billy Wagner trade. Astacio got a taste of the big league in 2005 posting a 3–6 record with a 5.67 ERA. He pitched 100 innings, striking out 66 and walking 25. Typical of a lot of younger pitchers with a plus fastball, he also gave up an eye opening 25 home runs. He gave up the game-winning home run to Geoff Blum in Game 3 of the 2005 World Series against the Chicago White Sox.
Astacio was claimed off of waivers by the Texas Rangers on March 26, 2007, but he failed to make the team following spring training.[1] After clearing waivers, Astacio was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks. After signing with the Cincinnati Reds organization, Astacio was released before pitching in a game.
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Fernando Abad
Fernando Antonio Abad ( /ˈeɪbæd/; born December 17, 1985 in La Romana, Dominican Republic) is a left-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Houston Astros.
Abad began his professional career in 2006, pitching for the Dominican Summer Astros. That year, he went 5-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 games (11 games started). He also struck out 64 batters in 61 1/3 innings.
He split 2007 between the Greeneville Astros (17 games, four starts) and Tri-City ValleyCats (two games), going a combined 6-4 with a 4.25 ERA, with 59 strikeouts in 53 innings. In 2008, he pitched for the Lexington Legends, going 2-7 with a 3.30 ERA in 45 relief appearances, striking out 94 batters in 76 1/3 innings.
Abad pitched for the Lancaster Jethawks (41 games) and Corpus Christi Hooks (three games, all starts) in 2009, going a combined 4-7 with a 4.00 ERA, striking out 92 batters in 96 2/3 innings of work.
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Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter (April 8, 1954 – February 16, 2012) was an American professional baseball catcher whose 21-year career was spent primarily with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets. Nicknamed "Kid" for his youthful exuberance, Carter was named an All-Star 11 times, and was a member of one World Series championship team.
Known throughout his career for his hard hitting as well has his excellent defense behind the plate, Carter made a major contribution to the Mets' World Series championship in 1986, including a 12th-inning single against the Houston Astros that won Game 5 of the NLCS and a 10th-inning single against the Boston Red Sox to start the fabled comeback rally in Game 6 of the World Series. He is one of only three people ever to be named captain of the Mets, and he had his number retired by the Expos.
After retiring from baseball, Carter coached baseball at the college and minor-league level. He was inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Carter was born in Culver City, California in 1954 to Jim Carter, an aircraft worker, and his wife, Inge. When Gary was 12, Inge died of leukemia. He attended high school at Sunny Hills High School, in Fullerton, CA, where he played football as a quarterback and baseball as an infielder. After receiving more than 100 scholarships for athletics, Carter signed a letter of intent to play football at University of California, Los Angeles, but instead signed with the Montreal Expos after they drafted him in the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft.
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Gary Maddox
Garry Lee Maddox (born September 1, 1949 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who was known for his outstanding defense.
Maddox was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the second round of the 1968 amateur draft. Maddox missed two seasons due to his service in the U.S. Army during the 1969 and 1970 seasons. Exposure to chemicals in Vietnam left his skin highly sensitive, and he has worn a full beard ever since to protect his face.
Maddox reached the major leagues with the Giants in 1972. On May 4, 1975, the Giants traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies for first baseman Willie Montañez after the Phillies had failed in their efforts to acquire Rusty Staub from the Mets. The Phillies traded Montanez with the intention to replace him at first-base with Dick Allen. Maddox went on to win his first Gold Glove Award as the top center fielder in the National League. Montanez was traded away the next year.
Maddox's 1975 Gold Glove was his first of eight in a row. His sparkling defensive play led Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas to remark, "Two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water, the other one-third is covered by Garry Maddox." (This quote has also been attributed to Ralph Kiner, the Hall-of-Fame slugger-turned-broadcaster for the New York Mets.) Kalas nicknamed Maddox the "Secretary of Defense."
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Gene Elston
Gene Elston (born 1922) is a former Major League Baseball broadcaster, primarily with the Houston Astros.
A native of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Elston's first job in announcing was high school basketball in 1941. From there he progressed to minor league baseball starting in 1946. His first job in the major leagues was 8 years later in 1954, when he became the number two radio announcer for the Chicago Cubs, alongside Bert Wilson. In 1958, he moved to a national radio audience by announcing the Game of the Day on the Mutual Broadcasting System, with Bob Feller.
In 1961, Elston joined veteran radio broadcaster Loel Passe to announce the final season of Houston's minor league franchise, the Houston Buffs. With the expansion of the major league and the inaugural 1962 season of the Houston Colt 45s, Elston was chosen to lead the radio broadcast. (Loel Passe stayed on as the color commentator with Elston until Passe retired in 1986.) The team changed its name to the Astros three years later, and Elston continued as their main announcer through 1986, when he ended his association with the Astros and joined Tal Smith Enterprises as a consultant and researcher.
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Geoff Geary
Geoffrey Michael Geary (born August 26, 1976, in Buffalo, New York) is a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently a reliever for the York Revolution of the Atlantic League.
Geary graduated from Grossmont High School in 1994 in El Cajon, CA. He attended San Diego Mesa College and the University of Oklahoma. While at Oklahoma Geary went 4–3 with a 2.20 ERA at Oklahoma and led Big 12 in ERA in 1997.
Geoff Geary was drafted by Philadelphia Phillies in the 15th round (434th overall) of the 1998 amateur entry draft. He was awarded Red Barons Pitcher of the Year in 2003 after a stellar year in AAA. That year, he primarily filled three roles: as a starter, set-up man and closer, where he reached career-highs in games (46) and saves (5) and fell one win shy of tying his career high (10). He was awarded Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June 2003. He also was awarded the Greg Legg Tenth Man Award, by the Scranton booster club, given to a player who comes off the bench to consistently contribute to the success of their team. That year, he made his major league debut on August 27, 2003 against the Montreal Expos, allowing one run in his one inning of work. He appeared in only 5 games in 2003. In 58 innings in 2005, he compiled a 3.72 ERA and showed improvement as the season went on by posting a 2.70 ERA after the all-star break.
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Gerald Hunsicker
Gerald Hunsicker (born June 10, 1950, in Collegeville, Pennsylvania) is the senior vice president, baseball operations for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League baseball. Hunsicker has been an executive with the New York Mets and the general manager of the Houston Astros from November 1995 until the end of the 2004 campaign.
Hunsicker received a master's degree in education from Florida International University in Miami, Florida, in 1976. From 1975-1978, he was an assistant coach of the FIU baseball team, before entering professional baseball. From 1988-1992, he held various positions with the New York Mets including director of minor league operations and assistant general manager.
During his tenure as general manager, the Astros won their division four times and placed second five times. The team reached the World Series in 2005.
In 2005, he was recognized by FIU as one of its outstanding alumni. He received his bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Gerald Young
Gerald Anthony Young (born October 22, 1964, in Tela, Honduras) was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He was noted for his long strides and blazing speed, and although considered somewhat of a "hot dog" because of what appeared to be a lackadaisical style (including unnecessary basket catches), he was considered one of the best defensive center fielders of his time. He is the first person born in Honduras to play Major League Baseball.
Young was drafted in the 5th round of the 1982 MLB amateur draft by the New York Mets along with Rafael Palmeiro and Dwight Gooden as part of a draft class that set a major league record for a single team when 12 of those players reached the major leagues.[citation needed]
Young was traded to the Houston Astros on September 1, 1984 from the Mets for 3B Ray Knight, and made his Major League Baseball debut with them on July 8, 1987. He showed promise by hitting .321 and stealing 26 bases for the Astros, finishing 5th in National League Rookie of the Year voting despite playing less than half a season with the major league club. Young's best season in the major leagues would come the following year, 1988, when he finished 2nd in the NL with 65 steals. 1989 was disappointment for Young offensively, although he did manage to finish 8th in the league in steals (34) and accomplish a rare defensive feat by recording 412 putouts with only one error and adding 15 outfield assists.
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Greg Luzinski
Gregory Michael "The Bull" Luzinski (born November 22, 1950) is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, he attended Notre Dame High School in Niles, Illinois. Luzinski spent the majority of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies (1970–1980), and retired as a member of the Chicago White Sox (1981–1984).
At 6'1' and 255 pounds, Luzinski was a well-liked member of the Phillies and a feared slugger who could also hit for average despite striking out frequently. While he was a mediocre defensive left fielder, he hit .300 or better for 3 consecutive seasons during the prime of his career, and was a career .276 hitter with 307 home runs and 1,128 RBIs. He was selected an All-Star between 1975 and 1978, hitting a home run off Jim Palmer in 1977 and being the top vote-getter for the National League in 1978. He was also MVP runner up in 1975 (when he led the National League in RBIs with 120) and 1977, when he posted career highs in batting average (.309), home runs (39) and RBIs (130).
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Hal Lanier
Harold Clifton Lanier (born July 4, 1942 in Denton, North Carolina) is a former infielder, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. From 1964 through 1973, Lanier played for the San Francisco Giants (1964–71) and New York Yankees (1972–73). He is the son of Max Lanier, a former MLB All-Star pitcher.
In his rookie season Lanier posted a career-high .274 batting average for the San Francisco Giants and was selected for the 1964 Topps All-Star Rookie team.
In 1968, Lanier led NL shortstops in putouts (282) and fielding average (.979). After that, he moved from second base to shortstop, and finally to third base. He also played in part of two seasons with the New York Yankees.
In a 10-season career, Lanier was a .228 hitter with eight home runs and 273 RBI in 1196 games played. In each of the three seasons from 1967 to 1969 he ranked last among NL qualifiers in average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.
Reports of a serious beaning Lanier sustained in 1965 leaving him with epilepsy are not true. He played 159 games that season [1], and confirmed in a radio interview in 2008 that the story was false.
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Hank Aaron
Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron (born February 5, 1934), nicknamed "Hammer," or "Hammerin' Hank," is a retired American baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1954 through 1976. Aaron spent 21 seasons with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves in the National League (NL) before playing for the Milwaukee Brewers of the American League (AL) for the final two years of his career. Aaron is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Aaron fifth on their "100 Greatest Baseball Players" list.
After playing with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League and in the minor leagues, Aaron started his major league career in 1954. In his final season, he was the last Negro League baseball player on a major league roster. His most notable achievement was breaking the career home run record set by Babe Ruth. During his career, Aaron performed at a consistently high level for an extended period of time. He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973, and is the only player to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times.
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Harry Craft
Harry Francis Craft (April 19, 1915 – August 3, 1995) was an American Major League Baseball player and manager. Born in Ellisville, Mississippi, he was an center fielder for the Cincinnati Reds from 1937 to 1942. Craft attended Mississippi College, threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg).
A well-praised defensive center fielder, Craft was an average hitter in his short career. His best season came, basically, as a rookie (he had 42 at bats the previous season) in 1938. On June 15 of that year, Craft caught the ninth-inning pop fly (batted by Leo Durocher) to make the final out in the historic game that gave Johnny Vander Meer his second consecutive no-hitter. That same season, Craft batted a solid .270 as the Reds' everyday center fielder with 15 home runs and 83 RBIs in 151 games. He had 165 hits that season in 612 at bats. All those numbers ended up being career-highs. The next two years were Cincinnati's best seasons as they went to the World Series in both, winning in 1940 against the Detroit Tigers. However, Craft did not play a large part in the victory, having only 1 at bat. He ended up with just one postseason hit, which came the year before.
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Harry Kalas
Harry Norbert Kalas (March 26, 1936 – April 13, 2009) was an American sportscaster, best known for his Ford C. Frick Award-winning role as lead play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball's Philadelphia Phillies. Kalas was also closely identified with the National Football League, serving as a voice-over narrator for NFL Films productions (a regular feature on Inside the NFL) and calling football games nationally for Westwood One radio.
Born in Naperville, Illinois, Kalas graduated from Naperville High School in 1954 and from the University of Iowa in 1959. Upon graduation, he was immediately drafted into the United States Army and stationed in Hawaii. After his discharge in 1961, Kalas began calling minor-league baseball games for the Hawaii Islanders.
Kalas had three sons Todd, Brad, and Kane. Todd Kalas was a Phillies broadcaster, worked as a pregame/postgame–show host, and is currently an in-game analyst for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Kalas made his major-league debut in 1965 with the Houston Astros, replacing Al Helfer and working alongside Gene Elston and Loel Passe. He called the first game at Houston's Astrodome, on April 12, 1965.
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J. A. Happ
James Anthony "J. A." Happ (born October 19, 1982 in Spring Valley, Illinois) is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Houston Astros. He is a six-foot-six left-hander. Though his name is James Anthony and his initials are "J. A.", he pronounces his name as "Jay".
Happ was born in Spring Valley, Illinois and raised in nearby Peru, Illinois along with 2 older sisters. He attended high school at St. Bede Academy, where he was a four-year letter winner in baseball and basketball. He was named Bureau County Athlete of the Year during his senior season.
After graduating high school in 2001, Happ enrolled in Northwestern University, where he majored in history. He was named to the All-Big Ten First Team in his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons, during which he compiled a 16–11 win–loss record, an ERA of 2.88, and a 251/90 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 228.1 innings pitched. Happ chose to forego his senior season and entered the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft, where he was selected in the third round (92nd overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies.
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Jack Billingham
John Eugene (Jack) Billingham (born February 21, 1943 in Orlando, Florida) is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1968), Houston Astros (1969-1971), Cincinnati Reds (1972-1977), Detroit Tigers (1978-1980) and Boston Red Sox (1980). Nicknamed "Cactus Jack," the 6-foot-4 hurler won at least 10 games for 10 consecutive seasons, and he helped lead Cincinnati's legendary "Big Red Machine" to back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. He batted and threw right-handed. Billingham is the cousin of Christy Mathewson.
Billingham proved to be one of baseball's greatest World Series pitchers. In seven games (including three starts) for Cincinnati, he went 2–0 with a 0.36 ERA, allowing just one earned run in 25.3 innings pitched. Jack came to the Reds in one of baseball's biggest trades. The Reds sent Lee May, Tommy Helms and Jimmy Stewart to the Astros for Billingham, Joe Morgan, Denis Menke, Cesar Geronimo, and (then minor leaguer) Ed Armbrister prior to the 1972 season.
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Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American baseball player who became the first black Major League Baseball (MLB) player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. As the first black man to play in the major leagues since the 1880s, he was instrumental in bringing an end to racial segregation in professional baseball, which had relegated black players to the Negro leagues for six decades. The example of his character and unquestionable talent challenged the traditional basis of segregation, which then marked many other aspects of American life, and contributed significantly to the Civil Rights Movement.
In addition to his cultural impact, Robinson had an exceptional baseball career. Over ten seasons, he played in six World Series and contributed to the Dodgers' 1955 World Championship. He was selected for six consecutive All-Star Games from 1949 to 1954, was the recipient of the inaugural MLB Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, and won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1949—the first black player so honored. Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. In 1997, Major League Baseball retired his uniform number, 42, across all major league teams.
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Jason Hirsh
Jason Michael Hirsh (born February 20, 1982, in Santa Monica, California) is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who is a free agent.
Hirsh was a dominant minor league pitcher in 2005–06, winning the Double-A Texas League Pitcher of the Year Award and the Triple-A Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year Award in successive seasons, as he went a combined 26–10 with 283 strikeouts. Following that he was in the starting rotation for the Colorado Rockies, but saw limited action due to injuries in 2007–08.
Hirsh has a very large but athletic frame, standing at 6' 8" and weighing 250 lb (110 kg).
His freshman year of high school when he was 5' 11" he tried out for the school basketball team, got cut, and never went back. "Baseball was it for me," said Hirsh. "High school turned out to be one big growth spurt.... All of a sudden I'm 6-foot-8, and people are like, 'What happened to you?'"
Despite his size, Hirsh drew little interest from scouts out of St. Francis High School of La Cañada, California, because he then threw just 86–88 mph. He went undrafted when he graduated in 2000, and no NCAA Division I programs wanted him, so he wound up at Division III California Lutheran University, which was only 40 minutes from his house.
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Jason Jennings
Jason Ryan Jennings (born July 17, 1978, in Dallas, Texas) is an American Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent.
Jennings attended Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas, and was a standout in both football and baseball. In football, he won All-District honors at both kicker and punter. In baseball, as a senior, he was named the District MVP and posted a .410 batting average, hit seven home runs, and pitched his way to a 10-3 record and a 0.92 ERA with 132 strikeouts.
After graduating from Poteet, he attended Baylor University where he played baseball from 1997 to 1999. Following his junior season at Baylor, Jennings was named by both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball as the 1999 National Player of the Year. In what would be his final season at Baylor, he struck out 172 hitters in 146.2 innings and hit .382 with 17 homers and 68 RBIs. He also won the Golden Spikes Award, his second consecutive Big 12 Player of the Year, consensus All-America honors, the Outstanding Player on the 1999 Big 12 All Tournament Team, and a spot on the 1999 All-Big 12 Academic First Team.
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Jason Lane
Jason Dean Lane (born December 22, 1976 in Santa Rosa, California) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball, but began his career as an outfielder. He was drafted out of the sixth round in 1999. Lane graduated from El Molino High School in Forestville, California in 1995. Notably, Lane is one of those rare position players in major league history who throws left-handed but bats right-handed.
First attended Santa Rosa Junior College, where he was selected as the 1997 California Junior College Northern California Player of the Year and Bay Valley Conference MVP before transferring to University of Southern California. At Southern California, Lane earned All-America honors during his senior season (1999), including pitching 2.2 innings in the 1998 College World Series championship game to pick up the win and help USC to its 12th NCAA baseball championship, topping Arizona State University 21-14. Lane served as the DH in the game, going 3-6 with a ninth inning grand slam setting a CWS record with 11 hits overall, and led the tournament with a .417 batting average. Morgan Ensberg was also his college teammate on the USC national championship squad.
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Jed Lowrie
Jed Carlson Lowrie (born April 17, 1984 in Salem, Oregon) is an American professional baseball infielder with the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball.
Loe was born on April 17, 1984 and later attended North Salem High School.
In 2004, while playing for the Stanford University Cardinal baseball team, Lowrie earned Pac-10 Player of the Year honor. He was a First Team All-American in 2004 and 2005. At Stanford, future major league outfielders Sam Fuld, John Mayberry Jr. and Carlos Quentin were among Lowrie's teammates.
From 2005 through 2007, Lowrie played for Boston at three different minor league levels. During the 2007 season, he made the Eastern League All-Star team, was named the Portland Sea Dogs Most Valuable Player, and the Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Year as well. He was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket late in the season.
Lowrie was called up from the minor leagues on April 10, 2008 after Mike Lowell was placed on the DL. He made his debut on April 15, driving home three runs in a 5–3 victory in Cleveland.
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Jeff Bagwell
Jeffrey Robert Bagwell (born May 27, 1968), is a former American professional baseball player and coach. He played his entire fifteen-year Major League Baseball career as a first baseman for the Houston Astros and was a four-time All-Star. Bagwell was considered one of the most accomplished power hitters in baseball during his career.
Born in Hanover, Massachusetts, son of Janice and Robert Bagwell, Bagwell grew up in Killingworth, Connecticut. He graduated from Xavier High School, a private all-male Catholic school located in Middletown, Connecticut, where he excelled at soccer as well as baseball. A versatile high school athlete, Bagwell lettered in basketball and set the school goal-scoring mark in soccer. In early 1999, Bagwell was honored by Xavier for his character and generosity. After high school he remained in Connecticut, attending the University of Hartford.
Bagwell was selected in the fourth round of the 1989 draft by the Boston Red Sox. On August 30, 1990 the Red Sox traded him to the Houston Astros for 36-year old relief pitcher Larry Andersen to gear up for their playoff run.
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Jeff Kent
Jeffrey Franklin Kent (born March 7, 1968) is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman. Kent won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2000 with the San Francisco Giants, and is the all-time leader in home runs among second basemen. He drove in 90 or more runs from 1997 to 2005, a streak of run production unprecedented for a second baseman, a position typically known for its defense. Kent is a five-time All-Star and his 560 career doubles put him tied for 21st on the all-time doubles list.
Born in Bellflower, California, Kent graduated from Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California. Kent played at UC Berkeley prior to being drafted in the 20th round of the 1989 amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. Prior to attending college, Kent had a serious run-in with his Edison High School baseball coach; he was removed from the team as a result.[citation needed]
After four seasons in the minor leagues, Kent was invited to spring training with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and made the opening day roster. He made his debut on April 12 against the Baltimore Orioles and recorded his first career hit (a double) in the 6th inning against Jose Mesa. He hit his first home run on April 14 against New York Yankees pitcher Lee Guetterman. He saw limited at-bats early in the season; however, an injury to starting third baseman Kelly Gruber granted Kent a more regular role in the line-up.
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Jerry Mumphrey
Jerry Wayne Mumphrey (born September 9, 1952) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1974–79), San Diego Padres (1980), New York Yankees (1981–83), Houston Astros (1983–85) and Chicago Cubs (1986–88). Mumphrey finished 20th in voting for the 1981 American League MVP.
Along with San Diego Padres' teammates Gene Richards and Ozzie Smith, he was part of the first trio from the same team in MLB history to each steal 50 or more bases in a season (1980).
When Mumphrey was traded to the Cubs in December 1985, Cubs General Manager Dallas Green said: "By acquiring Jerry Mumphrey, we got someone who can play three outfield positions and play all three very well."
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Jesse Orosco
Jesse Russell Orosco (born April 21, 1957 in Santa Barbara, California) is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who holds the major league record for career pitching appearances. He pitched most notably for the New York Mets in the 1980s. He won a World Series in 1986 with the Mets and in 1988 with the Dodgers. He threw left-handed, but batted right-handed. He retired in 2003 after having been with the Mets, Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, and Minnesota Twins. He retired when he was 46 years old, one of the oldest players to still be playing in the modern age. Orosco is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have appeared in Major League games in four decades.
Orosco's longevity was greatly aided by the increasing use of left-handed specialist relief pitchers from the 1990s onward; in his last several years, he was used almost exclusively in this role.
Orosco was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft. In February 1979, the Twins traded Orosco to the New York Mets to complete a deal that had been made two months earlier. In December 1978 the Mets traded veteran starter Jerry Koosman to the Twins for two players, one of whom was a player to be named later. The trade of that player, Orosco, completed the deal.
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Jesus Alou
Jesús María Rojas Alou (born March 24, 1942 in Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. During a 17-year baseball career, he played for the San Francisco Giants (1963–68), Houston Astros (1969–73; 1978–79), Oakland Athletics (1973–74), and New York Mets (1975). He was the youngest of the trio of baseball-playing brothers that included Felipe and Matty.
Alou was considered a better prospect than either of his brothers and received a $4,000 signing bonus. He tore up all the minor leagues he played in, never hitting below .324. He made his debut at the end of 1963, and his first game on September 10 was notable in that all three Alou brothers batted in the same inning (they were retired in order). Five days later, for the first time, the three played in the outfield for the Giants at the same time.
In his first full year of Major League action in 1964, Alou failed to live up to expectations, hitting only .274 with little power, but he did have a great day on July 10 when he went 6–6 with five singles and a home run. Alou was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 1968 MLB expansion draft and then was dealt to Houston. He had his most active season there, hitting .306 in 487 at-bats, but with few walks and little power. He was traded to the Athletics midway through the 1973 season, and served as a bench player on two World Series championship teams. Alou was released by the A's before the 1975 season, failed to catch on with the Mets and Cordoba of the Mexican League in short stints, and did not return to the Majors until Houston took a chance on him in 1978. He responded by hitting .324 in part-time action and became a player-coach the following year before retiring. Alou later served as a scout for the Expos, then moved to the Florida Marlins as the club's director of Dominican operations. He has held the same post with the Boston Red Sox since the 2002 season.
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Jesús Alou
Jesús María Rojas Alou (born March 24, 1942 in Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. During a 17-year baseball career, he played for the San Francisco Giants (1963–68), Houston Astros (1969–73; 1978–79), Oakland Athletics (1973–74), and New York Mets (1975). He was the youngest of the trio of baseball-playing brothers that included Felipe and Matty.
Alou was considered a better prospect than either of his brothers and received a $4,000 signing bonus. He tore up all the minor leagues he played in, never hitting below .324. He made his debut at the end of 1963, and his first game on September 10 was notable in that all three Alou brothers batted in the same inning (they were retired in order). Five days later, for the first time, the three played in the outfield for the Giants at the same time.
In his first full year of Major League action in 1964, Alou failed to live up to expectations, hitting only .274 with little power, but he did have a great day on July 10 when he went 6–6 with five singles and a home run. Alou was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 1968 MLB expansion draft and then was dealt to Houston. He had his most active season there, hitting .306 in 487 at-bats, but with few walks and little power. He was traded to the Athletics midway through the 1973 season, and served as a bench player on two World Series championship teams. Alou was released by the A's before the 1975 season, failed to catch on with the Mets and Cordoba of the Mexican League in short stints, and did not return to the Majors until Houston took a chance on him in 1978. He responded by hitting .324 in part-time action and became a player-coach the following year before retiring. Alou later served as a scout for the Expos, then moved to the Florida Marlins as the club's director of Dominican operations. He has held the same post with the Boston Red Sox since the 2002 season.
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Jim Umbricht
James "Jim" Umbricht (September 17, 1930 – April 8, 1964) was an American professional baseball player. A right-handed relief pitcher, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) five seasons from 1959 to 1963 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Colt .45s. He was best known for his public year-long battle with malignant melanoma.
Nicknamed "Big Jim" because of his dominating 6'4" size, Umbricht was born in Chicago but grew up in Georgia. He started his professional career in 1953, making the Majors in 1959. Over the next several seasons, Umbricht played between the Pirates and its farm team. Umbricht was drafted by the Colt .45s in 1962 where he became one of the National League top relievers. He was diagnosed with melanoma in his leg prior to the 1963 season. His battle with melanoma made national headlines and encouraged research on the disease. He pitched the entire 1963 season, sometimes in excruciating pain. His health quickly deteriorated soon after the season ended and Umbricht died in a Houston area hospital at the age of 33. His ashes were then spread throughout the Astrodome construction site. The Colt .45s honored Umbricht by retiring his jersey number, and wearing black wristbands for the 1964 season.
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Jimy Williams
James Francis "Jimy" Williams (born October 4, 1943) is an American former manager of three Major League Baseball teams. He was born in Santa Maria, California.
Williams, a former infielder who threw and batted right-handed, graduated from Arroyo Grande, California, High School and Fresno State University. He signed originally with the Boston Red Sox and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1965 Rule 5 draft. He appeared in 14 games for the Cards over two seasons 1966–67, but had only 13 at bats, compiling a batting average of .231. Although he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds after the 1967 season, then selected in the 1968 expansion draft by the Montreal Expos, he never appeared in an MLB game for either club. The first pitcher Williams ever faced was Sandy Koufax. He got his first hit off another Hall of Famer: Juan Marichal.
His playing days cut short by a shoulder injury, Williams began his minor league managing career with the California Angels in 1974. He soon reached the Triple-A level and was appointed the third base coach of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980.
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Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan (born September 19, 1943) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the National League Most Valuable Player in those years. Considered one of the greatest second basemen of all-time, Morgan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990. He became a baseball broadcaster for ESPN after his retirement, and now hosts a weekly nationally syndicated radio show for Sports USA. Joe Morgan is also a special adviser to the Cincinnati Reds.
Raised in Oakland, California, and nicknamed "Little Joe" for his diminutive 5'7" stature, Morgan was a standout at Castlemont High School before being signed by the Houston Colt .45's as an amateur free agent in 1962. Early in his career, he had trouble with his swing because he kept his back elbow down too low. Teammate Nellie Fox suggested to Joe that while at the plate he should flap his back arm like a chicken to keep his elbow up. Morgan followed the advice, and his flapping arm became a familiar sight to baseball fans.
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Joe Niekro
Joseph Franklin Niekro (November 7, 1944 – October 27, 2006) was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of Minor League Baseball pitcher Lance Niekro. A native of Blaine, Ohio, Niekro attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio and attended West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia. During a 22-year baseball career, he pitched from 1967-1988 for seven different teams, pitching primarily for the Houston Astros.
Niekro pitched for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Detroit Tigers with occasional success before joining Phil with the Atlanta Braves in 1973. Joe used a fastball and a slider early in his career, with mixed results. He spent two seasons in Atlanta with Phil and got re-acquainted with the knuckleball that their father taught them. The knuckleball became an essential part of his arsenal though never his sole pitch. Joe threw harder than Phil and could set up batters nearly as effectively with his fastball in combination with his excellent changeup.
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Joe Pettini
Joseph Paul "Joe" Pettini (born January 26, 1955, in Wheeling, West Virginia) is a former Major League Baseball player and a former major league bench coach with the St. Louis Cardinals. Joe and his family now reside in Bethany, West Virginia.
Pettini attended Brooke High School in Wellsburg, West Virginia and Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He played for the Mercer baseball team, starting 196 consecutive games, but was not selected in the MLB draft. Pettini signed as an undrafted free agent with the Montreal Expos in 1977 after graduating from Mercer. On March 15, 1980, Pettini was sent to the San Francisco Giants as the player to be named later in a 1979 trade where the Giants sent Montreal backup catcher John Tamargo. Pettini made his major-league debut for the Giants on July 10, 1980. He would go on to be a part-time player for the Giants for four seasons, 1980–1983, amassing a total of 344 big-league at-bats and hitting for a .203 average. One of the highlights of Pettini's playing career was his participation in a triple play that the Giants executed against the San Diego Padres on Oct. 3, 1980.
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Joe Sambito
Joseph Charles (Joe) Sambito (born June 28, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Houston Astros (1976–1982, 1984), New York Mets (1985) and Boston Red Sox (1986–1987). He batted and threw left-handed. He graduated from Bethpage High School in Bethpage, New York
A fastball and slider specialist, Sambito was a starter in the minors, as he led the Southern League in strikeouts at Triple-A Columbus in 1975. A year later he was promoted to the Astros, where he immediately moved into a relief role.
From 1978 through 1981, Sambito led Houston in saves, with a career-high 22 saves and a 1.78 ERA in 1979 – a season in which he posted a string of 40-2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run and was name to the National League All-Star team. He started 1982 with four saves and a 0.71 ERA in nine appearances, before it was discovered that bone chips had damaged the ligaments of his pitching elbow. He missed the rest of the season and all of 1983 recuperating from Tommy John surgery. The next two years, he failed in comeback attempts with Houston and the New York Mets.
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José Cruz
José Cruz Dilan (born August 8, 1947 in Arroyo, Puerto Rico) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is also the former first base coach for the Houston Astros. During his 19-year baseball career, he played from 1970 to 1988 for three different teams, playing primarily for the Astros. He is a member of one of Puerto Rico's most famous major league families and is the brother of former major leaguers Héctor and Tommy Cruz.
Nicknamed "Cheo", many baseball fans refer to him as Cheo Cruz. He and his wife, Zoraida, make their home in Houston. They have four children: José Javier, Shakira, José Jr., also a former Major League outfielder, and José Enrique Cruz, an infielder in the New York Mets minor league system.
In 1997 he resided in the Northfield subdivision in Fondren Southwest, Houston.
Cruz debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1970. It was as a member of the Houston Astros, however, that he became a household name across Puerto Rico and the United States. During his playing days, he was arguably the most famous baseball player (not counting the late Roberto Clemente) in Puerto Rico.
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José Valverde
José Rafael Valverde (born March 24, 1978) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. His nickname is Papa Grande (Spanish for Big Potato). He was born in in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.
Valverde made his Major League Baseball debut in 2003 to help out the injury plagued Arizona Diamondbacks, joining Brandon Webb and Andrew Good after injuries to Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling left the team out of contention.
Although he had been the Diamondbacks closer since replacing Brian Bruney in 2005, trouble on the mound in the month of June 2006 forced management to give the role to Jorge Julio.[citation needed] Valverde regained the role after spending some time with the Diamondbacks Triple-A affiliate, the Tucson Sidewinders. He returned to the closer role in early September (as Julio became too inconsistent)[citation needed] and pitched well in his return. Valverde finished the 2006 season with a record of two wins, three losses, an ERA of 5.84 and 18 saves.
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Justin Maxwell
Justin Adam Maxwell (born November 6, 1983 in Olney, Maryland) is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Houston Astros organization.
Maxwell was drafted out of Sherwood High School by the Baltimore Orioles in the 43rd round (1279th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft, but opted instead to attend college at University of Maryland. He was drafted, again, in 2004 by the Texas Rangers in the 10th round (291st overall), but declined, and the following year by the Washington Nationals in the 4th round (114th overall). He signed and played most of 2006 for the Vermont Lake Monsters, the Nationals Short-Season A team.
In 2007, he split his time between Low-A Hagerstown, and High-A Potomac, where, he combined to hit .281 with 27 home runs, 83 RBI and 35 stolen bases, the only player in Minor League Baseball to record at least 25 doubles, 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases in 2007."
After the minor league season was over, he was brought up to the Nationals, just to get a taste of the big leagues, and "was told not to expect much from his first month in the majors." On September 5, he made his debut, as pinch hitter, and flew out to the warning track. Six days later, in his third pinch hitting appearance, Maxwell recorded his first career base hit, a pinch-hit grand slam off an 0–2 pitch from Chris Seddon, of the Florida Marlins.
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Kazuo Matsui
Kazuo "Kaz" Matsui (松井(朴) 稼頭央, Matsui Kazuo?) (born October 23, 1975 in Higashiōsaka, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese second baseman for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball. Matsui is a switch-hitter. Although it is commonly thought that he is, Matsui is not related to Hideki Matsui.
Matsui signed with the New York Mets on December 17, 2003, becoming the first Japanese infielder to sign with a Major League Baseball team.
He graduated from the PL Academy Senior High School in Osaka, a school nationally renowned for its baseball program. The only appearance Matsui made at the National High School Baseball Championship Tournament was in his second year at PL Academy. Though Matsui was considered to be the PL Academy's ace starting pitcher, injuries limited him to playing only in the quarter-final game, where he allowed two runs during 2 2/3 innings.
Matsui was chosen third overall by the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League in the 1994 Japanese League Draft, where he would wear number 32. In 1996, his third season, he became a regular starter as a shortstop and finished the season second in stolen bases (50). Prior to the 1997 season, he would change his number to 7. The 1997 season saw him reach a .300 batting average for the first time and lead the league in stolen bases (62) to help his team win the Pacific League Title. During the 1997 All-Star Game he set a new All-Star Game record by stealing four bases and was chosen the game MVP. Matsui would lead the Pacific League in stolen bases for two more consecutive seasons.
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Ken Caminiti
Kenneth Gene Caminiti (April 21, 1963 – October 10, 2004) was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball and the 1996 National League Most Valuable Player. He died of a drug overdose on October 10, 2004.
Caminiti was born in Hanford, California on April 21, 1963. He starred in football and baseball at Leigh High School where he graduated in 1981. In football, he was invited to many all-star games after his senior football season. He attended San Jose State University.
Caminiti played professional baseball for 15 seasons, beginning with the Osceola Astros of the Single-A Florida State League in 1985. He also played third base for the Indios de Mayagüez along with Wally Joyner in the Puerto Rico Winter League. He earned a call-up to the Double-A Columbus Astros in 1987.
He made his major league debut at age 24 with the Houston Astros on July 16, 1987. In 1988, Caminiti returned to the minor leagues, playing with the Triple-A Tucson Toros of the Pacific Coast League, before he was called up to stay late in the season.
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Ken Forsch
Kenneth Roth (Ken) Forsch (born September 8, 1946 in Sacramento, California) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Forsch graduated from Hiram Johnson High School and played in college ball at Oregon State University through the 1967-1968 seasons.
Forsch was selected by the Houston Astros in the 18th round (399th overall) of the 1968 MLB amateur draft. He pitched for the Astros (1970–1980) and the California Angels (1981-84 & 1986), where the Astros traded him to. He was selected to the All-Star Game in 1976 and 1981.
During his 16-year career, Forsch compiled 114 wins, 1,047 strikeouts, and a 3.37 earned run average.
On April 7, 1979 Forsch pitched a no-hitter and shut out the Atlanta Braves, 6–0. His brother Bob Forsch, who also pitched for the Astros, hurled two no-hitters while with St. Louis, making them the only set of brothers to pitch no-hit no-run games in MLB history.
Bob Forsch died on November 3, 2011 from a thoracic aortic aneurysm.
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Kevin Bass
Kevin Charles Bass (born May 12, 1959 in Redwood City, California) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, and Baltimore Orioles.
Bass was selected by the Brewers in the second round of the 1977 draft. His Major League debut came on April 9, 1982. Bass was traded to Houston from Milwaukee with P Frank DiPino and P Mike Madden for P Don Sutton on August 30, 1982. He played his final MLB game was on October 1, 1995.
Bass had his best year in 1986 for an Astros team that narrowly missed a World Series appearance. Bass was named to the 1986 National League All-Star team, pacing the Astros with a .311 batting average, 20 homers, 22 steals, and sterling defensive play. His career year did not have a storybook ending, however. In Game Six of the epic 1986 NLCS, he struck out swinging with men on first and second in the 16th inning, sealing a 7-6 victory for the Mets, allowing them to advance to the 1986 World Series.
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Lance Berkman
William Lance Berkman (born February 10, 1976) is an American professional baseball firstbaseman with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball.
He stands 6' 1", and weighs 220 pounds (100 kg). Berkman has spent various seasons of his career as a regular at all three outfield positions. He has played with the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Berkman was born in Waco, Texas. He graduated from Canyon High School in New Braunfels, Texas, in 1994.
He then attended Rice University playing on the Owls baseball team, where he was named the 1997 National College Player of the Year, playing for the legendary Wayne Graham, as well as named a first team All-America by Collegiate Baseball Magazine, Baseball America and The Sporting News. He was invited to visit the White House and dine with President Clinton along with the rest of the Baseball America honorees.
Throughout college, he batted a collective .385 with 67 home runs and 272 RBI. His 41 home runs in 1997 ranked third-most in NCAA history. That year he also made the all-time record book in RBI (2nd-134), slugging percentage (6th-1.031) and total bases (4th-263) while leading the Rice Owls to their first College World Series appearance.
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Larry Andersen
Larry Eugene Andersen (born May 6, 1953 in Portland, Oregon) is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball and current color commentator for the Philadelphia Phillies. From 1975 through 1994, Andersen played for the Cleveland Indians (1975, 1977–1979), Seattle Mariners (1981–1982), Philadelphia Phillies (1983–1986, 1993–1994), Houston Astros (1986–1990), Boston Red Sox (1990) and San Diego Padres (1991–1992). He batted and threw right-handed.
Andersen reported that he once hit a grand-slam in Little League during the broadcast of the bottom 17th inning of the Phillies-Reds game on May 26, 2011.
Andersen possessed an average fastball, but had an outstanding slider (Andersen admitted that he actually had better command of his slider than his fastball). He is perhaps best known, in addition to his work with the Phillies broadcast team, as being the player who was involved in one of the most lopsided trades in sports history. In 1990, he was traded to the Red Sox for minor league prospect Jeff Bagwell. While Andersen played only a little over a month for the Sox, appearing in 15 games and recording 1 save, Bagwell became a legend in Houston, hitting 449 home runs with over 1500 RBI and a .297 average. Bagwell would go on to win the 1991 NL Rookie of the Year award, as well as also being honored with the NL MVP in 1994. Many Red Sox fans lament this trade as being one of the most recent examples of their front office blunders, dating back to the sale of Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees earlier in the 20th century.
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Larry Dierker
Lawrence Edward Dierker (born September 22, 1946, in Hollywood, California) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and manager. During a 14-year baseball career as a pitcher, he pitched from 1964–1977 for the Houston Colt .45s/Astros and the St. Louis Cardinals. He also managed the Astros for five years (1997–2001).
Drafted by the Colt .45s at age 17, Dierker made his major-league pitching debut on his 18th birthday – and struck out Willie Mays in the first inning. In 1969, he became the Astros' first 20-game winner, while compiling a 2.33 earned run average, 20 complete games and 232 strikeouts over 305 innings. He was elected to the National League All-Star team in 1969 and 1971. On July 9, 1976, Dierker pitched a no hitter against the Montreal Expos.
On May 19, 2002, the Astros honored Dierker, retiring his No. 49 jersey.
From 1979 to 1996, Dierker served as a color commentator on the Astros' radio and television broadcasts, a position he returned to in 2004 and 2005.
Dierker was elected National League Manager of the Year in 1998. Houston finished in first place in four of the five years Dierker managed the team, failing only in 2000 when the Astros placed fourth.
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Lee May
Lee Andrew May (born March 23, 1943 in Birmingham, Alabama) is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1965 through 1982, May played for the Cincinnati Reds (1965–71), Houston Astros (1972–74), Baltimore Orioles (1975–80) and Kansas City Royals (1981–82). He batted and threw right-handed. He is the brother of former Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees outfielder Carlos May. His son, Lee May, Jr. is currently the hitting coach for the Columbus (Ohio) Clippers (Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians).
In an 18-season career, May posted a .267 batting average, with 354 home runs and 1244 runs batted in in 2071 games.
A three-time All-Star, May was one of the most consistent sluggers of his generation. During 11 consecutive seasons, he compiled 20 or more home runs and 80 or more RBI (1968-1978), with career highs of 39 home runs in 1971 and 110 RBI in 1969. In 1973 with the National League's Houston Astros, May had a 21-game hitting streak (May 30 to June 22), setting a club record. He also had a three-home run game in the same season (on June 21). May hit the last home run in the history of Crosley Field. The game-winning shot came in the eighth inning off San Francisco Giants pitcher Juan Marichal in the final game ever played at the ball park, on June 24, 1970. On November 29, 1971, May was involved in a blockbuster trade to the Houston Astros that sent future Hall of Famer Joe Morgan to the Reds. The Astros, badly in need of power after finishing last in the NL in home runs in 1971, sent second baseman Morgan, pitcher Jack Billingham, infielder Dennis Menke, outfielder Cesar Geronimo and minor leaguer Ed Armbrister to Cincinnati for May, second baseman Tommy Helms and utility man Jimmy Stewart.
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Lenny Dykstra
Leonard Kyle "Lenny" Dykstra ( /ˈdaɪkstrə/; born February 10, 1963 in Santa Ana, California), nicknamed "Nails" and "Dude", is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. Dykstra played for the New York Mets during the late 1980s before playing for the Philadelphia Phillies during the early 1990s.
Dykstra was signed by the Mets as a 13th round draft pick in 1981. A star in the minors, in 1983 he led the Carolina League in at-bats, runs, hits, triples, batting average, and stolen bases with 105, which was a league record for 17 years. That season, he batted .358 with 8 HR, 81 RBI, and 105 stolen bases while recording 107 walks against just 35 strikeouts. He was consequently named the Carolina League's MVP. Dykstra soon emerged as one of the Mets' prized prospects, and while playing in AA in 1984, he befriended fellow outfielder and teammate Billy Beane. Beane would later say that Dykstra was "perfectly designed, emotionally" to play baseball and that he had "no concept of failure." According to Beane, his first comments upon seeing Steve Carlton warming up on the mound were, "Shit, I'll stick him."
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Lucas Harrell
Lucas William Bradley Harrell (born June 3, 1985) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball. Harrell stands 6'2" and weighs 210 pounds.
As a shortstop/pitcher, Harrell led Ozark High School to its first state championship in 2004 over Mary Institute and the Saint Louis Country Day School. That same year Harrell went 10-1 with a 1.09 ERA. Harrell mowed down MICDS's power-packed lineup despite an excellent showing of fan support for the Ladue, Missouri school. In the semi-final game at the state championship, Harrell was 2-3 with a double and home run along with pitching Ozark to a 2-1 victory over nationally ranked Sikeston, Missouri. Harrell also played on the Ozark state championship basketball team in 2003.
Harrell was drafted out of high school by the Chicago White Sox in the 4th round (119th overall) of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. Harrell began his professional career for the Rookie League Bristol White Sox in 2004. Making 9 starts in 13 appearances, he had a 3-5 record with a 5.59 ERA.
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Luke Scott
Luke Brandon Scott (born June 25, 1978) is an American professional baseball first baseman, outfielder and designated hitter for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball.
Scott attended Oklahoma State University, where he earned All-Big 12 Conference honors on the Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team. In the summer of 2000, he played for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He also played baseball at Indian River Community College. Luke spent a winter playing for a Venezuelan League where he earned the nickname "el monstruo de cuadrangular" which translates to "The Home Run Monster". He spent his first professional season in 2001 at home recovering from Tommy John surgery on his elbow joint.
Scott, drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 9th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft and made his professional debut for the Columbus Red Stixx of the South Atlantic League in 2002. He played for the Indians organization through 2003, making stops at Kinston and Akron.
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Mark Lemongello
Mark Lemongello (born July 21, 1955 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is a retired professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1976-1979. He played for the Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays. He is the cousin of singer Peter Lemongello.
Lemongello was known throughout his career for his erratic, sometimes violent behaviour, which sometimes overshadowed his on-field accomplishments. He would often furiously slap himself in the face after a bad inning, and after bad games Lemongello was known to destroy locker room equipment such as hair dryers and light fixtures in fits of anger. By his own admission, Lemongello admitted to reporter Alan Abel: "My head was messed up."
After spending three seasons with Houston, where he compiled a 21-29 record, Lemongello balked at being traded to Toronto, asking if Canadians "spoke American." His tenure with Toronto was little short of disastrous, as Lemongello spent half a season with the club going 1-9, before being sent down to the minors after a screaming match with manager Roy Hartsfield. When informed he was being sent down to Syracuse, he threw an ashtray at the head of Blue Jays GM Peter Bavasi, barely missing him.
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Mark Loretta
Mark David Loretta (born August 14, 1971 in Santa Monica, California) is a retired Major League Baseball infielder. Loretta played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1995-2002), Houston Astros (2002, 2007-2008), San Diego Padres (2003-2005), Boston Red Sox (2006) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2009). He batted and threw right-handed.
Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh round of the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft out of Northwestern University, Loretta made his professional debut with the Helena Brewers in 1993. He subsequently played with the Stockton Ports, El Paso Diablos and New Orleans Zephyrs. He was selected to the American Association All-star team during the 1995 season.
Loretta made his Major League debut on September 4, 1995 for the Brewers against the Minnesota Twins and recorded his first hit on September 10 against the Texas Rangers. He remained on the Brewers every day roster as a utility player through 2002.
On June 20, 2001, during an 11–3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, Loretta took the mound to pitch a scoreless eighth inning. Brewers manager Davey Lopes asked the team for a volunteer to pitch an inning in hopes of saving the depleted bullpen, and Loretta volunteered. He had not pitched since college. Loretta faced five batters, gave up one hit and one walk and got two strikeouts on 19 pitches. He was the first everyday player to pitch for the Brewers since 1991.
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Mark Melancon
Mark David Melancon [pronounced /məˈlɑːnsɒn/ mə-LAHN-son] (born March 28, 1985) is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.
Melancon was born in Wheat Ridge, Colorado and attended Golden High School, where he lettered all four years in baseball and basketball and three times in football. He helped the team capture the Colorado 4A State Championship in baseball. Melancon was named to the All-State Team twice in his career (as well as twice in football and once in basketball), and graduated as a member of the National Honors Society.
Melancon was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 30th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft. Melancon didn’t sign, instead following through on his commitment to the University of Arizona.
As a member of the Arizona Wildcats baseball team, Melancon set a single-season freshman record by making 29 appearances, and followed that by going 2-0 with two saves in five postseason appearances. While pitching for the USA National Team over the summer, Melancon made 10 appearances and led the club with five saves.
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Marty Bystrom
Martin Eugene Bystrom (July 26, 1958 in Coral Gables, Florida), is a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1980-1985. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees.
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Matt Albers
Matthew James Albers (born January 20, 1983, in Houston, Texas) is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.
In 2001, Albers graduated William P. Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas. That year, in the 2001 MLB Draft, the Astros took him in the 23rd round.
Albers worked his way up through the minor leagues and started 2006 at Double-A Corpus Christi, where he went 10–2 with an 2.17 ERA.
Albers is mainly a sinkerball pitcher, throwing it in the 93-96 mph range. He complements the sinker with a hard slider and occasional curveball.
In late July of that year, the Astros called him up to the Major Leagues. Albers pitched a few games in relief, then made his first Major League start against the San Diego Padres on August 3, 2006.
When Albers was sent back down shortly after the San Diego start, it was to AAA Round Rock. Albers returned to the Majors when rosters expanded on September 1.
In 2006, Albers was named Texas League Pitcher of the Year.
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Matt Downs
Matthew Russell "Matt" Downs (born March 19, 1984 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama) is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Houston Astros.
Downs graduated from Bibb County High School in Centreville, AL and he played a year playing as a pitcher/infielder for Shelton State Community College in Alabama in 2003.
He was drafted in the 25th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2003 MLB June Amateur Draft, while playing for Shelton State Community College. In 2006 the San Francisco Giants drafted him in the 36th round from the University of Alabama. He played 2006 in the Rookie League Giants franchise, in 2007 for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, and in 2009 at their Single-A San Jose Giants and AAA Fresno Grizzlies teams. He was named the Northwest League co-MVP in 2007 while playing for the Volcanoes.
On June 16, 2009, Downs was called up to the San Francisco Giants, replacing Emmanuel Burriss, and he collected his first two big league hits June 17 against the Angels' Matt Palmer. He hit his 1st Major League home run off Milwaukee's Jeff Suppan on June 28.
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Michael Bourn
Michael Ray Bourn (born December 27, 1982) is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball. He serves as the Atlanta Braves leadoff hitter. He has also been a member of the United States national baseball team.
Bourn was raised in Houston, where he attended Nimitz High School, graduating in 2000. He later played college baseball at Houston as a scholarship player, before being drafted into the Major League. In 2009 and in 2010, Bourn won consecutive Gold Glove Awards.
Bourn earned an NCAA Division I baseball scholarship at the University of Houston, where he played for three seasons. While he displayed little power, collecting only two home runs and 23 extra-base hits in 644 at-bats, he won attention from professional scouts by posting a .431 on-base percentage and stealing 90 bases in 119 attempts. He is well known for his ability to steal bases and hit for average.
In June of 2003, immediately following his junior year season, Bourn was drafted in the 4th round (115th overall) of baseball's first-year player draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, who were attempting that season to stockpile players with speed. Bourn signed shortly after the draft and was assigned to play for the Batavia Muckdogs of the short-season New York - Penn League.
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Miguel Asencio
Miguel DePaula Asencio (born September 29, 1980 in Villa Mella, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He began his pro-career in 1998 in the Dominican Republic. In eleven games, he went 0–2 with a 6.55 ERA.
Asencio was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent on July 2, 1998. He pitched for the Gulf Coast Phillies in 1999 going 1–4 with an ERA of 5.97. Miguel split the 2000 season between Clearwater and Batavia. Asencio held opponents to a .224 batting average while at Clearwater and a .191 average at Batavia. He continued to pitch for Clearwater during the 2001 season posting 12–5 record with an ERA of 2.84. Asencio was named to the Florida State League All-Star Team and was the FSL player of the week from July 16–22.
The Kansas City Royals acquired him in the 2002 Rule 5 Draft. Miguel spent the entire year with the club compiling a 4–7 record and an ERA of 5.11. Due to an injury shortened season, he only started eight times for the Royals in 2003. He spent the 2004 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The San Diego Padres signed Asencio in 2005. His stint with the Padres did not last long, as he was released in June later that year. The Colorado Rockies signed him in 2006. Asencio only appeared in three games for the Rockies going 1–0 with a 4.70 ERA. The Houston Astros acquired Asencio in a trade on December 12, 2006. In September 2007, Asencio was designated for assignment. In January 2008, Asencio signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox and became a free agent after the season.
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Miguel Tejada
Miguel Odalis Tejada (born on May 25, 1974, in Baní, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball infielder in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He began his first six seasons of his career with the A's, where he began his streak of 1,152 consecutive games, that ended with the Orioles on June 22, 2007. In 2002, he was awarded the AL MVP award, and he was the MVP of the 2005 All-Star Game.
His nickname is "La Guagua" which means "the bus" in certain Spanish dialects, as Tejada was known for his ability to drive in runs. On February 11, 2009, he pleaded guilty to one count of perjury for lying to Congress in his testimony on whether or not Rafael Palmeiro lied about his steroid use.
Tejada grew up in extreme poverty in Baní, a city approximately 40 miles (65 km) southwest of Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic. Miguel Tejada grew up idolizing the Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. Miguel Tejada's rise from the slums of Baní through the minors and into the Major Leagues is chronicled in the book Away Games: The Life and Times of a Latin Ballplayer by Marcos Breton and Jose Luis Villegas. Away Games describes the struggles of Dominican players in general and Tejada in particular as they arrive in the U.S. speaking very little English often in small towns playing for minor league teams with dreams of making it big.
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Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. (born on January 31, 1947), nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers.
During a major league record 27-year baseball career, he pitched in 1966 and from 1968 to 1993 for four different teams: the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Ryan, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher, threw pitches that were regularly recorded above 100 miles per hour (160.93 km/h). The high velocity remained throughout his career, even into his 40s. Ryan was also known to throw a devastating 12–6 curveball at exceptional velocity for a breaking ball.
While his lifetime winning percentage was a relatively pedestrian .526, Ryan was an eight-time MLB All-Star, and his 5,714 career strikeouts rank first in baseball history by a significant margin. He leads the runner-up, Randy Johnson, by 839 strikeouts. Similarly, Ryan's 2,795 bases on balls lead second-place Steve Carlton by 962—walking over 50% more hitters than any other pitcher in Major League history. Other than Jackie Robinson (whose number was retired by the entire MLB), Ryan is currently the only major league baseball player to have his number retired by at least 3 different teams: the Angels, Astros, and Rangers.
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Orlando Palmeiro
Orlando Palmeiro (born January 19, 1969 in Hoboken, New Jersey) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He attended high school at Miami Southridge High School and played college baseball at the University of Miami.
Palmeiro, a star high school player in Miami, Florida, went on to play baseball at the community college level at Miami-Dade Community College South and then briefly at the University of Miami under UM coach Ron Fraser before being drafted by the Angels where he played for a number of years in various farm teams until joining the California Angels.
Palmeiro spent his entire career as a backup outfielder, never having been a regular starter. He was the fourth outfielder of the 2002 World Series Champion Anaheim Angels team, batting .300 for the year. Palmeiro also made the last out of the 2005 World Series for the Houston Astros. His best season was arguably with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003, when he batted .271 with 3 home runs and 33 RBI.
Palmeiro had a low percentage of swings that miss (7.9%) and was considered one of the game's best pinch hitters with 105 career pinch hits.[citation needed]
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Pete Harnisch
Peter Thomas Harnisch (born September 23, 1966) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher.
Harnisch studied accounting, and was a star pitcher at Fordham University, compiling a 21-3 college record, 2.29 earned run average and 213 strikeouts in 204 innings pitched. He was a supplemental first round pick (27 overall) for the Baltimore Orioles in the 1987 Major League Baseball Draft. Just over a year after signing with Baltimore, Harnisch made his major league debut as a September call-up in 1988. He was 0-2 in two starts with a 5.54 ERA.
Harnisch spent two more seasons with the Orioles, splitting both seasons between Baltimore and their triple A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings. Following the 1990 season, he, Curt Schilling and Steve Finley were traded to the Houston Astros for first baseman Glenn Davis.
Harnisch suffered from a lack of run support upon his arrival in Houston. Despite leading the National League with a 2.22 ERA, his record stood at 5-7 at the 1991 All-Star break. NL manager Lou Piniella added Harnisch to his squad regardless of his losing record, and Harnisch pitched a scoreless sixth in the NL's 4-2 loss. On September 6, 1991, Harnisch struck out three batters on nine pitches in the ninth inning of a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Harnisch became the 17th National League pitcher and the 26th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish this feat. Harnisch went 7-2 after the break to end the season at 12-9. He led the league with a .212 batting average against and 7.020 Hits per nine innings pitched.
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Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose (born April 14, 1941), nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989.
Rose, a switch hitter, is the all-time Major League leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and outs (10,328). He won three World Series rings, three batting titles, one Most Valuable Player Award, two Gold Gloves, the Rookie of the Year Award, and made 17 All-Star appearances at an unequaled five different positions (2B, LF, RF, 3B & 1B).
In August 1989, three years after he retired as an active player, Rose agreed to permanent ineligibility from baseball amidst accusations that he gambled on baseball games while playing for and managing the Reds, including claims that he bet on his own team. In 1991, the Baseball Hall of Fame formally voted to ban those on the "permanently ineligible" list from induction, after previously excluding such players by informal agreement among voters. In 2004, after years of public denial, Rose admitted to betting on baseball and on, but not against, the Reds. The issue of Rose's possible re-instatement, and election, to the Hall of Fame remains a contentious one throughout baseball.
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Phil Garner
Philip Mason Garner (born April 30, 1949, in Jefferson City, Tennessee) is a former infielder in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants from 1973 to 1988. He was manager of the Astros from July 14, 2004 to August 27, 2007, leading Houston to a World Series appearance in 2005.
Nicknamed "Scrap-Iron" due to his gritty style of play, Garner's best year as a player was 1979, when he was a member of the World Series champion Pirates, batting .417 in the NL Championship Series and .500 (12 for 24) in the World Series. His icon at the time was the scrappy, similarly-mustachioed cartoon hero Yosemite Sam.
On August 31, 1981, Garner was traded from the Pirates to the Astros for 2B Johnny Ray and P Randy Niemann.
Garner later became a manager for the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros, leading the Astros to the franchise's first ever World Series in 2005.
In 1992, Garner replaced Tom Trebelhorn as manager of the Brewers. He quickly installed a running-focussed style of play as every starter that year stole at least 10 bases. Standing out were 1992 AL Rookie of the Year Pat Listach who stole 54 bases, veteran Paul Molitor stealing 31, and outfielder Darryl Hamilton stealing 41. This gave the 1992 Brewers a 2nd place finish in the competitive AL East but Garner's teams in later seasons in Milwaukee would not finish at .500.
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Phil Niekro
Philip Henry Niekro (born April 1, 1939), nicknamed "Knucksie" because of his usage and skill level with the knuckleball, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.
A native of Blaine, Ohio, Niekro attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio, and was a boyhood friend of NBA Hall-of-Famer John Havlicek. Phil and his younger brother, fellow major league pitcher Joe Niekro, learned to throw a knuckleball from their father Joe Niekro, Sr. in their backyard as kids.
Niekro's 318 career victories are the most by a knuckleball pitcher, and he currently ranks 16th on the overall all-time wins list. He also won the National League Gold Glove Award five times. Phil and Joe Niekro amassed 539 wins between them, the most combined wins by brothers in baseball history. Phil Niekro's 121 career victories after the age of 40 is a major league record, and his longevity is attributed to the knuckleball, which, while a difficult pitch for pitchers to master, is easy on the arm and often baffles hitters due to its fluttering trajectory. He is also the uncle of former first baseman and pitcher Lance Niekro. The baseball field in Phil's hometown of Bridgeport, Ohio has been named Niekro Diamond in honor of Phil and Joe Niekro.
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Preston Gomez
Preston Gómez (April 20, 1923 – January 13, 2009) was a Cuban-born infielder, manager, coach and front-office official in Major League Baseball best known for managing three major league clubs: the San Diego Padres (1969–72), Houston Astros (1974–75) and Chicago Cubs (1980). He was born Pedro Gómez Martinez in Preston, Cuba, and was given his nickname in U.S. professional baseball from his birthplace.
A right-handed batter and thrower, Gómez played eight major league games as a shortstop and second baseman for the 1944 Washington Senators, hitting .286 in seven at bats with two runs batted in.
He spent the next two decades in minor league baseball, playing and then, from the mid-1950s onward, managing in the farm systems of the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. His 1959 Havana Sugar Kings were champion of the International League and won the Junior World Series.
In 1965, Gómez became third-base coach of the Dodgers, serving through 1968 and two National League pennants and one World Series title. When Dodger vice president Buzzie Bavasi became president and part-owner of the expansion Padres, he named Gómez the first skipper in the team's major league history. But, like most expansion teams, the Padres struggled, losing 110 games in 1969, 99 in 1970 and 100 more in 1971, finishing last in the NL West Division each season. After 11 games and seven more defeats in 1972, Gómez was fired and replaced by Don Zimmer.
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Preston Gómez
Preston Gómez (April 20, 1923 – January 13, 2009) was a Cuban-born infielder, manager, coach and front-office official in Major League Baseball best known for managing three major league clubs: the San Diego Padres (1969–72), Houston Astros (1974–75) and Chicago Cubs (1980). He was born Pedro Gómez Martinez in Preston, Cuba, and was given his nickname in U.S. professional baseball from his birthplace.
A right-handed batter and thrower, Gómez played eight major league games as a shortstop and second baseman for the 1944 Washington Senators, hitting .286 in seven at bats with two runs batted in.
He spent the next two decades in minor league baseball, playing and then, from the mid-1950s onward, managing in the farm systems of the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. His 1959 Havana Sugar Kings were champion of the International League and won the Junior World Series.
In 1965, Gómez became third-base coach of the Dodgers, serving through 1968 and two National League pennants and one World Series title. When Dodger vice president Buzzie Bavasi became president and part-owner of the expansion Padres, he named Gómez the first skipper in the team's major league history. But, like most expansion teams, the Padres struggled, losing 110 games in 1969, 99 in 1970 and 100 more in 1971, finishing last in the NL West Division each season. After 11 games and seven more defeats in 1972, Gómez was fired and replaced by Don Zimmer.
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Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens (born August 4, 1962), nicknamed "The Rocket", is an American former baseball pitcher who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for four teams. Clemens was one of the most dominant pitchers in major league history, tallying 354 wins, a 3.12 earned run average (ERA), and 4,672 strikeouts, the third-most all time. An 11-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, he won seven Cy Young Awards during his career, the most of any pitcher. Clemens was known for his fierce competitive nature and for his hard-throwing pitching style that he used to intimidate batters.
Clemens debuted in the major leagues in 1984 with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he anchored for 12 years. In 1986, he won the American League (AL) Cy Young Award, the AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, and the All-Star Game MVP Award, and he struck out an MLB-record 20 batters in a single game. After the 1996 season, Clemens left Boston via free agency and joined the Toronto Blue Jays. In each of his two seasons with Toronto, Clemens won a Cy Young Award, as well as the pitching triple crown by leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. Prior to the 1999 season, Clemens was traded to the New York Yankees where he won his only two World Series titles. In 2003, he reached his 300th win and 4,000th strikeout in the same game. Clemens left for the Houston Astros in 2004, where he spent three seasons and won his seventh Cy Young Award. He rejoined the Yankees in 2007 for one last season.
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Roger Metzger
Roger Henry Metzger (born October 10, 1947, in Fredericksburg, Texas) was a Shortstop for the Chicago Cubs (1970), Houston Astros (1971–78) and San Francisco Giants (1978–80). A light-hitting shortstop, he was known for his strong defense and good running speed.
Metzger won the 1973 Gold Glove Award at Shortstop. He led the National League in triples in 1971 (11) and 1973 (14). He led the National League in outs (528) in 1972.
In 11 seasons Metzger played in 1,219 games and had 4,201 at bats, 453 runs, 972 hits, 101 doubles, 71 triples, five home runs, 254 RBI, 83 stolen bases, 355 walks, .231 batting average, .291 on-base percentage, .293 slugging percentage, 1,230 total bases, 90 sacrifice hits, 22 sacrifice flies and 34 intentional walks.
In the off-season between 1979 and 1980 Metzger lost the tips of four fingers (index to pinky) in a table saw accident. He attempted a comeback for the 1980 season, but was released by the San Francisco Giants on August 10, 1980, after only hitting .074 in 28 games.
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Roy Hofheinz
Roy Mark Hofheinz (April 10, 1912 – November 22, 1982), popularly known as Judge Hofheinz or "The Judge", was State Representative from 1934 to 1936, County Judge of Harris County, Texas from 1936 to 1944, and mayor of the city of Houston, Texas from 1953 to 1955.
A flamboyant and successful orator, broadcaster, developer and sportsman, he was part of the group that created a Major League Baseball franchise the Houston Colt .45s (which later became the Houston Astros) to Houston, as well as built the Harris County Domed Stadium, known as the Astrodome, the first large covered baseball and football facility in the world. Known in his youth as the "boy Mayor," at 23 he was the youngest county administrator in the state. He acted as campaign manager for Lyndon B. Johnson during his rise to the position of Congressman and then Senator.
After World War II Hofheinz pioneered FM radio and built a network of radio and television stations (790 KTHT Houston now KBME, 1530 KSOX Harlingen TX now KGBT, 680 KBAT San Antonio now KKYX) in the Texas Gulf Coast area, and made a business of salvaging the slag from steelmaking, crushing it and selling it as roadbuilding aggregate. Later, after the "Dome" was built, he worked with engineers at Monsanto Corporation to develop Astroturf, an imitation grass now widely used where natural grass does not flourish. In the 1960s he purchased, along with Israel and Irvin Feld, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, later selling his interest to Mattel, Inc. His giant southwest Houston development project, the Astrodomain, included the first major theme park in coastal Texas, Astroworld. This development came at hard times just before the recession during the early 1970s. His son, Fred Hofheinz, served as mayor of Houston in the 1970s.
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Roy Oswalt
Roy Edward Oswalt ( /ˈoʊzwɑːlt/; born August 29, 1977) is an Olympic gold medalist and American Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Texas Rangers organization. Oswalt, a six-foot right-handed starting pitcher, is currently in his eleventh major league season. He spent the first nine and a half years of his career with the Houston Astros.
Oswalt has been considered for much of his career to be among the elite pitchers in the National League. After completing nine years (2001–2009), Oswalt has compiled an 137–70 record with a 3.23 ERA and a 3.58 strikeout-to-walk ratio (1473:418) in 1803.1 innings pitched. He posted a 20–12 record in 2005 with a 2.94 ERA, repeating his 20-win performance of 2004. He was the ace of a Houston Astros staff that included Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. He is also a three-time All-Star. On August 29, 2006, Oswalt's 29th birthday, he signed a five-year extension with the Houston Astros totaling $73 million with an option for a 6th year.
Oswalt was born and raised in Weir, Mississippi, the son of Billy Oswalt, a logger and a Vietnam veteran. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Nicole, and together they have two daughters. When they were children, he and Nicole played T-ball against one another. At Weir High School, Oswalt played defensive back and wide receiver on the football team, which won a state title his senior year. He graduated in a class with 32 students. Oswalt attended Holmes Community College in Goodman, Mississippi for two years.
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Rusty Staub
Daniel Joseph "Rusty" Staub (born April 1, 1944) is an American former Major League Baseball right fielder, designated hitter, and first baseman. He enjoyed a 23-year baseball career with 5 different teams. He was an original member of the Montreal Expos and that team's first star; though the Expos traded him after only 3 years, his enduring popularity led them to retire his number in 1993.
Staub signed his first professional contract with the expansion team Houston Colt .45s organization in 1961. He spent the 1962 season in the Class B Carolina League, and at season's end he was named one of the league's all-stars. Following that season, Staub was signed to a $100,000 Major League contract under the Bonus Rule. In his first season, at only 19 years of age, Staub played regularly, splitting time between first base and the outfield, but hit only .220. He became only the second major league rookie since 1900 to play 150 games as a teenager; the first had been Bob Kennedy, also 19, with the Chicago White Sox in 1940. The following season, he hit only .216 for the Colts and was sent down the minor leagues at one point. His numbers began to steadily improve in the 1965 season for the now-renamed Astros, and he had a breakout 1967 season, where he led the league in doubles with 44 and was selected to the All-Star team. He was also an All-Star for the Astros in 1968.
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Salty Parker
Francis James "Salty" Parker (July 8, 1912 – July 27, 1992) was a Major League Baseball infielder, coach and manager. Born in East St. Louis, Illinois, Parker played in the Major Leagues for one month from August 13, 1936 through September 16, 1936. He appeared in 11 games, 7 at shortstop, for the Detroit Tigers, collecting seven hits and four RBIs for a .280 batting average and a .333 on base percentage. Parker was sent to the Tigers on December 2, 1936 in a trade with Indianapolis American Association that also brought Dizzy Trout to the Tigers. Though Parker only played a month, Trout was a Major League pitcher for years, and eventually the Tigers' ace.
After a lengthy minor league managerial career, Parker coached for the San Francisco Giants (1958–61), Cleveland Indians (1962), Los Angeles/California Angels (1964–66; 1973–74), New York Mets (1967) and Houston Astros (1968–72) and served brief stints as manager of the Mets (11 games in 1967) and Astros (1 game in 1972). After his MLB coaching career, Parker scouted for the Angels and remained active in Houston-area baseball, coaching in the Karl Young League for many years.
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Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax ( /ˈkoʊfæks/; born Sanford Braun, December 30, 1935) is an American former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1955–1966). Retiring at the peak of his career, in 1972 he became, at age 36 and 20 days, the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame .
Koufax's career peaked with a run of six outstanding seasons from 1961 to 1966, before arthritis in his left elbow ended his career prematurely at age 30. He was named the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1963. He also won the 1963, 1965, and 1966 Cy Young Awards by unanimous votes, making him the first 3-time Cy Young winner in baseball history and the only one to win 3 times when the award was for all of baseball, not just one league. In each of his Cy Young seasons, Koufax won the pitcher's triple crown by leading the NL in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average. Koufax's totals would also have led the American League in those seasons.
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Sean Berry
Sean Berry (born March 22, 1966 in Santa Monica, California), is a former Major League Baseball player who served primarily as a third baseman from 1990-2000. He was a member of the Houston Astros' original "Killer B's", along with Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Derek Bell.
On May 8, 2009 Berry went through a surgery to remove his cancerous kidney, which turned out successful.
Berry served as the Astros' hitting coach until July 11, 2010 when he was fired and replaced with former Astro teammate Jeff Bagwell. At the time of the switch the Astros had an NL-worst OBP (.295) and SLG (.348)
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Shawn Chacon
Shawn Anthony Chacón (born on December 23, 1977 in Anchorage, Alaska) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He last played in the Majors for the Houston Astros in 2008. He throws an 88–92 mph sinker, a big curveball, a slider, and a changeup.
Chacón was born in Anchorage, Alaska, but has only dim recollection of his biological mother and none of his father (he believes his biological father was African-American and his mother Latina). His mother placed him in a Greeley, Colorado, foster home when he was 4, and he was adopted by Tony and Blanca Chacón.
"There's no way I could have ended up any better than I am," Chacón told the Rocky Mountain News. "Some (adopted) people go back and ask, 'Why?' I don't want to ask, 'Why?' The only thing I'd say is, 'Thank you.' "My parents were not able to have children, which is why they adopted me. We are pretty blessed to have each other."
Chacón was a star at Greeley Central High School, one of only two athletes to ever have his jersey number retired in the 123-year history of the school. (Former basketball player and current University of Colorado coach Tad Boyle was the other.)
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Spec Richardson
H.B. "Spec" Richardson served as the General Manager for the Houston Astros from 1967 until 1975. He took over for Tal Smith and Paul Richards, each of whom built one of the most talented farm systems in baseball.
Richardson traded 31 year-old Mike Cuellar to the Baltimore Orioles for Curt Blefary in 1968, who would stay in Houston for a single season before being traded once again to the Yankees for Joe Pepitone. Pepitone would only stay one year in the Astrodome before going to the Chicago Cubs. Cuellar, however, was a key component of the Earl Weaver Orioles' pitching staff.
Richardson then traded Rusty Staub - a 24 year-old outfielder and first baseman who displayed remarkable ability to hit for high average and decent power (leading the league in doubles in 1967) within the confines of the cavernous Astrodome - to the Montreal Expos for Jesus Alou and Donn Clendenon. Clendenon refused to report, however, and Montreal instead sent Jack Billingham, Skip Guinn, and cash. The club may have felt that Staub's ankle problems would shorten his career, but Staub instead continued his exceptional hitting in Montreal, Detroit, and New York. John Mayberry - another young first base prospect - was traded to the Kansas City Royals for mediocre bullpen help. There he became an integral part of the Royals.
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Steve Carlton
Steven Norman "Steve" Carlton (born December 22, 1944), nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965 to 1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.
Carlton has the second-most lifetime strikeouts of any left-handed pitcher (4th overall), and the second-most lifetime wins of any left-handed pitcher (11th overall). He was the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards in a career. He held the lifetime strikeout record several times between 1982 and 1984, before his contemporary Nolan Ryan passed him. One of his most remarkable records was accounting for nearly half (46%) of his team's wins, when he won 27 games for the last-place (59-97) 1972 Phillies. He is still the last National League pitcher to win 25 or more games in one season, as well as the last pitcher from any team to throw more than 300 innings in a season. He also holds the record with the most career balks of any pitcher, with 90 (double the second on the all time list, Bob Welch).
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Steve Finley
Steven Allen Finley (born March 12, 1965, in Union City, Tennessee) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.
Finley, who grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, attended Paducah Tilghman High School and Southern Illinois University, where he earned a degree in physiology and played for the baseball team from 1984–87.
In 1986, Finley was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 11th round of the draft, but did not sign, instead choosing to remain at SIU, where he was 2-time All-Missouri Valley Conference performer, a third-team All-American in 1986, and named the team's Most Valuable Player in 1987. He is a member of the Saluki Baseball Hall of Fame.
He was a member of the 1986 Team USA squad that won a bronze medal during international competition in the Netherlands.
In 1987, he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 13th round of the draft, and did sign.
In 919 at bats in the minor leagues, Finley batted .309 and stole 68 bases.
On August 29, 2009, Finley was inducted into the Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame.
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Taylor Buchholz
Taylor Buchholz (born October 13, 1981, in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent.
Buchholz stands 6 feet 4 inches tall, and weighs 220 lbs. He bats and throws right-handed. He lives in Springfield, Pennsylvania during the offseason.
He is a distant cousin of Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz.
Buchholz started out as a minor leaguer for the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2003, he was dealt with Ezequiel Astacio and Brandon Duckworth to the Astros for all-star closer Billy Wagner. Originally forgotten by many fans due to Astacio and Duckworth both quickly being brought up to the majors, Buchholz proceeded to impress scouts in the minors, showing promise for the future. After going 6-0 with a 4.81 ERA in 20 games for the Astros Triple A Affiliate Round Rock Express in 2005, Buchholz was called up to the Astros main roster in the 2006 season.
His first success came in his second major league appearance in what was almost a complete-game one-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The first hit came when second baseman Eric Bruntlett double-clutched the ball before throwing, allowing runner Chris Duffy to reach first base safely. After Jack Wilson singled, Astros manager Phil Garner pulled Buchholz and brought in closer Brad Lidge, who struck out Jason Bay to end the game. Buchholz ended up going 82⁄3 innings and giving up only two hits.
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Terry Collins
Terry Lee Collins (born May 27, 1949, in Midland, Michigan) is the manager for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. A former minor league shortstop, Collins managed the Albuquerque Dukes of the Pacific Coast League, the Buffalo Bisons of the International League, the Duluth Huskies of the summer collegiate Northwoods League, and the Houston Astros and Anaheim Angels of Major League Baseball. Collins is known as a "feisty and intense manager."
Collins attended college at Eastern Michigan University from 1968–1971, where he played shortstop. In each of the four years he attended Eastern Michigan, Collins led the team in steals. He was on the Eastern Michigan team that won the NAIA national championship in 1971, at which he won the honor of Outstanding Defensive Player of the Tournament. Collins was inducted into the Eastern Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.
In 1971, Collins was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. During a 10-year playing career, he played from 1971–1978 and in 1980 and 1984 in the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations. However, he never broke into the big leagues. Collins batted and threw right-handed and stood 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) tall. He compiled a batting average of .255 in 671 games played.
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Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver (born November 17, 1944), nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets. During a 20-year career, Seaver compiled 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts, 61 shutouts and a 2.86 earned run average. In 1992, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the highest percentage ever recorded (98.84%), and has the only plaque at Cooperstown wearing a New York Mets hat. As of 2010, Tom Seaver and Gil Hodges (played for the Mets in 1962-63) are the only Met players to have their jersey numbers retired by the team (Gil Hodges' number was retired as a manager even though he also played for the Mets).
He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1967, and three NL Cy Young Awards as the league's best pitcher. Seaver is the Mets' all-time leader in wins, and is considered by many baseball experts as one of the best starting pitchers in the history of baseball.
wn.com/Tom_Seaver -
Tommy Helms
Tommy Vann Helms (born May 5, 1941) is an American former Major League Baseball player and manager. Over a fourteen year career (1964 - 1977), Helms played for four different teams, including eight seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, four with the Houston Astros, and one apiece with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. He also managed the Cincinnati Reds for part of two seasons (1988 - 1989).
Though he appeared briefly with the Reds in 1964 and in 1965 on September 1 during a double header Helms goes 4-4 with two triples. Helms' first full season in the majors was 1966. A natural shortstop, Helms was moved to third base by the Reds his rookie season with Leo Cardenas firmly entrenched at short. Helms clubbed nine home runs, batted .284, and provided sparkling defense at his new position to earn the 1966 National League Rookie of the Year.
In 1967, the Reds shuffled their line-up—moving budding superstar Tony Pérez to third, Helms to second, and shifting Pete Rose from second base to left field. As a second baseman, Helms was a member of the National League All Star Team in 1967 and 1968, and won the National League Gold Glove award in 1970 and 1971. The Reds moved to Riverfront Stadium in June, 1970, and Helms hit the first Cincinnati Reds home run on July 1. During his Gold Glove season of 1971, Helms set a Cincinnati Reds record with turning 130 double plays, which still stood at the close of the 2009 baseball season.
wn.com/Tommy_Helms -
Troy Patton
Troy Jamieson Patton (born September 3, 1985, in Spring, Texas) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. Patton attended Tomball High School in Tomball, Texas.
Patton was drafted in the ninth round by the Houston Astros in 2004. In 2007, Patton played in Minor League Baseball for the Corpus Christi Hooks and Round Rock Express. He made his MLB debut with the Houston Astros on August 25, 2007.
Patton was part of a trade package sent by the Astros to the Baltimore Orioles on December 12, 2007, in return for shortstop Miguel Tejada.
Patton spent the 2008 season on the disabled list after suffering a left labrum tear.
On September 22, 2010 Patton made his first career apperarance for the Orioles, in a game against the Boston Red Sox. He pitched 0.2 innings, giving up no runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, and struck out David Ortiz to end the inning.
Patton was called up in May of the Orioles 2011 season. He made 20 relief appearances, for 30 innings worth of work. He posted an ERA of 3.00, with a record of 2-1, with 2 holds.
wn.com/Troy_Patton -
Tug McGraw
Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr. (August 30, 1944 – January 5, 2004) was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher and the father of Country music singer Tim McGraw and actor/TV personality Mark McGraw and Cari McGraw. He is likely best remembered for recording the final out, via a strikeout of the Kansas City Royals' Willie Wilson, in the 1980 World Series, bringing the Philadelphia Phillies their first world championship. He was the last active major league player to have played under manager Casey Stengel.
McGraw was born in Martinez, California to Frank Edwin "Big Mac" McGraw, Sr. and Mable McKenna. He got the nickname "Tug" from his mother because of the particularly aggressive way he breast-fed. Frank Senior was the great-grandson of Irish immigrants. McGraw graduated from St. Vincent Ferrer High School in Vallejo, California in 1962. He enrolled in Solano Community College, and signed with the New York Mets as an amateur free agent on June 12, 1964 upon graduation.
McGraw was used both as a starting pitcher and out of the bullpen in the minors, and after just one season in the Mets' farm system, where he went 6–4 with a 1.64 earned run average in Rookie and class A ball, McGraw made the Mets out of Spring training 1965 without ever having played double or triple A ball. That same year, when asked if he preferred the new astroturf on the field at the Houston Astrodome to real grass, he said, "I don't know, I never smoked AstroTurf".
wn.com/Tug_McGraw -
Turk Farrell
Richard Joseph "Turk" Farrell (April 8, 1934 – June 10, 1977) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a 14-year career from 1956 to 1969. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Colt .45s and Astros, all of the National League.
Before the 1953 season, Farrell was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent. The 19-year-old was assigned to the class A Schenectady Blue Jays, where over a two-year span (1953–54), he would build an 18–18 record and a 3.30 ERA. He spent 1955 in the IL with the Syracuse Chiefs, going 12–12 with a 3.94 ERA, and in 1956 he played for the Miami Marlins, going 12–6 with a 2.50 ERA.
Farrell would get a late-season look in 1956 by the Phillies and would lose his only decision, but set the groundwork for a 14-year run in the major leagues. Farrell was one of the young Phillies pitchers of the late 1950s, along with Jack Meyer and Jim Owens, dubbed the "Dalton Gang" for their fun-loving late-hour escapades.[citation needed] It was once said of Farrell by a teammate, "When he loses, he loses his temper, but when he wins he's the life of the party."[citation needed] After one tough defeat he broke a mirror with his fist in a Milwaukee bar explaining, "I looked in the mirror and didn't like what I saw so I threw a punch."[citation needed]
wn.com/Turk_Farrell -
Ty Wigginton
Ty Allen Wigginton (born October 11, 1977 in San Diego, California) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. He is known as a utility player, having platooned as an infielder and an outfielder during his career. He bats and throws right-handed. Wigginton resides in Chula Vista, California.
Wigginton attended Chula Vista High School in Chula Vista, California, and was a student and a letterman in football and baseball. Wigginton graduated from Chula Vista High School in 1995.
Wigginton attended UNC Asheville and played for three years from 1996–1998. Wigginton still holds the school's records for most home runs in a game, most runs in a season and most doubles in a season. Wigginton is the only UNC Asheville baseball player to have played in the major leagues.
The 6-foot (1.8 m), 200 pound Wigginton was selected by the New York Mets in the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.
Wigginton was brought up to the major league Mets for the first time in 2002 as a third baseman and had a promising partial rookie season with the Mets, batting .302 with a .354 on base percentage (OBP) and .526 slugging percentage (SLG) in 116 at-bats. He slumped somewhat in his first full season in 2003, with a batting line of .255/.318/.396 in 573 at-bats, but started the 2004 season hot. In his first 312 at-bats, Wigginton hit .285/.334/.487, hitting 12 home runs and 23 doubles with 42 runs batted in.
wn.com/Ty_Wigginton -
Wandy Rodríguez
Wandy Fulton Rodríguez (born January 18, 1979) is a Dominican pitcher for the Houston Astros. He is a native of Santiago Rodriguez, located in the North Region (Cibao Region) of the Dominican Republic.
Rodríguez, who concluded with a 10-10 record in his 2005 rookie season, ended the season with a rocky September, going 1-4. Overall, he had a 5.53 ERA and struck out 80 batters throughout the season.
The Astros succeeded in getting to the 2005 World Series in which they were swept in four games by the Chicago White Sox. Rodríguez performed decently in the game 1 of the series, relieving Roger Clemens in the third inning with the score tied at 3. Rodriguez surrendered one more run in the bottom of the fourth inning, earning the loss as the White Sox went on to win 5-3. Rodriguez posted a 2.45 ERA in the four losses to the Chicago White Sox.
In 2006, after struggling to a 5.22 ERA, Rodríguez was optioned to the minors on July 21. Brandon Backe was activated from the 60-day disabled list to take his place on the major-league roster and the Astros rotation. However, Rodríguez was recalled on August 19 after Backe had to have Tommy John surgery. Rodriguez finished the season with a 9-10 record and a 5.64 ERA, along with 98 strikeouts in 135 innings.
wn.com/Wandy_Rodríguez -
Wesley Wright
Dequam LaWesley Wright (born January 28, 1985 in Montgomery, Alabama) is a major league baseball relief pitcher for the Houston Astros.
Wright was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 7th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft and signed with the them on June 10 2003.
He made his professional debut with the Ogden Raptors in the Pioneer League in 2004 and played for the Columbus Catfish and Vero Beach Dodgers in 2005. With Columbus, he pitched in 30 games and accumulated a 1.93 era as a relief pitcher.
In 2006 he pitched in 25 games with Vero Beach, acquiring a 1.48 era and was promoted to the Jacksonville Suns, where he began 2007 before a mid-season promotion to the Las Vegas 51s.
In December 2007, he was selected by the Houston Astros in the major league portion of rule 5 draft from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wright made the Astros 2008 opening day roster as the only left-handed pitcher in the bullpen. On March 31, 2008, Wright made his major league debut against the San Diego Padres and pitched 1/3 of a scoreless inning. Wright collected his first major league win on April 4, 2008, against the Chicago Cubs after pitching 1/3 of a scoreless inning again. He collected his first major league save on July 29, 2008, against the Cincinnati Reds coming in during 9th inning with two outs, and recorded the final out of the game for the save.
wn.com/Wesley_Wright -
Whitey Herzog
Dorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog (pronounced /ˈhɜrzɒɡ/; born November 9, 1931 in New Athens, Illinois) is a former Major League Baseball manager. Born in New Athens, Illinois, he made his debut as a player in 1956 with the Washington Senators. After his playing career ended in 1963, Herzog went on to perform a variety of roles in Major League Baseball, including scout, manager, general manager and farm system director. Most noted for his success as a manager, he led the Kansas City Royals to three consecutive playoff appearances from 1976 to 1978. Hired by Gussie Busch in 1980 to helm the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cardinals won the 1982 World Series and made two other World Series appearances in 1985 and 1987 under Herzog's direction. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 25, 2010.
A left-handed batter and thrower, Herzog originally signed with the New York Yankees. While he never appeared in a major league game for them, Herzog was profoundly influenced by their manager, Casey Stengel, during several spring training sessions with the Yanks. After being traded by New York as a prospect, he played for the Washington Senators (1956–1958), Kansas City Athletics (1958–1960), Baltimore Orioles (1961–1962) and Detroit Tigers (1963). In eight seasons, Herzog batted .254 with 25 home runs, 172 runs batted in, 213 runs scored, 60 doubles, 20 triples, and 13 stolen bases in 634 games. In reference to his success as a player versus his success as a manager, Herzog once said, "Baseball has been good to me since I quit trying to play it." (Herzog has made this statement several times, most recently in an interview with Fox Sports Midwest which has aired several times in August and September 2007 during St. Louis Cardinals rain delays).
wn.com/Whitey_Herzog -
Woody Williams
Gregory Scott "Woody" Williams (born August 19, 1966 in Houston, Texas) is a former right-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He made his major league debut for the Toronto Blue Jays on May 14, 1993.
Williams, a Cy-Fair High School graduate and University of Houston alumnus, began his career pitching in relief until he was moved to a full time starter in 1997. On December 12, 1998, he was traded to the San Diego Padres with minor leaguer Peter Tucci and Carlos Almanzar for right-handed pitcher Joey Hamilton. He worked exclusively as a starter in San Diego until he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Ray Lankford on August 2, 2001.
After he was traded, Williams' career took off. While in San Diego that season, he posted an 8-8 win-loss record with a 4.97 ERA in 23 starts, but with St. Louis, Williams went 7-1 with a 2.28 ERA in 11 starts.
He continued to pitch well for St. Louis, making the 2003 All-Star Game and starting Game 1 of the 2004 World Series.
After the 2004 season came to a close, Williams filed for free agency and signed back with the Padres on December 9, 2004.
wn.com/Woody_Williams
RELEASE
ALBUMS
- Pride
- Truth Slips
- Hold On
- I'm Alive
- One Chance
- Give Me Back My Heart
- Misery
- She's a Mystery
- Now
- 1000 Songs
- Under Your Skin
- Chasing the Dream
- It's Already Written, Part 1
- I Like That
- Twizala (intro)
- Twizala
- Ain't Nothing Wrong
- My Promise
- Keep It on the Low
- What You Say
- Love You Down
- Allright
- Bye Bye Love
- Didn't Give a Damn (interlude)
- Didn't Give a Damn
- She Is
- It's Already Written, Part 2 (Thunder)
- Dumb Rock 2
- It's a Shame
- Chicken Little
- Intro
- Home for the Holidays
- Our Puffy Little Lives
- The Day She Cracked
- I'm a Girl
- Heave
- The Time of the Fall of Love
- True Love Forever
- Dumb Rock 1
- Weathervane
- Part One
- Big Three
- This Lousy Picture I Took
- Waves
- I'm Not Sayin' (I'm Just Sayin')
- Ugly Tree
- #12 Looks Just Like You
- Caeser, Nero, Next
- An Alternative to Sleep
- Water
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- Sex, Guns and Ear Protection
- Waves
- Let's Use All the Hangers
- Cover
- How Was Your Day
- Banner Year
- Peddel (Sic)
- Nine
- Sunday in December
- Ocean
- Keith Moon
- Intermission - Let's Go to the Kitchen
- Sunrise
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- Bender
- [untitled]
- We're Not Done Yet
- The Weather
- Old 61
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MLB 2k12 Lets Rebuild: Houston Astros Ep. 1
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 17:48
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
Hey guys moonlightswami here and today I am bringing you guys the first installment in my new series, LETS REBUILD. This series is playing as the Houston Astros after making a ton of trades, with the worst farm system in baseball. I hope you enjoy, and I will be talking to you guys later, peace Im out!!!!
http://wn.com/MLB_2k12_Lets_Rebuild_Houston_Astros_Ep_1
Hey guys moonlightswami here and today I am bringing you guys the first installment in my new series, LETS REBUILD. This series is playing as the Houston Astros after making a ton of trades, with the worst farm system in baseball. I hope you enjoy, and I will be talking to you guys later, peace Im out!!!!
CINCINNATI REDS VS. HOUSTON ASTROS 9-17-1983 JOHNNY BENCH NIGHT FULL GAME
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 189:12
- Updated: 01 Dec 2012
Johnny Lee Bench (born December 7, 1947 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Bench, a 14-time All-Star selection and a two-time National League Most Valuable Player, was a key member of The Big Red Machine, which won six division titles, four National League pennants, and two World Series championships. ESPN has called him the greatest catcher in baseball history. Bench had 2048 hits for a .267 career batting average with 389 home runs and 1376 RBI during his 17-year Major League career, all spent with the Reds. He retired as the career home run leader for catchers, a record which stood until surpassed by Carlton Fisk and the current record holder, Mike Piazza. In his career, Bench earned 10 Gold Gloves, was named to the National League All-Star team 14 times, and won two Most Valuable Player Awards. He led the National League three times in caught stealing percentage and ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage.Bench also won such awards as the Lou Gehrig Award (1975), the Babe Ruth Award (1976), and the Hutch Award (1981). Bench popularized the hinged catcher's mitt, first introduced by Randy Hundley of the Chicago Cubs. He began using the mitt after a stint on the disabled list in 1966 for a thumb injury on his throwing hand. The mitt allowed Bench to tuck his throwing arm safely to the side when ...
http://wn.com/CINCINNATI_REDS_VS_HOUSTON_ASTROS_9-17-1983_JOHNNY_BENCH_NIGHT_FULL_GAME
Johnny Lee Bench (born December 7, 1947 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Bench, a 14-time All-Star selection and a two-time National League Most Valuable Player, was a key member of The Big Red Machine, which won six division titles, four National League pennants, and two World Series championships. ESPN has called him the greatest catcher in baseball history. Bench had 2048 hits for a .267 career batting average with 389 home runs and 1376 RBI during his 17-year Major League career, all spent with the Reds. He retired as the career home run leader for catchers, a record which stood until surpassed by Carlton Fisk and the current record holder, Mike Piazza. In his career, Bench earned 10 Gold Gloves, was named to the National League All-Star team 14 times, and won two Most Valuable Player Awards. He led the National League three times in caught stealing percentage and ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage.Bench also won such awards as the Lou Gehrig Award (1975), the Babe Ruth Award (1976), and the Hutch Award (1981). Bench popularized the hinged catcher's mitt, first introduced by Randy Hundley of the Chicago Cubs. He began using the mitt after a stint on the disabled list in 1966 for a thumb injury on his throwing hand. The mitt allowed Bench to tuck his throwing arm safely to the side when ...
- published: 16 Jun 2012
- views: 13789
- author: lubbocktexas1
HOUSTON ASTROS 2013 NEW UNIFORMS... MLB
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 15:15
- Updated: 20 Nov 2012
Astros unveil new 2013 uniforms & mascot..... everything seen here is property of the Houston Astros, MLB, I also do not own the music being played; i do not own anything i am just a long time Houston Astros fan who wanted to share her love for the game and all its new changes coming to the 2013 AL team
http://wn.com/HOUSTON_ASTROS_2013_NEW_UNIFORMS_MLB
Astros unveil new 2013 uniforms & mascot..... everything seen here is property of the Houston Astros, MLB, I also do not own the music being played; i do not own anything i am just a long time Houston Astros fan who wanted to share her love for the game and all its new changes coming to the 2013 AL team
- published: 03 Nov 2012
- views: 1716
- author: DANIELA MORA
Carlos Correa, SS Houston Astros
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:21
- Updated: 29 Nov 2012
Come to baseballinstinct.com for in-depth analysis of todays top mlb prospects. Scouting Reports, Video, Top Lists and Draft Reviews. Carlos Correa, SS Houston Astros
http://wn.com/Carlos_Correa,_SS_Houston_Astros
Come to baseballinstinct.com for in-depth analysis of todays top mlb prospects. Scouting Reports, Video, Top Lists and Draft Reviews. Carlos Correa, SS Houston Astros
- published: 12 Jul 2012
- views: 11565
- author: baseballinstinct
Houston Astros vs Atlanta Braves Spring Training 3-23-1986
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:31
- Updated: 26 Sep 2012
Highlights from an Astros vs Braves Spring Training game 3-23-1986 featuring Nolan Ryan and Dale Murphy
http://wn.com/Houston_Astros_vs_Atlanta_Braves_Spring_Training_3-23-1986
Highlights from an Astros vs Braves Spring Training game 3-23-1986 featuring Nolan Ryan and Dale Murphy
- published: 20 Feb 2012
- views: 4703
- author: JasonSRedd
Houston Astros name change?
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:22
- Updated: 16 Sep 2012
Houston Astros name change?
http://wn.com/Houston_Astros_name_change?
Houston Astros name change?
- published: 24 Jan 2012
- views: 3795
- author: RiceSMGT
Houston Astros 2005 World Series Montage
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 7:27
- Updated: 01 Dec 2012
Photo slide show of the Houston Astros march to the World Series in 2005
http://wn.com/Houston_Astros_2005_World_Series_Montage
Photo slide show of the Houston Astros march to the World Series in 2005
- published: 20 Oct 2007
- views: 49647
- author: Jonathan Toman
MLB 12 The Show Gameplay - Houston Astros at Milwaukee Brewers
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 11:27
- Updated: 28 Oct 2012
http://wn.com/MLB_12_The_Show_Gameplay_Houston_Astros_at_Milwaukee_Brewers
- published: 06 Mar 2012
- views: 16277
- author: FranchisePlaySports
New Houston Astros uniforms in "MLB 13: The Show"
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:37
- Updated: 30 Nov 2012
http://wn.com/New_Houston_Astros_uniforms_in_MLB_13_The_Show
- published: 05 Nov 2012
- views: 14066
- author: ZachMcCannESPN
Brief Tour of Houston Astros Minute Maid Park
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:26
- Updated: 01 Dec 2012
Brief Tour of Houston Astros Minute Maid Park
http://wn.com/Brief_Tour_of_Houston_Astros_Minute_Maid_Park
Brief Tour of Houston Astros Minute Maid Park
- published: 09 Jan 2011
- views: 4261
- author: chrisatpc
MLB 2K12 - Houston Astros vs New York Mets: My Player - Episode 21
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:59
- Updated: 27 Nov 2012
http://wn.com/MLB_2K12_Houston_Astros_vs_New_York_Mets_My_Player_Episode_21
- published: 19 Apr 2012
- views: 8296
- author: dunbarsnackbar
Delino Deshields Jr, 2B, Houston Astros
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:47
- Updated: 27 Nov 2012
Check out scoutingthesally.com for more scouting reports and video on baseball's best prospects.
http://wn.com/Delino_Deshields_Jr,_2B,_Houston_Astros
Check out scoutingthesally.com for more scouting reports and video on baseball's best prospects.
- published: 26 Jan 2012
- views: 2433
- author: Mike Newman
Houston....We have an awful baseball team.
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:21
- Updated: 01 Dec 2012
The 2012 Houston Astros season in a nutshell. I do not own this video. It is property of Major League Baseball.
http://wn.com/HoustonWe_have_an_awful_baseball_team
The 2012 Houston Astros season in a nutshell. I do not own this video. It is property of Major League Baseball.
- published: 07 Aug 2012
- views: 26964
- author: StandUpforWWE
Houston Astros Opening Day 2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 11:17
- Updated: 08 Apr 2012
Copy Rights owned by the Houston Astros. No copyright infringement was intended. This video is for entertainment purposes only.
http://wn.com/Houston_Astros_Opening_Day_2012
Copy Rights owned by the Houston Astros. No copyright infringement was intended. This video is for entertainment purposes only.
- published: 07 Apr 2012
- views: 956
- author: VerasteguiDiaz77520
MLB 2K12 Franchise Houston Astros Season 1 Episode 1
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:46
- Updated: 06 Nov 2012
My First video of MLB 2k12 Franchise mode, with the Houston Astros. Comment, like, and subscribe. Please let me know if you want one season or multiple :) ENjoy!
http://wn.com/MLB_2K12_Franchise_Houston_Astros_Season_1_Episode_1
My First video of MLB 2k12 Franchise mode, with the Houston Astros. Comment, like, and subscribe. Please let me know if you want one season or multiple :) ENjoy!
- published: 25 Mar 2012
- views: 4136
- author: MegaStormMedia
MLB 2K12: Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros - Franchise Mode
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 14:21
- Updated: 01 Dec 2012
This is the first game of many coming out of the Tiger's franchise that you will coming across pretty frequently. We are starting out in Spring Training against the Astros. I am not going to lie. This isn't going to be too tough but I hope that this will be fun and I hope you all enjoy!
http://wn.com/MLB_2K12_Detroit_Tigers_vs_Houston_Astros_Franchise_Mode
This is the first game of many coming out of the Tiger's franchise that you will coming across pretty frequently. We are starting out in Spring Training against the Astros. I am not going to lie. This isn't going to be too tough but I hope that this will be fun and I hope you all enjoy!
- published: 11 Mar 2012
- views: 21872
- author: dunbarsnackbar
@SPORTSCOPIA: Matt Cain San Francisco Giants throws perfect game vs. Houston Astros
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:17
- Updated: 18 Nov 2012
San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain throws a perfect game vs. Houston Astros June 13, 2012 at AT&T; Park. Matt Cain perfect game. Matt Cain Giants perfect game, San Francisco Giants Matt Cain throws perfect game. Perfect Game Matt Cain SF Giants, Houston Astros vs. San Francisco Giants, Matt Cain end of perfect game, Matt Cain no-hitter. @SportsCopia SportsCopia.com, MLB, sports, Matt Cain Giants
http://wn.com/@SPORTSCOPIA_Matt_Cain_San_Francisco_Giants_throws_perfect_game_vs_Houston_Astros
San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain throws a perfect game vs. Houston Astros June 13, 2012 at AT&T; Park. Matt Cain perfect game. Matt Cain Giants perfect game, San Francisco Giants Matt Cain throws perfect game. Perfect Game Matt Cain SF Giants, Houston Astros vs. San Francisco Giants, Matt Cain end of perfect game, Matt Cain no-hitter. @SportsCopia SportsCopia.com, MLB, sports, Matt Cain Giants
- published: 14 Jun 2012
- views: 44133
- author: SportsCopia
Black Ops 2 : How to make Houston Astros Emblem!
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:46
- Updated: 01 Dec 2012
Twitter: twitter.com Please Subscribe Song: Freestyle beat #5 Black Ops 2 Sports Emblem Playlist: www.youtube.com
http://wn.com/Black_Ops_2_How_to_make_Houston_Astros_Emblem!
Twitter: twitter.com Please Subscribe Song: Freestyle beat #5 Black Ops 2 Sports Emblem Playlist: www.youtube.com
- published: 29 Nov 2012
- views: 122
- author: TheEASportsNHL
Houston Astros "Visiting Bullpen" Chase Field Phoenix
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:06
- Updated: 26 Nov 2012
Chase Field Phoenix - Houston Astros "Visiting Bullpen"
http://wn.com/Houston_Astros_Visiting_Bullpen_Chase_Field_Phoenix
Chase Field Phoenix - Houston Astros "Visiting Bullpen"
- published: 26 Nov 2012
- views: 6
- author: bigcheaptrickfan
Houston Astros 2011 Season Player Video
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:30
- Updated: 31 Jul 2012
The Houston Astros hired VISION Production Group to produce their 2011 Season Player Videos and Graphics package. During the off-season, the Astros installed two new, high definition video boards with the new primary video board in right field. The scoreboard is the fourth-largest of its kind in the Major Leagues, measuring 54 feet high and 124 feet wide. Left field also features a smaller high-definition video board, measuring 45 feet high and 24 feet wide for fans sitting in the Bullpen and Mezzanine seats to enjoy in-game features. The Astros also added a new LED ribbon board board above the Club level, stretching from foul pole to foul pole, measuring a total of 1185 feet. VISION was tasked with producing game elements, player intros and an opening video to be displayed on all of the new boards inside Minute Maid Park. Videos will be featured throughout the Houston Astros 2011 season.
http://wn.com/Houston_Astros_2011_Season_Player_Video
The Houston Astros hired VISION Production Group to produce their 2011 Season Player Videos and Graphics package. During the off-season, the Astros installed two new, high definition video boards with the new primary video board in right field. The scoreboard is the fourth-largest of its kind in the Major Leagues, measuring 54 feet high and 124 feet wide. Left field also features a smaller high-definition video board, measuring 45 feet high and 24 feet wide for fans sitting in the Bullpen and Mezzanine seats to enjoy in-game features. The Astros also added a new LED ribbon board board above the Club level, stretching from foul pole to foul pole, measuring a total of 1185 feet. VISION was tasked with producing game elements, player intros and an opening video to be displayed on all of the new boards inside Minute Maid Park. Videos will be featured throughout the Houston Astros 2011 season.
- published: 10 Apr 2011
- views: 3904
- author: VISIONProdGroup
Lance McCullers, RHP Houston Astros
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 11:53
- Updated: 13 Oct 2012
Come to baseballinstinct.com for in depth analysis of todays top mlb prospects. Scouting Reports, Video, Top Lists and Draft Reviews. Lance McCullers, RHP Houston Astros
http://wn.com/Lance_McCullers,_RHP_Houston_Astros
Come to baseballinstinct.com for in depth analysis of todays top mlb prospects. Scouting Reports, Video, Top Lists and Draft Reviews. Lance McCullers, RHP Houston Astros
- published: 01 Aug 2012
- views: 1531
- author: baseballinstinct
Houston Astros 2013 Uniform Concept
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:22
- Updated: 03 Nov 2012
Houston Astros new look for the 2013 season. It looks better than the jerseys we currently use know. This is how the Astros are suppose to look.
http://wn.com/Houston_Astros_2013_Uniform_Concept
Houston Astros new look for the 2013 season. It looks better than the jerseys we currently use know. This is how the Astros are suppose to look.
- published: 31 Jan 2012
- views: 5467
- author: Cologneful1
Fox Sports Houston's farewell to the Astros and signoff (October 3rd, 2012)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:55
- Updated: 21 Oct 2012
In 1983, Home Sports Entertainment (HSE), and later it's successor Fox Sports Houston, had the privilege to present Houston Astros baseball to the fans. The network concluded its nearly 30-year run with the team on October 3rd, 2012 under a number of bittersweet circumstances for both the network and the ballclub. The Astros fell to the Chicago Cubs 5-4 to finish the season with the worst record in Major League Baseball at 55-107, this was also the team's final game in the National League as they move to the American League next season, that's when the Astros will begin a new broadcast relationship with Comcast SportsNet. Also, this was the last game for Hall of Fame radio broadcaster Milo Hamilton, who officially said goodbye to the broadcast booth after a memorable six-decade run as a baseball broadcaster. It was also bittersweet for the men and women who work for the network as Fox Sports Houston will be absorbed into Fox Sports Southwest, which will likely result in some job cuts. The network will continue to air in the Houston area. In this video, Greg Lucas, who became the network's first play-by-play broadcaster, delivered an emotional signoff by offering a unique perspective on the network's history of covering Houston-area sports through the years. Lucas will not continue working with Fox and it is currently unclear if he and Astros play-by-play man Bill Brown will move to Comcast next year. All Copyrights are Acknowledged!!!
http://wn.com/Fox_Sports_Houston's_farewell_to_the_Astros_and_signoff_October_3rd,_2012
In 1983, Home Sports Entertainment (HSE), and later it's successor Fox Sports Houston, had the privilege to present Houston Astros baseball to the fans. The network concluded its nearly 30-year run with the team on October 3rd, 2012 under a number of bittersweet circumstances for both the network and the ballclub. The Astros fell to the Chicago Cubs 5-4 to finish the season with the worst record in Major League Baseball at 55-107, this was also the team's final game in the National League as they move to the American League next season, that's when the Astros will begin a new broadcast relationship with Comcast SportsNet. Also, this was the last game for Hall of Fame radio broadcaster Milo Hamilton, who officially said goodbye to the broadcast booth after a memorable six-decade run as a baseball broadcaster. It was also bittersweet for the men and women who work for the network as Fox Sports Houston will be absorbed into Fox Sports Southwest, which will likely result in some job cuts. The network will continue to air in the Houston area. In this video, Greg Lucas, who became the network's first play-by-play broadcaster, delivered an emotional signoff by offering a unique perspective on the network's history of covering Houston-area sports through the years. Lucas will not continue working with Fox and it is currently unclear if he and Astros play-by-play man Bill Brown will move to Comcast next year. All Copyrights are Acknowledged!!!
- published: 04 Oct 2012
- views: 674
- author: TheScottAllenBrown
photo: AP / Lefteris Pitarakis
30 Nov 2012
- For historians, it represents a treasure trove of boundless rewards and an opportunity to revisit some of the most enduring myths about Britain's colonial past. But for some of those still living with the physical and psychological scars, the release of thousands of previously secret government-held documents offers fresh hope of finally gaining a measure of justice for their suffering under British rule ... 1096 Source.. Al Jazeera ... ;">....(size: 22.4Kb)
photo: USAF / Senior Airman Patrice Clarke
02 Dec 2012
There have been "multiple explosions" near an airfield at a US base in eastern Afghanistan, Nato has said. Afghan intelligence officials told the BBC seven suicide attackers targeted the base in Jalalabad, and witnesses said that gunfire was heard ... Counter claims ... There were no Nato casualties in the attack, officials said ... ....(size: 1.7Kb)
photo: US NARA
30 Nov 2012
Article by WN.com Correspondent Dallas Darling. Staring at the quote on the small granite monument which read. "They said to one another, behold here comes the dreamer...Let us slay him...And we shall see what will become of his dreams," I tried to understand that fateful moment when a shot shattered heaven and earth ... Martin Luther King, Jr. Straining my ears, I tried to hear Rev. Abernathy cry out, "Oh my God, Martin's been shot!" ... Dr....(size: 6.5Kb)
photo: AP / Thomas Hartwell
02 Dec 2012
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has called a December 15 referendum on a constitution drafted by the Islamist-led assembly. The decree follows mass protests against the country's new constitutional charter. Morsi called the referendum on Saturday after Egypt's assembly handed its final draft of the planned new constitution to the president for final approval. It is now expected to go to a popular referendum within two weeks ... DW.DE ... ....(size: 3.8Kb)
photo: UN / David Manyua
01 Dec 2012
The conflict in Syria has now reached "new and appalling heights of brutality and violence", according to the UN secretary-general, while the world body's envoy to Syria has said the country is in danger of becoming "a failed state" ... The fighting has killed about 40,000 people, making it the bloodiest of Arab uprisings that have ousted entrenched leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen since early last year ... 957 Source.. Agencies ... ....(size: 21.8Kb)
noodls
02 Dec 2012
The Astros' front office contingent, led by Luhnow, will arrive in Music City on Monday ... Luhnow has gone public with the team's interest in signing Lance Berkman, who could be lured back to his hometown of Houston to become the Astros' first full-time DH ... This noodl was issued by Houston Astros and was initially posted at houston.astros.mlb.com....(size: 4.2Kb)
noodls
02 Dec 2012
HOUSTON -- The Astros' biggest need entering the Winter Meetings is beefing up their run production, which fits nicely into their move to the American League next year and the need to add a designated hitter to the lineup ... Houston lacked power last year ... This noodl was issued by Houston Astros and was initially posted at houston.astros.mlb.com....(size: 6.8Kb)
noodls
02 Dec 2012
Nashville offers chance to retool roster, lay groundwork for future deals. By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com . 12/02/12 12.13 PM ET. PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies expect to be busy this week at the Winter Meetings in Nashville ... They also had agreed to send two Minor League prospects to the Houston Astros for right-hander Wilton Lopez, but the deal vaporized following Lopez's physical in Philadelphia on Wednesday....(size: 3.7Kb)
noodls
01 Dec 2012
HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with right-handed pitcher Philip Humber, General Manager Jeff Luhnow announced today. Terms of the deal, which includes a club option for 2014, were not disclosed ... Stanford ... distributed by. This noodl was issued by Houston Astros and was initially posted at houston.astros.mlb.com ... (noodl. 16806477) ....(size: 2.2Kb)
noodls
01 Dec 2012
HOUSTON -- Once word began to spread that Philip Humber had been claimed off waivers by the Astros, the text messages and phone calls from friends and family began to roll in ... Humber, 29, went 5-5 with a 6.44 ERA in 26 games (16 starts) for Chicago and is expected to battle for one of the final two spots in the Astros' pitching rotation ... This noodl was issued by Houston Astros and was initially posted at houston.astros.mlb.com....(size: 4.7Kb)
noodls
01 Dec 2012
HOUSTON -- Once word began to spread that Philip Humber had been claimed off waivers by the Astros, the text messages and phone calls from friends and family began to roll in ... Humber, 29, went 5-5 with a 6.44 ERA in 26 games (16 starts) for Chicago and is expected to battle for one of the final two spots in the Astros' pitching rotation. He lives with his family in Tyler, Texas, which is 175 miles north of Houston....(size: 4.7Kb)
noodls
01 Dec 2012
... per 9.0 innings pitched, going 2-0 with a 2.17 ERA in 5 July starts (29.0IP, 23H, 7ER, 8BB, 30K). The Puerto Cabello, Venezuela native owns a career Major League record of 8-11 with a 4.61 ERA in 99 games/19 starts (185.2IP, 177H, 95ER, 143K, .252 AVG) with the Houston Astros and New York Mets from 2006-10 ... Houston Astros ... Houston Astros....(size: 40.4Kb)
The Charlotte Observer
01 Dec 2012
Seven months after throwing a perfect game, Philip Humber has a new team after the Houston Astros claimed the pitcher off waivers from the Chicago White Sox on Friday ... Humber, a Texas native who pitched collegiately in Houston for Rice University, did have a solid season for the White Sox in 2011 ... ....(size: 1.4Kb)
noodls
01 Dec 2012
The Chicago White Sox have declined to tender 2013 contracts to right-handed pitcher Anthony Carter and infielder Dan Johnson ... Right-handed pitcher Philip Humber today was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros. With the moves, Chicago's 40-man roster is at 37. distributed by ... The issuer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the information contained therein.....(size: 2.1Kb)
The Columbus Dispatch
01 Dec 2012
Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth and Oakland Raiders defensive linemen Desmond Bryant, Lamarr Houston, Tommy Kelly and Matt Shaughnessy each drew $26,250 fines yesterday from the NFL for fighting in Sunday’s game ... • The Houston Astros claimed Philip Humber off waivers from the Chicago White Sox and agreed to a one-year contract with the pitcher, who threw a perfect game last season....(size: 8.7Kb)
noodls
01 Dec 2012
The St. Louis Cardinals announced their 2013 Spring Training schedule today ... The Cardinals and Marlins will play a total of eight games this spring including a St. Patrick's Day matchup on March 17 ... Other American League teams appearing on the schedule at Jupiter include the Boston Red Sox (February 24), Houston Astros (February 25) and Minnesota Twins (March 4), while the New York Mets will make three visits (March 10, 18 & 24) ... ET....(size: 3.6Kb)
Houston Chronicle
30 Nov 2012
Houston’s list is narrowed down and the selection isn’t expected to be affected by any deals the Astros might make during the winter meetings ... … Many of Houston’s young players will be given a full chance to compete for starting spots in 2013, and Luhnow acknowledged he thinks the Astros could be better than many believe ... Tags.free agency, Houston Astros, Jeff Luhnow, Lance Berkman, Rule 5, Wilton Lopez, winter meetings....(size: 3.4Kb)
MLB
30 Nov 2012
HOUSTON -- The Astros' biggest need entering the Winter Meetings is beefing up their run production, which fits nicely into their move to the American League next year and the need to add a designated hitter to the lineup ... Houston lacked power last year and didn't have anyone in the lineup who was a consistent power threat, so look for the Astros to sign someone who could impact their lineup with the long ball....(size: 5.2Kb)
"Astros" redirects here. For other uses, see Astros (disambiguation).
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| Houston Astros | |||
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 2012 Houston Astros season |
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| Established | 1962 | ||
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| Retired numbers | 5, 7, 24, 25, 32, 33, 34, 40, 42, 49 | ||
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| Major league titles | |||
| World Series titles (0) | none | ||
| NL (1962-2012) AL (2013-onward) Pennants (1) |
2005 | ||
| Central (1962-2012) West (2013-onward) Division titles (4) |
2001 • 1999 • 1998 • 1997 | ||
| West Division titles (2) [1][2] | 1986 • 1980 | ||
| Wild card berths (2) | 2005 • 2004 | ||
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[1] – In 1981, a players' strike in the middle of the season forced the season to be split into two halves. The Astros won the division in the second half, but lost the division playoff to the Dodgers. |
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| Front office | |||
| Owner(s) | Jim Crane | ||
| Manager | Brad Mills | ||
| General Manager | Jeff Luhnow | ||
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are currently a member of the National League Central Division. In 2013, the Astros will move to the American League West Division. The Astros have played their home games at Minute Maid Park since 2000.
The Astros were established as the Houston Colt .45s in 1962. The current name was adopted three years later when they moved into the Astrodome, the world's first domed sports stadium. The name references Houston's role as the center of the U.S. Space Program.
The Astros have one World Series appearance, in 2005 against the Chicago White Sox.
Franchise history[link]
The Houston Astros are a member of the National League Central Division. In late 2011, Houston businessman Jim Crane purchased the Astros from Drayton McLane. As a condition of the sale, Major League Baseball required a move to the American League West Division, effective for the 2013 season. After over fifty years in the National League, this move is unpopular with many Astros fans.[1][2]
Major League Baseball comes to Texas[link]
Houston officials had been making efforts to bring a Major League team to Texas before the expansion in 1962.[3] There were four men chiefly responsible for bringing Major League Baseball to Houston: George Kirksey and Craig Cullinan, who had led a futile attempt to purchase the St. Louis Cardinals in 1952; R.E. "Bob" Smith, a prominent oilman and real estate magnate in Houston who was brought in for his financial resources; and Judge Roy Hofheinz, a former Mayor of Houston and Harris County Judge who was recruited for his salesmanship and political style. They formed the Houston Sports Association as their vehicle for attaining a big league franchise for the city of Houston.[4]
Given MLB's refusal to consider expansion, Kirksey, Cullinan, Smith, and Hofheinz joined forces with would-be owners from other cities and announced the formation of a new league to compete with the established National and American Leagues. They called the new league the Continental League. Wanting to protect potential new markets, both existing leagues chose to expand from eight teams to ten. Houston won a franchise in the National League to begin play in 1962. The Continental League folded before it ever started, but if its real object was to secure Houston a Major League franchise, it clearly succeeded.[4]
The new Houston team was named the Colt .45s after a "Name The Team" contest was won by William Irving Neder. The Colt .45 was well known as "the gun that won the west."[5] The colors selected were navy blue and orange. The first team was a collection of cast-offs culled mostly through an expansion draft after the 1961 season. The Colt .45s and their expansion cousins, the New York Mets, took turns choosing players left unprotected by the other National League franchises.
The Colt .45s began their existence playing at Colt Stadium. Colt Stadium, however, was just a temporary field until Judge Hofheinz could build an indoor stadium. Hofheinz had convinced the National League owners that the sweltering Houston summers would not be a problem as he would build an indoor baseball stadium based loosely on the Colosseum in Rome. Bonds were passed and construction began, but in the meantime the team played on some reclaimed marshland south of town. Colt Stadium was built on the same land that would eventually hold its famous successor. It was built on the cheap with little to protect fans from the weather or other hazards. True baseball fans hardly cared. Houston had become a "major league" city.[4]
1962–64: The Colt .45s era[link]
File:HOU 1094.gif
Colt .45s logo, 1962–64
The Colt .45s started their inaugural season on April 10, 1962, against the Chicago Cubs with Harry Craft as the Colt .45s' manager. Bob Aspromonte scored the first run for the Colt .45s on an Al Spangler triple in the first inning.[6] They started the season with a three-game sweep of the Cubs but eventually finished eighth among the National League's ten teams. The team's best pitcher, Richard "Turk" Farrell, lost 20 games despite an ERA of 3.02. A starter for the Colt .45s, Farrell was primarily a relief pitcher prior to playing for Houston. He was selected to both All-Star Games in 1962.[7]
The 1963 season saw more young talent mixed with seasoned veterans. Jimmy Wynn, Rusty Staub, and Joe Morgan all made their major league debuts in the 1963 season. However, Houston's position in the standings did not improve. In fact, the Colt .45s finished in ninth place with a 66–96 record. The team was still building, trying to find that perfect mix to compete.[4] The 1964 campaign began on a sad note. Pitcher Jim Umbricht died of cancer at the age of 33 just before Opening Day. Umbricht was the only Colt .45s pitcher to post a winning record in Houston's first two seasons. He was so well liked by players and fans that the team retired his jersey number, 32, in 1965.[8]
Just on the horizon, the structure of the new domed stadium was more prevalent and it would soon change the way that baseball was watched in Houston and around the league.
1965–1970: The great indoors[link]
File:HOU 1093.gif
Astros logo, 1965–1974
With Judge Roy Hofheinz now the sole owner of the franchise and the new venue complete, the Colt .45s moved into their new domed stadium, the Astrodome in 1965. The name honored Houston's position as location of the nation's space program. The Colt .45s were renamed the Astros.[9] The new park, coined the "Eighth Wonder of the World" did little to help the play on the field. While several "indoor" firsts were accomplished, the team still finished ninth in the standings. The attendance was high not because of the team accomplishments, but because people came from miles around to see the Astrodome.
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. Grass would not grow in the new park, since the roof panels had been painted to reduce the glare that was causing players on both the Astros and the visiting teams to miss routine pop flies. A new artificial turf was created called "AstroTurf" and Houston would be involved in yet another change in the way the game was played.[10]
With new manager Grady Hatton the Astros started the 1966 season strong. By May they were in second place in the National League and looked like a team that could contend. Joe Morgan was named as a starter on the All-Star Team. The success did not last as they lost Jimmy Wynn for the season after he crashed into an outfield fence in Philadelphia and Morgan had broken his knee cap.[4] 1967 saw first baseman Eddie Mathews join the Astros. The slugger hit his 500th home run while in Houston. He would be traded late in the season and Doug Rader would be promoted to the big leagues. Rookie Wilson pitched a no-hitter on June 18, the first pitched in team history. Wynn also provided some enthusiasm in 1967. The 5 ft 9 in Wynn was becoming known not only for how often he hit home runs, but also for how far he hit them. Wynn set club records with 37 home runs, and 107 RBIs. It was also in 1967 that Wynn hit his famous home run onto Interstate 75 in Cincinnati.[11] As the season came to a close, the Astros found themselves again in ninth place and with a winning percentage below .500. The team looked good on paper, but could not make it work on the field.
April 15, 1968 saw a pitching duel for the ages. The Astros' Don Wilson and the Mets' Tom Seaver faced each other in a pitching duel that lasted six hours. Seaver went ten innings, allowing no walks and just two hits. Wilson went nine innings, allowing five hits and three walks. After the starters exited, eleven relievers (seven for the Mets and four for the Astros) tried to end the game. The game finally ended in the 24th inning when Aspromonte hit a shot toward Mets shortstop Al Weis. Weis had been perfect all night at short, but he was not quick enough to make the play. The ball zipped into left field, allowing Norm Miller to score.[12]
With baseball expansion and trades, the Astros had dramatically changed in 1969. Aspromonte was sent to the Braves and Staub joined the expansion Montreal Expos. Cuellar was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. New players included catcher Johnny Edwards, outfielder Jesús Alou, infielder Denis Menke, and pitcher Denny Lemaster. Wilson continued to pitch brilliantly and on May 1 threw the second no-hitter of his career. He was just 24 years of age and was second to only Sandy Koufax for career no-hit wins. Wilson's no-hitter lit the Astros' fire and six days later the team tied a major league record by turning seven double plays in a game. By May's end the Astros had put together a ten-game winning streak. The Houston infield tandem of Menke and Joe Morgan continued to improve, providing power at the plate and great defense. Morgan had 15 homers and stole 49 bases while Menke led the Astros with 90 RBIs. The Menke/Morgan punch was beginning to come alive, and the team was responding to Walker's management style.
In 1970, the Astros were expected to be a serious threat in the National League West. In June, 19-year-old Cesar Cedeno was called up and immediately showed signs of being a superstar. The Dominican outfielder batted .310 after being called up. Not to be outdone, Denis Menke batted .304 and Jesus Alou batted .306. The Astros' batting average was up by 19 points compared to the season before.[11][13] The team looked good, but the Astros' ERA was up. Larry Dierker and Don Wilson had winning records, but the pitching staff as a whole had an off season. Houston finished in fourth place in 1970.
1971–1974: The boys in orange[link]
The fashion trends of the 1960s had started taking root in baseball. Long hair and loud colors were starting to appear on teams uniforms, including the Astros'. In 1971 the Astros made some changes to their uniform: they kept the same style they had in previous seasons, but inverted the colors. What was navy blue was now orange and what was orange was now a lighter shade of blue. The players' last names were added to the back of the jerseys. In 1972, the uniform fabric was also changed to what was at the time revolutionizing the industry – polyester. Belts were replaced by elastic waistbands, and jerseys zipped up instead of buttons. The uniforms became popular with fans, but would last only until 1975, when the Astros would shock baseball and the fashion world.[14]
The uniforms were about the only thing that did change in 1971. The acquisition of Roger Metzger from the Chicago Cubs in the off-season moved Menke to first base and Bob Watson to the outfield. The Astros got off to a slow start and the pitching and hitting averages were down. Larry Dierker was selected to the All-Star game in 1971, but due to an arm injury he could not make it. Cesar Cedeno led the club with 81 RBIs and the league with 40 doubles, but batted just .264 and had 102 strikeouts in his second season with the Astros.[15] Pitcher J.R. Richard made his debut in September of the 1971 season against the Giants.
The big trade[link]
See also: The Big Red Machine
In November 1971 the Astros and Cincinnati Reds made one of the most blockbuster trades in the history of the sport,[16] and helped create The Big Red Machine of the 1970s,[17] with the Reds getting the better end of the deal. Houston sent second baseman Joe Morgan, infielder Denis Menke, pitcher Jack Billingham, outfielder Cesar Geronimo and prospect Ed Armbrister to Cincinnati for first baseman Lee May, second baseman Tommy Helms and infielder Jimmy Stewart. The trade left Astros fans and the baseball world scratching their heads as to why General Manager Spec Richardson would give up so much for so little. The Reds, on the other hand, would shore up many problems. They had an off year in 1971, but were the National League Pennant winner in 1970.[16]
The Astros' acquisition of Lee May added more power to the lineup in 1972. May, Wynn, Rader and Cedeno all had 20 or more home runs and Watson hit 16. Cedeno also led the Astros with a .320 batting average, 55 stolen bases and made spectacular plays on the field. Cedeno made his first All-Star game in 1972 and became the first Astros player in team history to hit for the cycle in August versus the Reds. The Astros finished the strike-shorened season at 84-69, their first winning season.[4]
Astros fans had hoped for more of the same in 1973, but it was not to be. The Astros run production was down, even though the same five sluggers the year before were still punching the ball out of the park. Lee May led the Astros with 28 home runs and Cesar Cedeno batted .320 with 25 home runs. Bob Watson hit the .312 mark and drove in 94 runs. Doug Rader and Jimmy Wynn both had 20 or more home runs. However, injuries to their pitching staff limited the Astros to an 82–80 fourth-place finish. The Astros again finished in fourth place the next year under new manager Preston Gomez.[4][18]
1975–1979: The rainbow era[link]
File:Houston Astros logo.gif
Astros logo, 1975–1993
With the $38 million deficit of the Astrodome, control of the Astrodomain was passed from Judge Roy Hofheinz to GE Credit and Ford Motor Credit. This included the Astros. The creditors were just interested in preserving asset value of the team, so any money spent had to be found or saved somewhere else.[19] Tal Smith returned to the Astros from the New York Yankees to find a team that needed a lot of work and did not have a lot of money. However, there would be some bright spots that would prove to be good investments in the near future.
The year started on a sad note. Pitcher Don Wilson was found dead in the passenger seat of his car on January 5, 1975. Cause of death was asphyxiation by carbon monoxide. Wilson was 29 years old. Wilson's number 40 was retired on April 13, 1975.[14]
The 1975 season was the introduction of the Astros new uniforms. Many teams were going away from the traditional uniform and the Astros were no exception. The uniforms had multishade stripes of orange, red and yellow in front and in back behind a large dark blue star over the midsection. The same stripes run down the pant legs. Players numbers not only appeared on the back of the jersey, but also on the pant leg. The bright stripes were meant to appear as a fiery trail like a rocket sweeping across the heavens. The uniforms were panned by critics, but the public liked them and versions started appearing at the high school and little league level. The uniform was so different from what other teams wore that the Astros wore it both at home and on the road until 1980.[14]
Besides the bright new uniforms there were some other changes. Lee May was traded to Baltimore for much talked about rookie second baseman Rob Andrews and utility player Enos Cabell. In Baltimore, Cabell was stuck behind third baseman Brooks Robinson, but he took advantage of his opportunity in Houston and became their everyday third baseman.[20] Cabell would go on to become a big part of the team's success in later years. With May gone, Bob Watson was able to move to first base and was a bright spot in the line up, batting .324 with 85 RBI.
The two biggest moves the Astros made in the offseason were the acquisitions of Joe Niekro and José Cruz. The Astros bought Niekro from the Braves for almost nothing. Niekro had bounced around the big leagues with minimal success. His older brother Phil Niekro had started teaching Joe how to throw his knuckleball and Joe was just starting to use it when he came to the Astros. Niekro won six games, saved four games and had an ERA of 3.07.[21] José Cruz was also a steal, in retrospect, from the Cardinals. [22] Cruz became a fixture in the Astors' outfield for several years and would eventually have his number 25 retired.
Despite high expectations, 1975 was the Astros' worst in franchise history. Their record was 64–97 was far worse than even the expansion Colt .45's. It was the worst record in baseball and manager Preston Gomez was fired late in the season and replaced by Bill Virdon. The Astros played .500 ball under Virdon in the last 34 games of the season.[14] With Virdon as the manager the Astros improved greatly in 1976 finishing in third place with a 80–82 record. A healthy Cesar Cedeno was a key reason for the Astros' success in 1976. Bob Watson continued to show consistency and led the club with a .313 average and 102 RBI. José Cruz became Houston's everyday left fielder and hit .303 with 28 stolen bases.[23][24] 1976 saw the end of Larry Dierker's playing career as an Astro, but before it was all over he would throw a no-hitter and win the 1,000th game in the Astrodome.[25] The Astros finished in third place again in 1977 with a record of 81–81.[14]
One of the big problems the Astros had in the late 1970s was that they were unable to compete in the free agent market. Ford Motor Credit Company was still in control of the team and was looking to sell the Astros, but they were not going to spend money on better players. Most of the talent was either farm grown or bought on the cheap.
The 1979 season would prove to be a big turnaround in Astros history. During the offseason, the Astros made an effort to fix some of their problem areas. They traded Floyd Bannister to Seattle for shortstop Craig Reynolds and acquired catcher Alan Ashby from Toronto for pitcher Mark Lemongello. Reynolds and Ashby were both solid in their positions and gave Houston some much needed consistency.[26] The season started with a boost from pitcher Ken Forsch, who threw a no-hitter the Braves the second game of the season.[14] In May 1979, Dr. John McMullen had agreed to buy the Astros. Now with an investor in charge, the Astros would be more likely to compete in the free agent market.[27]
The Astros were playing great baseball throughout the season. José Cruz and Enos Cabell both stole 30 bases. Joe Niekro had a great year with 21 wins and 3.00 ERA. J.R. Richard won 18 games and set a new personal strikeout record at 313. Joe Sambito came into his own with 22 saves as the Astros closer. Things were going as they should for a team that could win the west.[14] The Astros and Reds battled the final month of the season. The Reds pulled ahead of the Astros by a game and a half. Later that month they split a pair and the Reds kept the lead. That would be how it would end. The Astros finished with their best record to that point at 89–73 and 1½ games behind the NL winner Reds.[14]
With Dr. McMullen as sole owner of the Astros, the team would now benefit in ways a corporation could not give them. The rumors of the Astros moving out of Houston started to crumble and the Astros were now able to compete in the free agent market. 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. Ryan had four career no-hitters already and had struck out 383 in one season.[14]
1980: On the brink[link]
Joe Morgan, who regretted leaving the Astros,[28] returned in 1980. Now back in Houston with two MVP awards and two World Series rings, Morgan wanted to help make the Astros a pennant winner.
1980 saw one of the best pitching lineups the Astros ever had, with the fastball of Ryan, the knuckleball of Joe Niekro and the terrifying 6 ft 8 in frame of J.R. Richard. Teams felt lucky to face Ken Forsch, who was a double-digit winner in the previous two seasons. Richard became the first Astros pitcher to start an All-Star game. After a medical examination three days later, Richard was told to rest his arm and he collapsed during a July 30 workout. He had suffered a stroke after a blood clot in the arm apparently moved to his neck and cut off blood flow to the brain. Surgery was done to save his life, but the Astros had lost their ace pitcher after a 10–4 start with a stingy 1.89 ERA. Richard attempted a comeback, but would never again pitch a big league game.[14][29]
After the loss of Richard and some offensive struggles, the Astros slipped to third place in the division behind the Dodgers and the Reds. 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. The Astros won the first two games of that series and the two teams were tied for the division lead. The Astros held a three game lead over the Dodgers with three games left in the season against the Dodgers. The Dodgers swept the series games, forcing a one-game playoff the next day.[30] The Astros would however win the one-game playoff 7-1, and advance to their first post-season.
The team would face the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1980 National League Championship Series. The Phillies sent out Steve Carlton in game one of the NLCS after a six-hour flight the night before.[14][31] The Phillies would win the opener after the Astros got out to a 1-0 third-inning lead. Ken Forsch pitched particularly strong fourth and fifth innings, but Greg Luzinski hit a sixth-inning two-run bomb to the 300 level seats of Veterans Stadium. The Phillies added an insurance run on the way to a 3–1 win.[4] Houston bounced back to win games two and three. Game four went into extra innings, with the Phillies taking the lead and the win in the tenth inning. Pete Rose started a rally with a one-out single, then Luzinski doubled off the left field wall and Rose bowled over catcher Bruce Bochy to score the go-ahead run. The Phillies got an insurance run on the way to tying the series.[4]
Rookie Phillies pitcher Marty Bystrom was sent out by Philadelphia manager Dallas Green to face veteran Nolan Ryan in Game Five. The rookie gave up a run in the first inning, then held the Astros at bay until the sixth inning. An Astros lead was lost when Bob Boone hit a two out single in the second, but the Astros tied the game in the sixth with an Alan Ashby single scoring Denny Walling. Houston took a 5–2 lead in the seventh, however the Phillies came back with five runs in the inning. The Astros came back against Tug McGraw with four singles and two two-out runs. Now in extra innings, Gary Maddox doubled in Del Unser with one out to give the Phillies an 8–7 lead. The Astros failed to score in the bottom of the tenth. [4][32]
1981–1985: Out with the old and rebuild[link]
A 1981 player strike ran between June 12 and August 10. Ultimately, the strike would help the Astros get into the playoffs. Nolan Ryan and Bob Knepper picked up steam in the second half of the season. Ryan threw his fifth no-hitter on September 26 and finished the season with a 1.69 ERA. Knepper would finish with an ERA of 2.18.[4] In the wake of the strike, Major League Baseball took the winners of each “half” season and set up a best-of-five divisional playoff. The Reds won more games than any other team in the National League, but they won neither half of the strike-divided season. The Astros finished 61–49 overall, which would been third in the division behind the Reds and the Dodgers. Advancing to the playoffs as winners of the second half, Houston beat Los Angeles in their first two playoff games at home, but the Dodgers took the next three in Los Angeles to advance to the NLCS.
By 1982, only four players and three starting pitchers remained from the 1980 squad. The Astros also had three pitchers over the age 35 and Knepper was the only starter under the age of thirty. The Astros were out of pennant contention by August and began rebuilding for the near future. Bill Virdon was fired as manager and replaced by original Colt .45 Bob Lillis. Don Sutton asked to be traded and was sent to the Milwaukee Brewers for cash and three young prospects, including Kevin Bass. Minor league player Bill Doran was called up in September. Bass also got a look in the outfield. The Astros finished fourth in the west, but young talent was starting to appear.[4]
Before the 1983 season, the Astros traded Danny Heep to the Mets for pitcher Mike Scott, a 28 year old who had struggled with New York. Art Howe sat out the 1983 season with an injury, forcing Phil Garner to third and Ray Knight to first. Bill Doran took over at second, becoming the everyday second baseman for the next seven seasons.[33] The Astros finished third in the National League West.[4] The 1984 season started off badly when shortstop Dickie Thon was hit in the head by a pitch and was lost for the season. In September the Astros called up rookie Glenn Davis after he posted impressive numbers in AAA. The Astros finished in second place. In 1985, Mike Scott learned a new pitch, the split-finger fastball. Scott, who was coming off of a 5-11 season, had found his new pitch and would become one of Houston's most celebrated hurlers. In June, Davis made the starting lineup at first base, adding power to the team. In September Joe Niekro was traded to the Yankees for two minor league pitchers and lefty Jim Deshaies. The Astros finished in fourth place in 1985.[4]
1986: Lighting a fire[link]
After finishing fourth in 1985 the Astros fired general manager Al Rosen and manager Bob Lillis. The former was supplanted by Dick Wagner, the man whose Reds defeated the Astros to win the 1979 NL West title. The latter was replaced by Hal Lanier who, like his manager mentor in St. Louis, Whitey Herzog, had a hard-nosed approach to managing and espoused a playing style that focused on pitching, defense, and speed rather than home runs to win games. This style of baseball, known as Whiteyball, took advantage of stadiums with deep fences and artificial turf, both of which were characteristics of the Astrodome. Lanier's style of baseball took Houston by storm. Before Lanier took over, fans were accustomed to Houston's occasional slow starts, but with Lanier leading the way, Houston got off to a hot start, winning 13 of their first 19 contests.,,[4][34][35]
Prior to the start of the season the Astros acquired outfielder Billy Hatcher from the Cubs for Jerry Mumphrey. Lainer also made a change in the pitching staff, going with a three-man rotation to start the season. This allowed Lanier to keep his three starters (Nolan Ryan, Bob Knepper, and Mike Scott) sharp and to slowly work in rookie hurler Jim Deshaies. Bill Doran and Glenn Davis held down the right side of the field but Lainer rotated the left side. Denny Walling and Craig Reynolds faced the right-handed pitchers while Phil Garner and Dickie Thon batted against left-handers. Lainer knew the Astros had talent and he put it to work.,[4][36]
The Astrodome was host to the 1986 All-Star Game in which Astros Mike Scott, Kevin Bass, Glenn Davis, and Dave Smith represented the host field. The Astros kept pace with the NL West after the All-Star break. They went on a streak of five straight come-from-behind wins. Houston swept a key 3-game series over the Los Angeles Dodgers in late September to clinch the division title. Mike Scott took the mound in the final game of the series and pitched a no-hitter - the only time in MLB history that any division was clinched via a no-hitter. Scott would finish the season with an 18–10 record and a Cy Young Award.,,[4][37][38]
The 1986 National League Championship Series against the New York Mets was noted for great drama and is considered one of the best postseason series ever. In Game 3, the Astros were ahead at Shea Stadium, 5–4, in the bottom of the 9th when closer Dave Smith gave up a two-run home run to Lenny Dykstra, giving the Mets a dramatic 6–5 win.
However, the signature game of the series was Game 6. Needing a win to get to Mike Scott (who had been dominant in the series) in Game 7, the Astros jumped off to a 3–0 lead in the first inning but neither team would score again until the 9th inning. In the 9th, starting pitcher Bob Knepper would give two runs, and once again the Astros would look to Dave Smith to close it out. However, Smith would walk Gary Carter and Darryl Strawberry, giving up a sacrifice fly to Ray Knight, tying the game. Despite having the go-ahead runs on base, Smith was able to escape the inning without any further damage.
There was no scoring until the 14th inning when the Mets would take the lead on a Wally Backman single and an error by left fielder Billy Hatcher. The Astros would get the run back in the bottom of the 14th when Hatcher (in a classic goat-to-hero-conversion-moment) hit one of the most dramatic home runs in NLCS history, off the left field foul pole. In the 16th inning, Darryl Strawberry doubled to lead off the inning and Ray Knight drove him home in the next at-bat. The Mets would score a total of three runs in the inning to take what appeared an insurmountable 7–4 lead. With their season on the line, the Astros would nonetheless rally for two runs to come to within 7–6. Kevin Bass came up with the tying and winning runs on base; however Jesse Orosco would strike him out, ending the game. At the time the 16-inning game held the record for the longest in MLB postseason history. The Mets won the series, 4-2.
1987–90: Out with the old, in with the new[link]
After the 1986 season came and went, the team had difficulty finding success again. Hometown favorites Nolan Ryan and José Cruz [39] moved on and the team entered a rebuilding phase focusing on younger players. Craig Biggio debuted in June 1988, joining young prospects Ken Caminiti and Gerald Young. Biggio would become the everyday catcher by 1990. A trade acquiring Jeff Bagwell in exchange for Larry Andersen would become one of the biggest deals in Astros history. Glenn Davis was traded to Baltimore for Curt Schilling, Pete Harnisch and Steve Finley in 1990.
1990–99: Fine tuning[link]
The early 1990s were marked by the Astros' growing discontent with their home, the Astrodome. After the Astrodome was renovated for the primary benefit of the Houston Oilers, the Astros began to grow increasingly disenchanted with the facility. Faced with declining attendance at the Astrodome and the inability of management to obtain a new stadium, in the 1991 off-season Astros management announced its intention to sell the team and move the franchise to the Washington, D.C. area. However, the move was not approved by other National League owners, thus compelling the Astros to remain in Houston. Shortly thereafter, McMullen (who also owned the NHL's New Jersey Devils) sold the team to Texas businessman Drayton McLane in 1993, who committed to keeping the team in Houston.
Shortly after McLane's arrival, which coincided with the maturation of Bagwell and Biggio, the Astros began to show signs of consistent success. After finishing second in their division in 1994 (in a strike year), 1995, and 1996, the Astros won consecutive division titles in 1997, 1998, and 1999. In the 1998 season, the Astros set a team record with 102 victories. However, each of these titles was followed by a first-round playoff elimination, in 1998 by the San Diego Padres and in 1997 and 1999 against the Atlanta Braves. The manager of these title teams was Larry Dierker, who had previously been a broadcaster and pitcher for the Astros. During this period, Bagwell, Biggio, Derek Bell and Sean Berry earned the collective nickname "The Killer Bs". In later seasons, the name came to include other Astros, especially Lance Berkman.[40]
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. The team's trademark rainbow uniforms were retired, and the team's colors changed to midnight blue and metallic gold. The "Astros" font on the team logo was changed to a more aggressive one, and the team's traditional star logo was changed to a stylized, "flying" star with an open left end. It marked the first time since the team's inception that orange was not part of the team's colors. Despite general agreement that the rainbow uniforms identified with the team had become tired (and looked too much like a minor league team according to the new owners), the new uniforms and caps were never especially popular with fans.
File:HOU 1078.gif
Astros logo, 1994–1999
Off the field, in 1994, the Astros hired one of the first African American general managers, former franchise player Bob Watson. Watson would leave the Astros after the 1995 season to become general manager of the New York Yankees and helped to lead the Yankees to a World Championship in 1996. He would be replaced by Gerry Hunsicker, who until 2004 would continue to oversee the building of the Astros into one of the better and most consistent organizations in the Major Leagues.
However, in 1996, the Astros again nearly left Houston. By the mid-1990s, McLane (like McMullen before him) wanted his team out of the Astrodome and was asking the city to build the Astros a new stadium. When things did not progress quickly toward that end, he put the team up for sale. He had nearly finalized a deal to sell the team to businessman William Collins, who planned to move them to Northern Virginia. However, Collins was having difficulty finding a site for a stadium himself, so Major League owners stepped in and forced McLane to give Houston another chance to grant his stadium wish. Houston voters responded positively via a stadium referendum and the Astros stayed put.
2000-2004: New stadium[link]
The 2000 season saw a move to a new stadium. Originally called Enron Field, the stadium was one of the first to feature a functional retractable roof, a particularly useful feature with unpredictable Houston weather. The ballpark also featured more intimate surroundings than the Astrodome. In 2002, naming rights were purchased by Houston-based Minute Maid, after Enron went bankrupt. The park was built on the grounds of the old Union Station. A locomotive moves across the outfield and whistles after home runs, paying homage to a Houston history which had eleven railroad company lines running through the city by 1860. The ballpark also contains quirks such as "Tal's Hill", which is a hill in deep center field on which a flagpole stands, all in fair territory. A similar feature was located in Crosley Field. Over the years, many highlight reel catches have been made by center fielders running up the hill to make catches. With the change in location also came a change in attire. Gone were the blue and gold uniforms of the 1990s in favor a more "retro" look with pinstripes, a traditional baseball font, and the colors of brick red, sand and black. The "shooting star" logo was modified but still retained its definitive look.
After two fairly successful seasons without a playoff appearance, the Astros were early favorites to win the 2004 NL pennant. They added star pitcher Andy Pettitte to a roster that already included standouts like Lance Berkman and Jeff Kent as well as veterans Bagwell and Biggio. Roger Clemens, who had retired after the 2003 season with the New York Yankees, agreed to join former teammate Pettitte on the Astros for 2004. The one-year deal included unique conditions, such as the option for Clemens to stay home in Houston on select road trips when he wasn't scheduled to pitch. Despite the early predictions for success, the Astros had a mediocre 44–44 record at the All-Star break. A lack of run production and a poor record in close games were major issues. After being booed at the 2004 All-Star Game held in Houston, Williams was fired and replaced by Phil Garner, a star on the division-winning 1986 Astros. The Astros enjoyed a 46–26 record in the second under Garner and earned the NL wild card spot. The Astros defeated Braves 3-2 in theDivision Series, but would lose the National League Championship Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. Clemens earned a record seventh Cy Young Award in 2004. Additionally, the mid-season addition of Carlos Beltrán in a trade with the Kansas City Royals helped the Astros tremendously in their playoff run. Despite midseason trade rumors, Beltrán would prove instrumental to the team's hopes, hitting eight home runs in the postseason. Though he had asserted a desire to remain with the Astros, Beltrán signed a long-term contract with the New York Mets on January 9, 2005.
2005: First World Series[link]
Main article: 2005 Houston Astros season
In 2005, the Astros started poorly and found themselves with a 15-30 record in late May. However, from that low point until the end of July, Houston went 42–17 and found themselves in the lead for an NL wild card spot. July saw the best single month record in the club's history at 22-7. Offensive production had increased greatly after a slow start in the first two months. The Astros had also developed an excellent pitching staff, anchored by Roy Oswalt (20–12, 2.94), Andy Pettitte (17–9, 2.39), and Roger Clemens (13–8 with a league-low ERA of only 1.87). The contributions of the other starters - Brandon Backe (10–8, 4.76) and rookie starters Ezequiel Astacio (3–6, 5.67) and Wandy Rodríguez (10–10, 5.53) - were less remarkable, but enough to push the Astros into position for a playoff run. The Astros won a wild card berth on the final day of the regular season, becoming the first team since the world champion 1914 Boston Braves to qualify for the postseason after being 15 games under .500.
The Astros won the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, 3-1, with a game four that set postseason records for most innings (18), most players used by a single team (23), and longest game time (5 hours and 50 minutes). Lance Berkman hit an eighth inning grand slam and Chris Burke hit the game-winning home run in a 7–6 win. Clemens made only his second career relief appearance, earning the win with three shutout innings. The National League Championship Series featured a rematch of the 2004 NLCS. The Astros lost the first game in St. Louis, but would win the next three games. Though the Astros were poised to close out the series in Game Five in Houston, Brad Lidge gave up a monstrous two-out three-run home run to Albert Pujols, forcing the series to a sixth game in St. Louis, where the Astros clinched a World Series appearance. Roy Oswalt was named NLCS MVP, having gone 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in the series. Current honorary NL President William Y. Giles presented the league champion Astros with the Warren C. Giles Trophy. Warren Giles, William's father and President of the National League from 1951 to 1969, had awarded an MLB franchise to the city of Houston in 1960.
The Astros' faced the Chicago White Sox in the World Series. Chicago had been considered the slight favorite but would win all four games, the first two at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago and the final two in Houston. Game 3 marked the first Fall Classic in Texas and was the longest game in World Series history, lasting 5 hours and 41 minutes.
2006-2010: Return to mediocrity[link]
In the 2006 offseason, the team signed Preston Wilson and moved Berkman to first base, ending the long tenure of Jeff Bagwell. The Astros renewed the contract with Clemens and traded two minor league prospects to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for left-handed hitter Aubrey Huff. By August, Preston Wilson complained about his playing time after the return of Luke Scott from AAA Round Rock. The Astros released Wilson and he was signed by St. Louis. A dramatic season end included wins in 10 of their last 12 games, but the Astros missed a playoff appearance when they lost the final game of the season to the Atlanta Braves.
On October 31, the Astros declined a contract option on Jeff Bagwell for 2007, ending his 15-year Astros career and leading to his retirement. Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte filed for free agency. On December 12, the Astros traded Willy Taveras, Taylor Buchholz, and Jason Hirsh to the Colorado Rockies for Rockies pitchers Jason Jennings and Miguel Asencio. A trade with the White Sox, involving the same three Astros in exchange for Jon Garland, had been nixed a few days earlier when Buchholz reportedly failed a physical. In the end, Taveras continued to develop and Hirsh had a strong 2007 rookie campaign, while Jennings was oft-injured and generally ineffective.
On April 28, 2007, the Astros purchased the contract of top minor league prospect Hunter Pence. He debuted that night, getting a hit and scoring a run. By May 2007, the Astros had suffered one of their worst recent losing streaks (10 games). On June 28, second baseman Craig Biggio became the 27th MLB player to accrue 3,000 career hits. That night, Carlos Lee hit a towering walk-off grand slam in the eleventh inning. On July 24, Biggio announced that he would retire at the end of the season. He hit a grand slam in that night's game which broke a 3–3 tie and led to an Astros win.
On September 20, Ed Wade was named General Manager. In his first move, he traded Jason Lane to the Padres on September 24. On September 30, Craig Biggio retired after twenty years with the team. In November, the Astros traded RHP Brad Lidge and SS Eric Bruntlett to the Philadelphia Phillies for OF Michael Bourn, RHP Geoff Geary, and minor leaguer Mike Costanzo. utility player Mark Loretta accepted Houston's salary arbitration and Kazuo Matsui finalized a $16.5 million, three-year contract with the team. In December the Astros traded OF Luke Scott, RHP Matt Albers, RHP Dennis Sarfate, LHP Troy Patton, and minor-league 3B Mike Costanzo, to the Baltimore Orioles for SS Miguel Tejada. On December 14, they sent infielder Chris Burke, RHP Juan Gutiérrez, and RHP Chad Qualls to the Arizona Diamondbacks for RHP José Valverde. On December 27, the Astros came to terms on a deal with All-star, Gold Glove winner Darin Erstad.
In January and February 2008, the Astros signed Brandon Backe, Ty Wigginton, Dave Borkowski and Shawn Chacon to one-year deals. The starting rotation would feature Roy Oswalt and Brandon Backe as numbers one and two. Wandy Rodríguez, Chacón and Chris Sampson rounded out the bottom three slots in the rotation. Woody Williams had retired after a 0-4 spring training and Jason Jennings was now with Texas. On the other side of the roster, the Astros would start without Kazuo Matsui, who was on a minor league rehab assignment after a spring training injury.
The Astros regressed in 2008 and 2009, finishing with records of 86-75 and 74-88, respectively. Manager Cecil Cooper was fired after the 2009 season.
2010-2011: New manager Brad Mills[link]
The 2010 season was the first season as Astros manager for Brad Mills, who was previously the bench coach of the Boston Red Sox. The Astros struggled throughout a season that was marked by trade-deadline deals that sent long time Astros to other teams. On July 29, the Astros' ace starting pitcher, Roy Oswalt, was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies for J. A. Happ and two minor league players.[41][42] On July 31, outfielder Lance Berkman was traded to the New York Yankees for minor leaguers Jimmy Paredes and Mark Melancon.[43][44] The Astros finished with a record of 76-86.
The 2011 season was the worst in franchise history, as the Astros finished 56-106. On July 30, the Astros traded OF Hunter Pence, the team's 2010 leader in home runs, to the Philadelphia Phillies. On July 31, they traded OF Michael Bourn to the Atlanta Braves. On September 17, the Astros clinched their first 100-loss season in franchise history, On September 28, the Astros ended the season with an 8-0 home loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout in the game, enabling the Cardinals to win the National League Wild Card. The Astros finished with a record of 56-106, the worst single-season record in franchise history.
2012-Present: Jim Crane era and move to the American League[link]
In November 2010, Drayton McLane announced that the Astros were being put up for sale. McLane stated that because the Astros was one of the few franchises in Major League Baseball with only one family as the owners, he was trying to move forward with estate planning. McLane is 75 years of age as of November 2011.[45] In March 2011, local Houston businessman Jim Crane emerged as the front-runner to purchase the franchise. In the 1980s, Crane founded an air freight business which later merged with CEVA Logistics, and later founded Crane Capital Group. McLane and Crane had a previous handshake agreement for the franchise in 2008, but Crane abruptly changed his mind and broke off discussions. Crane also attempted to buy the Chicago Cubs in 2008 and the Texas Rangers during their 2010 bankruptcy auction.[46] Crane came under scrutiny because of previous allegations of discriminatory hiring practices regarding women and minorities, among other issues. This delayed MLB's approval process. During the summer of 2011, a frustrated Crane hinted that the delays might threaten the deal.[47] In October 2011, Crane met personally with MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, in a meeting that was described as "constructive".[48]
On November 15, 2011, it was announced that Crane had agreed to move the team to the American League, and the team was officially sold to Crane. Crane was given a $70 million concession by MLB for agreeing to the switch; the move was a condition for the sale to the new ownership group.[49] Two days later, the Astros were officially sold to Crane after the other owners unanimously voted in favor of the sale.[50] It was also announced that 2012 will be the last season for the Astros in the NL.[51]
Achievements[link]
Awards[link]
Main article: Houston Astros award winners and league leaders
- Darryl Kile Award
- See: Houston Astros award winners and league leaders#Darryl Kile Award
Two awards are presented each year, one to a Houston Astro and one to a St. Louis Cardinal, each of whom exemplifies Kile's virtues of being "a good teammate, a great friend, a fine father and a humble man." The winner is selected by each local chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.[52]
Team records[link]
Main article: Houston Astros team records
Retired numbers[link]
While not officially retired, the Astros have not reissued number 57 since 2002, when former Astros pitcher Darryl Kile died as an active player with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The number 42 is retired by MLB in honor of Jackie Robinson
Hall of Fame[link]
Baseball Hall of Fame Awardees[link]
| Houston Astros Hall of Famers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affiliation according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ford C. Frick Award recipients[link]
| Houston Astros Ford C. Frick Award recipients | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affiliation according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum | |||||||||
|
Current roster[link]
Minor league affiliations[link]
Radio and television[link]
As of 2008[update], the Astros' flagship radio station is KTRH, 740AM. Milo Hamilton, a veteran voice who was on the call for Hank Aaron's 715th career home run in 1974, is the current play-by-play announcer for home games. Dave Raymond and Brett Dolan share play-by play duty for road games, while Raymond additionally works as Hamilton's color analyst.
Spanish language radio play-by-play is handled by Francisco Romero, and his play-by-play partner is Alex Treviño, a former backup catcher for the club.
Television coverage is mainly on Fox Sports Houston (formerly a subfeed of Fox Sports Southwest, now its own network; logo on top-right of the screen reads FSASTROS), although some games are on My Network TV affiliate KTXH (My 20), with the games produced by FSN Houston. Bill Brown and Jim Deshaies compose the broadcast team on TV.
Mascots[link]
The Astros have been represented by a trio of rabbit mascots named Junction Jack, Jesse and Julie.
References[link]
- General
- A Six-Gun Salute: An Illustrated History of the Houston Colt .45s, by Robert Reed (Rowman-Littlefield Publishing, Boston, 1999)
- In-line citations
- ^ "Astros' sale finalized; 2 more for playoffs". ESPN.com. November 18, 2011. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7246443/houston-astros-sale-approved-mlb. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- ^ Campbell, Steve (November 16, 2011). "Local attorney says Astros’ move to AL violates lease agreement". Houston Chronicle (Ultimate Astros blog). http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2011/11/16/local-attorney-says-astros-move-to-al-violates-lease-agreement/. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- ^ Elston, Gene. "George Kirksey Papers". Houston Chronicle. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/uhsc/00035/hsc-00035.html. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "The Colt .45s". AstrosDaily. http://www.astrosdaily.com/history/sound/a.html. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
- ^ Herskowitz, Mickey (2005-10-24). "Astros out to make history their history". Houston Astros. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051024&content_id=1258510&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- ^ Ian, Fleming (2006-05-10). "April 10, 1962 Chicago Cubs at Houston Colt .45's Play by Play and Box Score". Sports Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU196204100.shtml. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
- ^ Coons, Ron (2006-05-10). "Richard "Turk" Farrell". find a grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13583471. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ Jim Umbricht Incredible-people.com
- ^ Astrodome Houston-Astros.com
- ^ Ballparksofbaseball.com
- ^ a b Jimmy Wynn Statistics – Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ Baseball-Reference.com
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- ^ "Source: Oswalt headed to Phillies". http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/roy-oswalt-philadelphia-phillies-072910.
- ^ "Oswalt accepts trade to Phillies". http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5420095.
- ^ "Yankees make Berkman Deal Official". Yankees.lhblogs.com. July 31, 2010. http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2010/07/31/yankees-make-berkman-trade-official. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
- ^ McTaggart, Brian (July 30, 2010). "Astros finalize Berkman deal with Yankees". Pressbox.mlb.com. http://pressbox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100730&content_id=12811944&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
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- ^ Frustrated Jim Crane ‘offended’ by speculation about delays in Astros sale process
- ^ Levine, Zachary (October 10, 2011). "Jim Crane has ‘constructive’ meeting with Bud Selig". Houston Chronicle. http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2011/10/10/jim-crane-has-constructive-meeting-with-bud-selig/. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- ^ "Houston Astros To The American League: MLB Gives New Owner A $70 Million Discount, According To Reports". SB Nation. http://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/11/16/2566458/houston-astros-to-the-american-league-mlb-gives-new-owner-a-70. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- ^ http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111117&content_id=25992120&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou
- ^ http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111117&content_id=25996382&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou
- ^ Darryl Kile Award. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
External links[link]
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- Official website
- Houston Astros news from the Houston Chronicle
- Astros team page on Baseball-Reference.com
- Houston Astros Video on ESPN Video Archive
| Preceded by St. Louis Cardinals 2004 |
National League Champions Houston Astros 2005 |
Succeeded by St. Louis Cardinals 2006 |
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is about the U.S. city. For other uses, see Houston (disambiguation).
| Houston | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — City — | |||
| City of Houston | |||
 |
|||
|
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| Nickname(s): Space City (official), more. . . | |||
 |
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 Houston
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| Coordinates: 29°45′46″N 95°22′59″W / 29.76278°N 95.38306°W / 29.76278; -95.38306Coordinates: 29°45′46″N 95°22′59″W / 29.76278°N 95.38306°W / 29.76278; -95.38306 | |||
| Country |  United States |
||
| State |  Texas |
||
| Counties | Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery | ||
| Incorporated | June 5, 1837 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Mayor–council | ||
| • Mayor | Annise Parker | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 1,699.81 km2 (656.3 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 1,642.05 km2 (634.0 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 57.7 km2 (22.3 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 13 m (43 ft) | ||
| Population (2010 US Census)[1][2] | |||
| • City | 2,099,451(4th U.S.) | ||
| • Density | 1,505/km2 (3,623/sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 3,822,509 (10th U.S.) | ||
| • Metro | 5,946,800 (5th U.S.) | ||
| • Demonym | Houstonian | ||
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) | ||
| Area code(s) | 713, 281, 832 | ||
| FIPS code | 48-35000[3] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1380948[4] | ||
| Website | houstontx.gov | ||
Houston ( /ˈhjuːstən/) (Alibamu: Yosti [5]) is the largest city in the state of Texas, and the fourth-largest city in the United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of 656.3 square miles (1,700 km2).[1][6] Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown, which is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the United States, with 6.08 million people as of July 1st, 2011.[7]
Houston was founded in 1836 on land near the banks of Buffalo Bayou.[8] It was incorporated as a city on June 5, 1837, and named after then-President of the Republic of Texas—former General Sam Houston—who had commanded at the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place 25 miles (40 km) east of where the city was established. The burgeoning port and railroad industry, combined with oil discovery in 1901, has induced continual surges in the city's population. In the mid-twentieth century, Houston became the home of the Texas Medical Center—the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions—and NASA's Johnson Space Center, where the Mission Control Center is located.[9]
Rated as a global city, Houston's economy has a broad industrial base in energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, and transportation. It is also leading in health care sectors and building oilfield equipment; only New York City is home to more Fortune 500 headquarters.[10][11] The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled and second in total cargo tonnage handled.[12] The city has a population from various ethnic and religious backgrounds and a large and growing international community. It is home to many cultural institutions and exhibits, which attract more than 7 million visitors a year to the Museum District. Houston has an active visual and performing arts scene in the Theatre District and offers year-round resident companies in all major performing arts.[13]
Contents |
History[link]
Main article: History of Houston
See also: Historical events of Houston
In August 1836, two real estate entrepreneurs—Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen—from New York, purchased 6,642 acres (26.88 km2) of land along Buffalo Bayou with the intent of founding a city.[14] The Allen brothers decided to name the city after Sam Houston, the popular general at the Battle of San Jacinto,[14] who was elected President of Texas in September 1836.
Houston was granted incorporation on June 5, 1837, with James S. Holman becoming its first mayor.[15] In the same year, Houston became the county seat of Harrisburg County (now Harris County) and the temporary capital of the Republic of Texas.[16] In 1840, the community established a chamber of commerce in part to promote shipping and waterborne business at the newly created port on Buffalo Bayou.[17]
By 1860, Houston had emerged as a commercial and railroad hub for the export of cotton.[16] Railroad spurs from the Texas inland converged in Houston, where they met rail lines to the ports of Galveston and Beaumont. During the American Civil War, Houston served as a headquarters for General John Bankhead Magruder, who used the city as an organization point for the Battle of Galveston.[18] After the Civil War, Houston businessmen initiated efforts to widen the city's extensive system of bayous so the city could accept more commerce between downtown and the nearby port of Galveston. By 1890, Houston was the railroad center of Texas.
In 1900, after Galveston was struck by a devastating hurricane, efforts to make Houston into a viable deepwater port were accelerated.[19] The following year, oil discovered at the Spindletop oil field near Beaumont prompted the development of the Texas petroleum industry.[20] In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt approved a $1 million improvement project for the Houston Ship Channel. By 1910 the city's population had reached 78,800, almost doubling from a decade before. An integral part of the city were African Americans, who numbered 23,929 or nearly one-third of the residents.[21] They were developing a strong professional class based then in the Fourth Ward.
President Woodrow Wilson opened the deepwater Port of Houston in 1914, seven years after digging began. By 1930, Houston had become Texas's most populous city and Harris the most populous county.[22]
When World War II started, tonnage levels at the port decreased and shipping activities were suspended; however, the war did provide economic benefits for the city. Petrochemical refineries and manufacturing plants were constructed along the ship channel because of the demand for petroleum and synthetic rubber products during the war.[23] Ellington Field, initially built during World War I, was revitalized as an advanced training center for bombardiers and navigators.[24] The M.D. Anderson Foundation formed the Texas Medical Center in 1945. After the war, Houston's economy reverted to being primarily port-driven. In 1948, several unincorporated areas were annexed into the city limits, which more than doubled the city's size, and Houston proper began to spread across the region.[15][25]
In 1950, the availability of air conditioning provided impetus for many companies to relocate to Houston resulting in an economic boom and producing a key shift in the city's economy toward the energy sector.[26][27]
The increased production of the local shipbuilding industry during World War II spurred Houston's growth,[28] as did the establishment in 1961 of NASA's "Manned Spacecraft Center" (renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in 1973), which created the city's aerospace industry. The Astrodome, nicknamed the "Eighth Wonder of the World",[29] opened in 1965 as the world's first indoor domed sports stadium.
During the late 1970s, Houston experienced a population boom as people from Rust Belt states moved to Texas in large numbers.[30] The new residents came for the numerous employment opportunities in the petroleum industry, created as a result of the Arab Oil Embargo.
The population boom ended abruptly in the mid-1980s, as oil prices fell precipitously. The space industry also suffered in 1986 after the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated shortly after launch. The late 1980s saw a recession adversely affecting the city's economy.
Since the 1990s, as a result of the recession, Houston has made efforts to diversify its economy by focusing on aerospace and health care/biotechnology and by reducing its dependence on the petroleum industry. In 1997, Houstonians elected Lee P. Brown as the city's first African American mayor.[31]
In June 2001, Tropical Storm Allison dumped up to 40 inches (1,000 mm) of rain on parts of Houston, causing the worst flooding in the city's history; the storm cost billions of dollars in damage and killed 20 people in Texas.[32] By December of that same year, Houston-based energy company Enron collapsed into the third-largest ever U.S. bankruptcy during an investigation surrounding fabricated partnerships that were allegedly used to hide debt and inflate profits.
In August 2005, Houston became a shelter to more than 150,000 people from New Orleans who evacuated from Hurricane Katrina.[33] One month later, approximately 2.5 million Houston area residents evacuated when Hurricane Rita approached the Gulf Coast, leaving little damage to the Houston area. This was the largest urban evacuation in the history of the United States.[34][35]
Geography[link]
Main article: Geography of Houston
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 656.3 square miles (1,700 km2); this comprises 634.0 square miles (1,642 km2) of land and 22.3 square miles (58 km2) of water.[36] Most of Houston is located on the gulf coastal plain, and its vegetation is classified as temperate grassland and forest. Much of the city was built on forested land, marshes, swamp, or prairie, which are all still visible in surrounding areas. Flatness of the local terrain, when combined with urban sprawl, has made flooding a recurring problem for the city.[37] Downtown stands about 50 feet (15 m) above sea level,[38] and the highest point in far northwest Houston is about 125 feet (38 m) in elevation.[39][40] The city once relied on groundwater for its needs, but land subsidence forced the city to turn to ground-level water sources such as Lake Houston, Lake Conroe and Lake Livingston.[15][41] The city owns surface water rights for 1.2 billion gallons of water a day in addition to 150 million gallons a day worth of groundwater.[42]
Houston has four major bayous passing through the city. Buffalo Bayou runs through downtown and the Houston Ship Channel, and has three tributaries: White Oak Bayou, which runs through the Houston Heights community northwest of Downtown and then towards Downtown; Braes Bayou, which runs along the Texas Medical Center; and Sims Bayou, which runs through the south of Houston and downtown Houston. The ship channel continues past Galveston and then into the Gulf of Mexico.
Geology[link]
Underpinning Houston's land surface are unconsolidated clays, clay shales, and poorly cemented sands up to several miles deep. The region's geology developed from river deposits formed from the erosion of the Rocky Mountains. These sediments consist of a series of sands and clays deposited on decaying organic marine matter, that over time, transformed into oil and natural gas. Beneath the layers of sediment is a water-deposited layer of halite, a rock salt. The porous layers were compressed over time and forced upward. As it pushed upward, the salt dragged surrounding sediments into salt dome formations, often trapping oil and gas that seeped from the surrounding porous sands. The thick, rich, sometimes black, surface soil is suitable for rice farming in suburban outskirts where the city continues to grow.[43][44]
The Houston area has over 150 active faults (estimated to be 300 active faults) with an aggregate length of up to 310 miles (500 km),[45][46][47] including the Long Point–Eureka Heights fault system which runs through the center of the city. There have been no significant historically recorded earthquakes in Houston, but researchers do not discount the possibility of such quakes having occurred in the deeper past, nor occurring in the future. Land in some communities southeast of Houston is sinking because water has been pumped out from the ground for many years. It may be associated with slip along the faults; however, the slippage is slow and not considered an earthquake, where stationary faults must slip suddenly enough to create seismic waves.[48] These faults also tend to move at a smooth rate in what is termed "fault creep",[41] which further reduces the risk of an earthquake.
Climate[link]
Main article: Climate of Houston
Houston's climate is classified as humid subtropical (Cfa in Köppen climate classification system). While not necessarily part of "Tornado Alley" like much of the rest of Texas, Spring supercell thunderstorms do sometimes bring tornadoes to the area. Prevailing winds are from the south and southeast during most of the year, bringing heat across the continent from the deserts of Mexico and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.[49]
During the summer months, it is common for the temperature to reach over 90 °F (32 °C), with an average of 99 days per year above 90 °F (32 °C).[50] However, the humidity results in a heat index higher than the actual temperature. Summer mornings average over 90 percent relative humidity and approximately 60 percent in the afternoon.[51] Winds are often light in the summer and offer little relief, except near the immediate coast.[52] To cope with the heat, people use air conditioning in nearly every vehicle and building in the city; in 1980 Houston was described as the "most air-conditioned place on earth".[53] Scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms are common in the summer. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Houston was 109 °F (43 °C) on September 4, 2000[2] and August 28, 2011.[3]
Winters in Houston are mild. The average high in January, the coldest month, is 63 °F (17 °C), while the average low is 43 °F (6 °C). Snowfall is very rare. Recent snow events in Houston include a storm on December 24, 2004 when one inch (2.5 cm) fell and more recent snowfalls on December 10, 2008. This was the earliest snowfall ever recorded in Houston. In addition, it set another milestone marking the first time in recorded history that snowfall has occurred in two consecutive years, and was the third accumulating snowfall occurring in the decade of 2000–2010. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Houston was 5 °F (−15 °C) on January 23, 1940.[54] Houston receives a high amount of rainfall annually, averaging about 50 inches a year. These rains tend to cause floods over portions of the city.
Houston has excessive ozone levels and is ranked among the most ozone-polluted cities in the United States.[55] Ground-level ozone, or smog, is Houston's predominant air pollution problem, with the American Lung Association rating the metropolitan area's ozone level as the 8th worst in the United States in 2011.[56] The industries located along the ship channel are a major cause of the city's air pollution.[57] Houston's air quality has been compared by the Citizens League for Environmental Action Now to Beijing and Los Angeles.[58]
| Climate data for Houston (George Bush Intercontinental Airport (KIAH)), 1981-2010 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 84 (29) |
91 (33) |
96 (36) |
95 (35) |
99 (37) |
105 (41) |
105 (41) |
109 (43) |
109 (43) |
99 (37) |
89 (32) |
85 (29) |
109 (43) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 62.9 (17.2) |
66.3 (19.1) |
73.0 (22.8) |
79.6 (26.4) |
86.3 (30.2) |
91.4 (33.0) |
93.7 (34.3) |
94.5 (34.7) |
89.7 (32.1) |
82.0 (27.8) |
72.5 (22.5) |
64.3 (17.9) |
79.68 (26.49) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 43.2 (6.2) |
46.5 (8.1) |
52.5 (11.4) |
59.4 (15.2) |
67.6 (19.8) |
73.5 (23.1) |
75.1 (23.9) |
74.8 (23.8) |
69.8 (21.0) |
60.9 (16.1) |
52.1 (11.2) |
44.6 (7.0) |
60.00 (15.56) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 5 (−15) |
6 (−14) |
21 (−6) |
31 (−1) |
44 (7) |
52 (11) |
62 (17) |
54 (12) |
45 (7) |
29 (−2) |
19 (−7) |
7 (−14) |
5 (−15) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 3.38 (85.9) |
3.20 (81.3) |
3.41 (86.6) |
3.31 (84.1) |
5.09 (129.3) |
5.93 (150.6) |
3.79 (96.3) |
3.76 (95.5) |
4.12 (104.6) |
5.70 (144.8) |
4.34 (110.2) |
3.74 (95) |
49.77 (1,264.2) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 104 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 45 | 50 | 54 | 58 | 62 | 68 | 70 | 68 | 66 | 64 | 52 | 51 | 59 |
| Source no. 1: NOAA [59] | |||||||||||||
| Source no. 2: Average Precip Days [60] | |||||||||||||
Cityscape[link]
Further information: Geographic areas of Houston and List of Houston neighborhoods
Houston was incorporated in 1837 under the ward system of representation. The ward designation is the progenitor of the nine current-day Houston City Council districts. Locations in Houston are generally classified as either being inside or outside the Interstate 610 Loop. The inside encompasses the central business district and many residential neighborhoods that predate World War II. More recently, high-density residential areas have been developed within the loop. The city's outlying areas, suburbs and enclaves are located outside of the loop. Beltway 8 encircles the city another 5 miles (8.0 km) farther out.
Though Houston is the largest city in the United States without formal zoning regulations, it has developed similarly to other Sun Belt cities because the city's land use regulations and legal covenants have played a similar role.[61][62] Regulations include mandatory lot size for single-family houses and requirements that parking be available to tenants and customers. Such restrictions have had mixed results. Though some[62] have blamed the city's low density, urban sprawl, and lack of pedestrian-friendliness on these policies, the city's land use has also been credited with having significant affordable housing, sparing Houston the worst effects of the 2008 real estate crisis.[63] The city issued 42,697 building permits in 2008 and was ranked first in the list of healthiest housing markets for 2009.[64]
Voters rejected efforts to have separate residential and commercial land-use districts in 1948, 1962, and 1993. Consequently, rather than a single central business district as the center of the city's employment, multiple districts have grown throughout the city in addition to downtown which include Uptown, Texas Medical Center, Midtown, Greenway Plaza, Memorial City, Energy Corridor, Westchase, and Greenspoint.
Government and politics[link]
Main article: Politics of Houston
The city of Houston has a strong mayoral form of municipal government.[65] Houston is a home rule city and all municipal elections in the state of Texas are nonpartisan.[65][66] The City's elected officials are the mayor, city controller and 16 members of the city council.[67] The current mayor of Houston is Annise Parker, a Democrat elected on a nonpartisan ballot whose second term in office will expire at the end of 2013.[68] Houston's mayor serves as the city's chief administrator, executive officer, and official representative, and is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing that all laws and ordinances are enforced.[68]
The original city council line-up of 14 members (nine district-based and five at-large positions) was based on a U.S. Justice Department mandate which took effect in 1979.[69] At-large council members represent the entire city.[67] Under the city charter, once the population in the city limits exceeded 2.1 million residents, two additional districts were to be added.[70] The City of Houston's official 2010 census count was 600 shy of the required number; however, as the city was expected to grow beyond 2.1 million shortly thereafter, the two additional districts were added and the positions filled during the August 2011 elections. The districts are labeled A through K while the at-large positions are numbered 1 through 5.
The city controller is elected independently of the mayor and council. The controller's duties are to certify available funds prior to committing such funds and processing disbursements. The city's fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. Ronald Green is the city controller, serving his first term as of January 2010.
As the result of a 1991 referendum in Houston, a mayor is elected for a two-year term, and can be elected to as many as three consecutive terms. The term limits were spearheaded by conservative political activist Clymer Wright.[71] The city controller and city council members are also subject to the same two-year, three-term limitations.
Houston is considered to be a politically divided city whose balance of power often sways between Republicans and Democrats. Much of the city's wealthier areas vote Republican, while the city's middle class, working class, and minority areas vote Democratic. According to the 2005 Houston Area Survey, 68 percent of non-Hispanic whites in Harris County are declared or favor Republicans while 89 percent of non-Hispanic blacks in the area are declared or favor Democrats. About 62 percent Hispanics (of any race) in the area are declared or favor Democrats.[72] The city has often been known to be the most politically diverse city in Texas, a state known for being generally conservative.[72] As a result the city is often a contested area in statewide elections.[72] In 2010, Houston became the first US city with a population over 1 million to elect a gay mayor, by appointing Annise Parker.
Economy[link]
| Top publicly traded companies in Houston for 2011 with Texas and U.S. ranks |
|||||
| Texas | Corporation | US | |||
| 2 | ConocoPhillips | 4 | |||
| 5 | Marathon Oil | 29 | |||
| 7 | Sysco | 67 | |||
| 8 | Enterprise Products Partners | 80 | |||
| 9 | Plains All American Pipeline | 99 | |||
| 14 | Halliburton | 144 | |||
| 17 | Baker Hughes | 170 | |||
| 19 | Waste Management, Inc | 196 | |||
| 20 | National Oilwell Varco | 202 | |||
| 23 | Apache Corporation | 206 | |||
| 25 | KBR | 242 | |||
| 29 | CenterPoint Energy | 279 | |||
| 32 | Kinder Morgan | 294 | |||
| 34 | Enbridge Energy Partners | 309 | |||
| 35 | Calpine | 349 | |||
| 38 | Cameron International | 375 | |||
| 39 | EOG Resources | 377 | |||
| 41 | Frontier Oil | 389 | |||
| 44 | Group 1 Automotive | 413 | |||
| 45 | Targa Resources | 416 | |||
| 46 | Spectra Energy | 441 | |||
| 48 | El Paso Energy | 481 | |||
| Notes | |||||
| Revenues for year ending 2010 | |||||
| Energy and oil (19 companies) | |||||
| Source: Fortune[73] | |||||
Main article: Economy of Houston
Further information: List of companies in Houston
Houston is recognized worldwide for its energy industry—particularly for oil and natural gas—as well as for biomedical research and aeronautics. Renewable energy sources—wind and solar—are also growing economic bases in Houston.[74][75] The ship channel is also a large part of Houston's economic base. Because of these strengths, Houston is designated as a global city by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network and by global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney.[11]
The Houston area is a leading center for building oilfield equipment.[76] Much of Houston's success as a petrochemical complex is due to its busy man-made ship channel, the Port of Houston.[77] The port ranks first in the United States in international commerce, and is the tenth-largest port in the world.[12][78] Unlike most places, high oil and gasoline prices are beneficial for Houston's economy as many of its residents are employed in the energy industry.[79]
The Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown MSA's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010 was $385 billion, larger than Austria's, Poland's or Saudi Arabia's GDP.[80] Only 21 countries other than the United States have a gross domestic product exceeding Houston's regional gross area product. Mining, which in Houston consists almost entirely of exploration and production of oil and gas, accounts for 26.3% of Houston's GAP, up sharply in response to high energy prices and a decreased worldwide surplus of oil production capacity; followed by engineering services, health services, and manufacturing.[81]
File:Houstonecon.jpg
A graph showing the major sectors of the Houston economy.[82]
The University of Houston System's annual impact on the Houston-area's economy equates to that of a major corporation: $1.1 billion in new funds attracted annually to the Houston area, $3.13 billion in total economic benefit, and 24,000 local jobs generated.[83][84] This is in addition to the 12,500 new graduates the UH System produces every year who enter the workforce in Houston and throughout Texas. These degree-holders tend to stay in Houston. After five years, 80.5 percent of graduates are still living and working in the region.[84]
In 2006, the Houston metropolitan area ranked first in Texas and third in the U.S. within the Category of "Best Places for Business and Careers" by Forbes magazine.[85] Foreign governments have established 92 consular offices in metropolitan Houston, the third highest in the nation.[86] Forty foreign governments maintain trade and commercial offices here and 23 active foreign chambers of commerce and trade associations.[87] Twenty-five foreign banks representing 13 nations operate in Houston, providing financial assistance to the international community.[88]
In 2008, Houston received top ranking on Kiplinger's Personal Finance Best Cities of 2008 list which ranks cities on their local economy, employment opportunities, reasonable living costs and quality of life.[89] The city ranked fourth for highest increase in the local technological innovation over the preceding 15 years, according to Forbes magazine.[90] In the same year, the city ranked second on the annual Fortune 500 list of company headquarters,[91] ranked first for Forbes Best Cities for College Graduates,[92] and ranked first on Forbes list of Best Cities to Buy a Home.[93] In 2010, the city was rated the best city for shopping, according to Forbes.[94]
Demographics[link]
Main article: Demographics of Houston
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 2,396 |
|
|
| 1860 | 4,845 | 102.2% | |
| 1870 | 9,332 | 92.6% | |
| 1880 | 16,513 | 77.0% | |
| 1890 | 27,557 | 66.9% | |
| 1900 | 44,633 | 62.0% | |
| 1910 | 78,800 | 76.6% | |
| 1920 | 138,276 | 75.5% | |
| 1930 | 292,352 | 111.4% | |
| 1940 | 384,514 | 31.5% | |
| 1950 | 596,163 | 55.0% | |
| 1960 | 938,219 | 57.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,232,802 | 31.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,595,138 | 29.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,630,553 | 2.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,953,631 | 19.8% | |
| 2010 | 2,099,451 | 7.5% | |
Houston is a multicultural city, in part because of its many academic institutions and strong industries as well as being a major port city. Over 90 languages are spoken in the city.[95] The city has among the youngest populations in the nation,[96][97][98] partly due to an influx of immigrants into Texas.[99] An estimated 400,000 illegal aliens reside in the Houston area.[100]
According to the 2010 Census, Whites made up 51% of Houston's population; 26% of the total population were non-Hispanic whites. Blacks or African Americans made up 24% of Houston's population. American Indians made up 0.7% of Houston's population. Asians made up 6% of Houston's population (1.7% Vietnamese, 1.3% Chinese, 1.3% Indian, 0.9% Pakistani, 0.4% Filipino, 0.3% Korean, 0.1% Japanese), while Pacific Islanders made up 0.1%. Individuals from some other race made up 15.2% of the city's population, of which 0.2% were non-Hispanic. Individuals from two or more races made up 3.3% of the city's population. People of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 44% of Houston's population; 32% of Houston's population is of Mexican heritage; the next five Hispanic groups are those of Salvadoran, Honduran, Guatemalan, Colombian and Puerto Rican heritage, respectively.[101][102]
As of the 2000 Census, there were 1,953,631 people and the population density was 3,371.7 people per square mile (1,301.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.3% White, 25.3% African American, 5.3% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 16.5% from some other race, and 3.1% from two or more races. In addition, Hispanics and Latinos made up 37.4% of Houston's population while non-Hispanic whites made up 30.8%,[103] down from 62.4% in 1970.[104]
The median income for a household in the city was $37,000, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $32,000 versus $27,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,000. Nineteen percent of the population and 16 percent of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 26% of those under the age of 18 and 14% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Culture[link]
Main article: Culture of Houston
See also: Nicknames of Houston, List of events in Houston, List of people raised in Houston, and Sister cities of Houston
Houston is a diverse city with a large and growing international community.[105] The metropolitan area is home to an estimated 1.1 million (21.4 percent) residents who were born outside the United States, with nearly two-thirds of the area's foreign-born population from south of the United States–Mexico border.[106] Additionally, more than one in five foreign-born residents are from Asia.[106] The city is home to the nation’s third-largest concentration of consular offices, representing 86 countries.[107]
Many annual events celebrate the diverse cultures of Houston. The largest and longest running is the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, held over 20 days from late February to early March, which happens to be the largest annual livestock show and rodeo anywhere in the world.[108] Another large celebration is the annual night-time Houston Pride Parade, held at the end of June.[109] Other annual events include the Houston Greek Festival,[110] Art Car Parade, the Houston Auto Show, the Houston International Festival,[111] and the Bayou City Art Festival, which is considered to be one of the top five art festivals in the United States.[112][113]
Houston received the official nickname of "Space City" in 1967 because it is the location of NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Other nicknames often used by locals include "Bayou City," "Magnolia City,", "New Houston" a 2005 Reference to The New Orleans natives who left New Orleans during the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe and help contribute to a rich black culture in Houston Texas and "H-Town."
Arts and theatre[link]
The Houston Theater District, located downtown, is home to nine major performing arts organizations and six performance halls. It is the second-largest concentration of theater seats in a downtown area in the United States.[114][115][116] Houston is one of few United States cities with permanent, professional, resident companies in all major performing arts disciplines: opera (Houston Grand Opera), ballet (Houston Ballet), music (Houston Symphony Orchestra), and theater (The Alley Theatre).[13][117] Houston is also home to folk artists, art groups and various small progressive arts organizations.[118] Houston attracts many touring Broadway acts, concerts, shows, and exhibitions for a variety of interests.[119] Facilities in the Theater District include the Jones Hall—home of the Houston Symphony Orchestra and Society for the Performing Arts—and the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.
The Museum District's cultural institutions and exhibits attract more than 7 million visitors a year.[120][121] Notable facilities the include The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, the Station Museum of Contemporary Art, Holocaust Museum Houston, and the Houston Zoo.[122][123][124] Located near the Museum District are The Menil Collection, Rothko Chapel, and the Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum.
Bayou Bend is a 14-acre (5.7 ha) facility of the Museum of Fine Arts that houses one of America's best collections of decorative art, paintings and furniture. Bayou Bend is the former home of Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg.[125]
The National Museum of Funeral History is located in Houston near the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The museum houses the original Popemobile used by Pope John Paul II in the 1980s along with numerous hearses, embalming displays and information on famous funerals.
Venues across Houston regularly host local and touring rock, blues, country, dubstep, and Tejano musical acts. While Houston has never been a widely renowned for its music scene,[126] Houston hip-hop has become a significant, independent music scene, producing some of most famed hip-hop artists and creating a sound which has become largely influential in the South as well as other hip-hop scenes.[127]
Tourism and recreation[link]
The Theater District is a 17-block area in the center of downtown Houston that is home to the Bayou Place entertainment complex, restaurants, movies, plazas, and parks. Bayou Place is a large multilevel building containing full-service restaurants, bars, live music, billiards and Sundance Cinema. The Houston Verizon Wireless Theater stages live concerts, stage plays, and stand-up comedy. Space Center Houston is the official visitors’ center of NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. The Space Center has many interactive exhibits including moon rocks, a shuttle simulator, and presentations about the history of NASA's manned space flight program. Other tourist attractions include the Galleria (Texas's largest shopping mall located in the Uptown District), Old Market Square, the Downtown Aquarium, and Sam Houston Race Park. SplashTown Waterpark Houston is a water park located north of Houston. Earth Quest Adventures is a theme park planned to open in 2013/2014.
Houston is home to 337 parks including Hermann Park, Terry Hershey Park, Lake Houston Park, Memorial Park, Tranquility Park, Sesquicentennial Park, Discovery Green, and Sam Houston Park. Within Hermann Park are the Houston Zoo and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Sam Houston Park contains restored and reconstructed homes which were originally built between 1823 and 1905.[128] There is a proposal to open the city's first botanic garden at Herman Brown Park.[129]
Of the 10 most populous U.S. cities, Houston has the most total area of parks and green space, 56,405 acres (228 km2)[130] The city also has over 200 additional green spaces—totaling over 19,600 acres (79 km2) that are managed by the city—including the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center. The Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark is a public skatepark owned and operated by the city of Houston, and is one of the largest skateparks in Texas consisting of 30,000 (2,800 m2) square foot in-ground facility. The Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park—located in the Uptown District of the city—serves as a popular tourist attraction, weddings, and various celebrations. A 2011 study by Walk Score ranked Houston the 23rd most walkable of the 50 largest cities in the United States.[131]
Tourism and Recreation as early as 1899[link]
Like the New Orleans Mardi Gras, No-Tsu-Oh, was a carnival that was celebrated in Houston from 1899 until World War I. Even in 1899, generating commerce was important and the carnival was a week long festival bringing people to Houston in November. No-Tsu-Oh featured parades and a football game between the University of Texas and the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M University). No-Tsu-Oh is Houston spelled backwards. Backwards spelling was a character of No-Tsu-Oh, with the King of the festival being Nottoc (cotton) until King Nottoc was replaced by King Retaw (water) in 1914 in honor of the completion of the Houston Ship Channel. With the beginning of World War I, came the end of the carnival. [132]
Media[link]
Further information: List of newspapers in Houston, List of television stations in Texas, List of radio stations in Texas, and List of films featured in Houston
The primary network-affiliated television stations are KPRC-TV (NBC), KHOU-TV (CBS), KTRK-TV (ABC), and KRIV-TV (Fox).
The Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area is served by one public television station and two public radio stations. KUHT (HoustonPBS) is a PBS member station and is the first public television station in the United States. Houston Public Radio is listener-funded and comprises two NPR member stations: KUHF (KUHF News) and KUHA (Classical 91.7). KUHF is news/talk radio and KUHA is a classical music station. The University of Houston System owns and holds broadcasting licenses to KUHT, KUHF, and KUHA. The stations broadcast from the Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting, located on the campus of the University of Houston.
Houston is served by the Houston Chronicle, its only major daily newspaper with wide distribution. The Hearst Corporation, which owns and operates the Houston Chronicle, bought the assets of the Houston Post—its long-time rival and main competition—when Houston Post ceased operations in 1995. The Houston Post was owned by the family of former Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby of Houston. The only other major publication to serve the city is the Houston Press—a free alternative weekly with a weekly readership of more than 300,000.[133]
Education[link]
Main article: Education in Houston
Seventeen school districts exist within the city of Houston. The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the seventh-largest school district in the United States.[134] HISD has 112 campuses that serve as magnet or vanguard schools—specializing in such disciplines as health professions, visual and performing arts, and the sciences. There are also many charter schools that are run separately from school districts. In addition, some public school districts also have their own charter schools.
The Houston area encompasses more than 300 private schools,[135][136][137] many of which are accredited by Texas Private School Accreditation Commission recognized agencies. The Houston Area Independent Schools offer education from a variety of different religious as well as secular viewpoints.[138] The Houston area Catholic schools are operated by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Colleges and universities[link]
Further information: List of colleges and universities in Houston
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Four distinct state universities are located in Houston. The University of Houston is a nationally recognized top-tier research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System.[139][140][141][142] The institution ranks among the Top 50 American Research Universities.[143] The third-largest university in Texas, UH has nearly 40,000 students on its 667 acre campus in southeast Houston.[144] The University of Houston–Clear Lake and the University of Houston–Downtown are stand-alone universities; they are not branch campuses of the University of Houston. Located in the historic community of Third Ward is Texas Southern University—one of the largest historically black colleges and universities in the United States.
Several private institutions of higher learning—ranging from liberal arts colleges to Rice University, the nationally recognized research university—are located within the city. Rice, with a total enrollment of slightly more than 6,000 students, is widely recognized as one of the top twenty universities in the nation, and it has a number of distinguished graduate programs and research institutes such as the James A. Baker Institute for Public Policy. The university's undergraduates are among the most select in the nation.[145]
Three community college districts exist with campuses in and around Houston. The Houston Community College System serves most of Houston. The northwestern through northeastern parts of the city are served by various campuses of the Lone Star College System, while the southeastern portion of Houston is served by San Jacinto College. The Houston Community College and Lone Star College systems are within the 10 largest institutions of higher learning in the United States.
Healthcare[link]
Main article: Texas Medical Center
See also: List of hospitals in Texas
Houston is the seat of the internationally renowned Texas Medical Center, which contains the world's largest concentration of research and healthcare institutions.[146] All 49 member institutions of the Texas Medical Center are non-profit organizations. They provide patient and preventive care, research, education, and local, national, and international community well-being. Employing more than 73,600 people, institutions at the medical center include 13 hospitals and two specialty institutions, two medical schools, four nursing schools, and schools of dentistry, public health, pharmacy, and virtually all health-related careers. It is where one of the first—and still the largest—air emergency service, Life Flight, was created, and a very successful inter-institutional transplant program was developed. More heart surgeries are performed at the Texas Medical Center than anywhere else in the world.[147]
Some of the academic and research health institutions at the center include MD Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, UT Health Science Center, Memorial Hermann Hospital, The Methodist Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, and University of Houston College of Pharmacy.
The Baylor College of Medicine has annually been considered within the top ten medical schools in the nation; likewise, the MD Anderson Cancer Center has consistently ranked as one of the top two U.S. hospitals specializing in cancer care by U.S. News & World Report since 1990.[148][149] The Menninger Clinic, a renowned psychiatric treatment center, is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine and The Methodist Hospital System.[150] With hospital locations nationwide and headquarters in Houston, the Triumph Healthcare hospital system is the third largest long term acute care provider nationally.[151]
Transportation[link]
Main article: Transportation in Houston
Highways[link]
The predominant form of transportation in Houston is the automobile with 71.7 percent of residents driving alone to work[152] This is facilitated through Houston's freeway system, comprising 739.3 miles (1,189.8 km) of freeways and expressways in a ten-county metropolitan area.[153] However, the Texas Transportation Institute's annual Urban Mobility Report found that Houston had the fourth-worst congestion in the country with commuters spending an average of 58 hours in traffic in 2009.[154]
Houston's highway system has a hub-and-spoke freeway structure serviced by multiple loops. The innermost loop is Interstate 610, which encircles downtown, the medical center, and many core neighborhoods with around a 10-mile (16 km) diameter. Beltway 8 and its freeway core, the Sam Houston Tollway, form the middle loop at a diameter of roughly 25 miles (40 km). A proposed highway project, State Highway 99 (Grand Parkway), would form a third loop outside of Houston. As of 2010, only two out of eleven segments of State Highway 99 have been completed. Houston is located along the route of the proposed Interstate 69 NAFTA superhighway that would link Canada, the U.S. industrial Midwest, Texas, and Mexico. Other spoke freeways either planned or under construction include the Fort Bend Parkway, Hardy Toll Road, Crosby Freeway, and the future Alvin Freeway.
Houston's freeway system is monitored by Houston TranStar—a partnership of four government agencies that are responsible for providing transportation and emergency management services to the region.[155]
Transit systems[link]
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) provides public transportation in the form of buses, light rail, and lift vans. METRO's various forms of public transportation still do not connect many of the suburbs to the greater city.
METRO began light rail service on January 1, 2004 with the inaugural track ("Red Line") running about 8 miles (13 km) from the University of Houston–Downtown (UHD), which traverses through the Texas Medical Center and terminates at Reliant Park. METRO is currently in the design phase of a 10-year expansion plan that will add five more lines to the existing system.[156]
Amtrak, the national rail passenger system, provides service to Houston via the Sunset Limited (Los Angeles–New Orleans), which stops at a train station on the north side of the downtown area. The station saw 14,891 boardings and alightings in fiscal year 2008.[157]
Airports[link]
Houston is served by three airports, two of which are commercial that served 52 million passengers in 2007 and managed by the Houston Airport System.[158] The Federal Aviation Administration and the state of Texas selected the "Houston Airport System as Airport of the Year" for 2005,[159] largely because of its multi-year, $3.1 billion airport improvement program for both major airports in Houston.
The primary city airport is George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), the sixth-busiest in the United States for total passengers, and fourteenth-busiest worldwide.[160] Bush Intercontinental currently ranks third in the United States for non-stop domestic and international service with 182 destinations.[161] In 2006, the United States Department of Transportation named George Bush Intercontinental Airport the fastest-growing of the top ten airports in the United States.[162] The Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center stands on the George Bush Intercontinental Airport grounds.
Houston was the headquarters of Continental Airlines until its 2010 merger with United Airlines with headquarters in Chicago; regulatory approval for the merger was granted in October of that year. Bush Intercontinental became United Airline's largest airline hub.[163] The airline retained a significant operational presence in Houston while offering more than 700 daily departures from the city.[164][165] In early 2007, Bush Intercontinental Airport was named a model "port of entry" for international travelers by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.[166]
The second-largest commercial airport is William P. Hobby Airport (named Houston International Airport until 1967) which operates primarily small to medium-haul domestic flights. Houston's aviation history is showcased in the 1940 Air Terminal Museum located in the old terminal building on the west side of the airport. Hobby Airport has been recognized with two awards for being one of the top five performing airports in the world and for customer service by Airports Council International.[167]
Houston's third municipal airport is Ellington Airport (a former U.S. Air Force base) used by military, government, NASA, and general aviation sectors.[168]
Architecture[link]
Main article: Architecture of Houston
See also: List of tallest buildings in Houston
Houston has the third tallest skyline in North America and one of the top 10 in the world.[169][170] A seven-mile (11 km) system of tunnels and skywalks link downtown buildings containing shops and restaurants, enabling pedestrians to avoid summer heat and rain while walking between buildings.
In the 1960s, Downtown Houston consisted of a collection of mid-rise office structures. Downtown was on the threshold of an energy industry led boom in 1970. A succession of skyscrapers were built throughout the 1970s—many by real estate developer Gerald D. Hines—culminating with Houston's tallest skyscraper, the 75-floor, 1,002-foot (305 m)-tall JPMorgan Chase Tower (formerly the Texas Commerce Tower), completed in 1982. It is the tallest structure in Texas, 10th tallest building in the United States and the 30th tallest skyscraper in the world, based on height to roof. In 1983, the 71-floor, 992-foot (302 m)-tall Wells Fargo Plaza (formerly Allied Bank Plaza) was completed, becoming the second-tallest building in Houston and Texas. Based on height to roof, it is the 13th tallest in the United States and the 36th tallest in the world. As of 2007, downtown Houston had over 43 million square feet (4,000,000 m²) of office space.[171]
Centered on Post Oak Boulevard and Westheimer Road, the Uptown District boomed during the 1970s and early 1980s when a collection of mid-rise office buildings, hotels, and retail developments appeared along Interstate 610 west. Uptown became one of the most prominent instances of an edge city. The tallest building in Uptown is the 64-floor, 901-foot (275 m)-tall, Philip Johnson and John Burgee designed landmark Williams Tower (known as the Transco Tower until 1999). At the time of construction, it was believed to the be the world's tallest skyscraper outside of a central business district. The Uptown District is also home to buildings designed by noted architects I. M. Pei, César Pelli, and Philip Johnson. In the late 1990s and early 2000s decade, there was a mini-boom of mid-rise and high-rise residential tower construction, with several over 30 stories tall.[172][173][174] In 2002, Uptown had more than 23 million square feet (2,100,000 m²) of office space with 16 million square feet (1,500,000 m²) of Class A office space.[175]
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The Niels Esperson Building stood as the tallest building in Houston from 1927 to 1929.
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The JP Morgan Chase Tower is the tallest building in Texas and the tallest 5-sided building in the world.
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The Williams Tower in the Uptown District is the tallest building in the United States outside of a central business district.
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The Bank of America Center is an example of postmodern architecture construction designed by award winning architect Philip Johnson.
Sports[link]
Main article: Sports in Houston
Houston has sports teams for every major professional league, except the National Hockey League.
Minute Maid Park (home of the Astros) and Toyota Center (home of the Rockets and Aeros), are located in Downtown. Houston has the NFL's first retractable-roof stadium, Reliant Stadium (home of the Texans). BBVA Compass Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium for the Dynamo, located in East Downtown (EaDo) and is the first soccer specific stadium in a downtown area in MLS. In addition, Reliant Astrodome, the first domed stadium in the world. Other sports facilities include Robertson Stadium (home of the Houston Cougars football team), Hofheinz Pavilion (Houston Cougars basketball), Rice Stadium (Rice Owls football), and Reliant Arena.
Houston was home to the now defunct WNBA Comets from 1997-2008. The Comets won 4 WNBA Championships which is still the most championships of any sports team in Houston. The AFL/NFL Oilers called Houston home from 1960-1998 when the team moved to Tennessee and became the NFL Titans.
The city has hosted several major professional and college sporting events, including the annual Shell Houston Open golf tournament. Houston hosts the annual NCAA College Baseball Minute Maid Classic every February and NCAA football's Texas Bowl in December.
Major league sports teams in the Houston area:[link]
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Astros | MLB 1962-Present | Baseball | Colt Stadium 1962–1964 Astrodome 1965 – 1999 Minute Maid Park 2000-Present |
1962 | 1 National League Pennant Title – 2005 |
| Houston Texans | NFL 2002-Present | Football | Reliant Stadium 2002-Present | 2002 | |
| Houston Rockets | NBA 1967-Present | Basketball | San Diego Sports Arena 1967–1971 Hofheinz Pavilion 1971–1975 Compaq Center 1975–2003 Toyota Center 2003 – present |
1967 | 2 NBA Titles – 1994, 1995 4 Western Conference Championship Titles – 1981, 1986, 1994, 1995 |
| Houston Dynamo | MLS 2005-Present | Soccer | Robertson Stadium 2005-2011 BBVA Compass Stadium 2012 – present |
2005 | 2 MLS Cup Titles-2006,2007 2 Western Conference Championship Titles – 2006, 2007 1 Eastern Conference Championship Title-2011 |
| Houston Aeros | IHL 1994-2001 AHL 2001-Present |
Hockey | Compaq Center 1994–2003 Toyota Center 2003 – present |
1994 | 1 Turner Cup – 1999 1 Calder Cup –2003 3 Conference Championship Titles – 1999, 2003, 2011 |
| Sugar Land Skeeters | ALPB 2012-Present | Minor League Baseball | Constellation Field 2012 – present | 2012 |
Crime[link]
Houston's murder rate ranked 46th of U.S. cities with a population over 250,000 in 2005 (per capita rate of 16.3 murders per 100,000 population).[176] In 2010, the city's murder rate (per capita rate of 11.8 murders per 100,000 population) was ranked sixth among U.S. cities with a population of over 750,000 (behind New York City, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles)[177] according to the FBI.
Murders fell by 37 percent from January to June 2011, compared with the same period in 2010. Houston's total crime rate including violent and nonviolent crimes decreased by 11 percent.[178]
Houston—due to its size and proximity to major illegal drug exporting nations—is a significant hub for trafficking of cocaine, marijuana, heroin, MDMA, and methamphetamine.[179] In the early 1970s, Houston, Pasadena and several coastal towns were the site of the 'Houston Mass Murders' which at the time were the deadliest case of serial killing in American history.[180][181]
Sister cities[link]
Houston has 17 sister cities[182] designated by Sister Cities International—a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network creating and strengthening partnerships between U.S. and international communities in an effort to increase global cooperation at the municipal level, to promote cultural understanding, and to stimulate economic development. Many of Houston's sister cities, including Abu Dhabi, Baku, Luanda, Stavanger, Tampico, and Tyumen are, like Houston, important cities in the oil industry.
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Further reading[link]
- Houston, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Houston, New York Has a Problem, City Journal, Summer 2008
- 174 Years of Historic Houston Houstonhistory.com. 2007. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
- A thumb-nail history of the city of Houston, Texas, from its founding in 1836 to the year 1912, published 1912, hosted by the Portal to Texas History, republished 2007 by Copano Bay Press.
- True stories of old Houston and Houstonians: historical and personal sketches / by S. O. Young., published 1913, hosted by the Portal to Texas History, republished 2007 by Copano Bay Press.
- Allen, O. Fisher (1936). City of Houston from Wilderness to Wonder. Self Published. NA. .
- Johnston, Marguerite (1991). Houston, The Unknown City, 1836–1946. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 0-89096-476-9.
- Miller, Ray (1984). Ray Miller's Houston. Gulf Publishing Company. ISBN 0-88415-081-X.
- Slotboom, Oscar F. "Erik" (2003). Houston Freeways. Oscar F. Slotboom. ISBN 0-9741605-3-9. [4]
- Wilson, Ann Quin (1982). Native Houstonian – A Collective Portrait. The Donning Company – Houston Baptist University Press. 80-27644.
External links[link]
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- City of Houston official website
- Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Greater Houston Transportation and Emergency Management Center
- Houston Public Library official website
- Houston at the Open Directory Project
- Houston travel guide from Wikitravel
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| Catcher | |
| Born: (1947-12-07) December 7, 1947 (age 64) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| August 28, 1967 for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 29, 1983 for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .267 |
| Home runs | 389 |
| Runs batted in | 1,376 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame |
|
| Induction | 1989 |
| Vote | 96.42% |
Johnny Lee Bench (born December 7, 1947 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.[1][2][3] Bench, a 14-time All-Star selection and a two-time National League Most Valuable Player, was a key member of The Big Red Machine, which won six division titles, four National League pennants, and two World Series championships.[4][5] ESPN has called him the greatest catcher in baseball history.[6]
Contents |
Major League Baseball career[link]
1960s[link]
Bench played baseball and basketball and was class valedictorian at Binger High School in Binger, Oklahoma. He is one-eighth Native American (Choctaw).[7] His father told him that the fastest route to becoming a major leaguer was as a catcher. Bench was drafted 36th overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 1965 amateur draft, playing for the minor-league Buffalo Bisons in the 1966 and 1967 seasons before being called up to the Reds in August 1967.[8] He hit only .163, but impressed many with his defense and strong throwing arm. Among them: Hall of Famer Ted Williams. Williams signed a baseball for him which predicted that the young catcher would be "A Hall of Famer for sure!"[4][9] Williams' prediction eventually became fact with Johnny Bench's election to the Hall of Fame in 1989.
During a spring training game in 1968, Bench was catching the eight-year veteran right-hander Jim Maloney. Once a noted hard thrower, injuries had reduced Maloney's fastball's speed dramatically by this time. However, Maloney insisted on repeatedly "shaking off" his younger catcher and throwing the fastball instead of the breaking balls Bench called for. An exasperated Bench bluntly told Maloney, "Your fastball's not popping". Maloney replied with an epithet. To prove to Maloney that his fastball wasn't effective anymore, Bench called for a fastball, and after Maloney released the ball, Bench dropped his catcher's mitt and comfortably caught the fastball barehanded.[5][10] Bench was the Reds' catcher on April 30, 1969 when Maloney pitched a no hitter against the Houston Astros.[11]
Bench won the 1968 National League Rookie of the Year Award, batting .275 with 15 home runs and 82 RBIs, marking the first time the award had been won by a catcher.[1][4][12] He also won the 1968 National League Gold Glove Award for catchers, marking the first time the award had been won by a rookie.[1][13][14] His 102 assists in 1968 marked the first time in 23 years that a catcher had more than 100 assists in a season.[15]
1970s[link]
1970 was Bench's finest statistical season; he became the youngest man (22) to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award, hit .293, led the National League with 45 home runs and a franchise-record 148 Runs batted in, and helped the Reds win the National League West Division.[1][5][16] The Reds swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1970 National League Championship Series, but lost to the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.[17][18]
Bench had another strong year in 1972, again winning the Most Valuable Player Award and leading the National League in home runs (40) and RBI (125), to help propel the Reds to another National League West Division title, and a five-game victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1972 National League Championship Series.[1][19] One of his most dramatic home runs[citation needed] was likely his ninth-inning, lead off, opposite field home run in the final game of the 1972 National League Championship Series.[20] The solo shot tied the game 3–3, in a game the Reds went on to win later in the inning on a wild pitch, 4–3.[21][22] It was hailed after the game as "one of the great clutch home runs of all time."[citation needed] However, the Reds would lose in the World Series to a strong Oakland Athletics team in seven games.[23]
In the winter of 1972, Bench had a growth removed from his lung. Bench remained productive, but he never again hit 40 home runs in a season. In 1973, Bench slumped to 25 home runs and 104 RBI, but helped the Reds rally from a 10 1/2 game deficit in July to the Los Angeles Dodger to win a major league-high 99 games and claim another National League West Division. In the 1973 National League Championship Series, the Reds met a New York Mets team that won just 82 regular season games, but boasted three of the best starting pitchers in the NL, future Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Jon Matlack. The trio shackled a strong Reds offense and helped the New York Mets advance to the World Series.[24]
In 1974, Bench led the league with 129 RBI and scored 108 runs, becoming only the fourth catcher in major league history with 100 or more runs and RBI in the same season. The Reds won the second-most games in the majors (98) but lost the West Division to the Los Angeles Dodgers.[25] In 1975, the Reds finally broke through in the post season. Bench contributed 28 home runs and 110 RBI.[1][26][27] The Reds swept the Pirates in three games to win the 1975 National League Championship Series, and defeated the Boston Red Sox in a memorable seven game World Series.[28][29][30]
Bench had one of his worst years in 1976, hitting only 16 home runs and 74 RBIs. However, he recovered in the 1976 National League Championship Series to hit for a .385 batting average against the Philadelphia Phillies.[1][31] The 1976 World Series provided a head to head match up with the New York Yankees and their catcher, Thurman Munson. Bench rose to the occasion, hitting .533 with two home runs to Munson's .529 average.[1][4][32] Bench led the Reds to the world championship and was awarded the World Series Most Valuable Player Award for his performance.[1][33][34] At the post-World Series press conference, Reds manager Sparky Anderson was asked by a journalist to compare Munson with his catcher, Johnny Bench. Anderson replied, "You don't compare anyone to Johnny Bench. You don't want to embarrass anybody".[35]
He bounced back to hit 31 home runs and 109 RBIs in 1977, but the Reds would only reach the post-season once more during Bench's career, when the 1979 Reds were swept in three games by the Pirates in the 1979 National League Championship Series.[36]
1980s[link]
For the last three seasons of his career, Bench caught only 13 games and played mostly first base or third base. The Cincinnati Reds proclaimed September 17, 1983, "Johnny Bench Night" at Riverfront Stadium. During the game he hit his 389th and final home run.[37] He retired at the end of the season.
Major League career statistics[link]
Bench had 2048 hits for a .267 career batting average with 389 home runs and 1,376 RBI during his 17-year Major League career, all spent with the Reds.[1] He retired as the career home run leader for catchers, a record which stood until surpassed by Carlton Fisk and the current record holder, Mike Piazza.[20][38] In his career, Bench earned 10 Gold Gloves, was named to the National League All-Star team 14 times, and won two Most Valuable Player Awards.[1][39][40][41] He led the National League three times in caught stealing percentage and ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage.[1] Bench also won such awards as the Lou Gehrig Award (1975), the Babe Ruth Award (1976), and the Hutch Award (1981).[42]
Bench popularized the hinged catcher's mitt, first introduced by Randy Hundley of the Chicago Cubs.[4][43][44] He began using the mitt after a stint on the disabled list in 1966 for a thumb injury on his throwing hand. The mitt allowed Bench to tuck his throwing arm safely to the side when receiving the pitch.[5] By the turn of the decade, the hinged mitt became standard catchers' equipment. Having huge hands (a famous photograph features him holding seven baseballs in his right hand[45]), Bench also tended to block breaking balls in the dirt by scooping them with one hand instead of the more common and fundamentally proper way: dropping to both knees and blocking the ball using the chest protector to keep the ball in front.[44]
Honors and post-career activities[link]
 |
|
| Johnny Bench's number 5 was retired by the Cincinnati Reds in 1984. |
Bench was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, in 1989 alongside Carl Yastrzemski.[46] He was elected in his first year eligible and appeared on 96% of the ballots, the third-highest percentage to that time. Three years earlier, Bench had been inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1986 and his uniform #5 was retired by the team.[47][48] He is currently on the Board of Directors for the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
In 1985, Bench starred as Joe Boyd/Joe Hardy in a Cincinnati stage production of the musical Damn Yankees, which also included Gwen Verdon and Gary Sandy. He also hosted the television series The Baseball Bunch from 1982 to 1985. A cast of children, both boys and girls, from the Tucson, Arizona, area would learn the game of baseball from Bench and current and retired greats. The Chicken provided comic relief and former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda appeared as "The Dugout Wizard."
In 1999, Bench ranked Number 16 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players.[49] He was the highest-ranking catcher. Bench was also elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team as the top vote-receiving catcher.[50] As part of the Golden Anniversary of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, Bench was selected to the All-Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team.[51]
Starting with the 2000 college baseball season, the best collegiate catcher annually receives the Johnny Bench Award. Notable winners include Buster Posey of Florida State University, Kelly Shoppach of Baylor University, Ryan Garko of Stanford University, and Kurt Suzuki of Cal State Fullerton.
In 2008, Bench co-wrote the book Catch Every Ball: How to Handle Life's Pitches with Paul Daugherty, published by Orange Frazer Press. An autobiography published in 1979 called Catch You Later was co-authored with William Brashler. Bench has also broadcast games on television and radio, and is an avid golfer, having played in several Champions Tour tournaments.
In a September 2008 interview with Heidi Watney of the New England Sports Network, Johnny Bench, who was watching a Cleveland Indians/Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park, did an impression of late Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray after Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis, a native of Cincinnati, made a tough play. While knuckleballer Tim Wakefield was on the mound for the Red Sox, he related a story that then-Reds manager Sparky Anderson told him that he was thinking of trading for knuckleballer Phil Niekro. Bench replied that Anderson had better trade for Niekro's catcher, too.[52]
In 2004, Bench underwent hip replacement surgery. Due to the stress years of catching had on his natural hip joint, it had become severely arthritic and gave him constant pain.
Bench was fitted with a Stryker ceramic hip and has since become a spokesman for the company. In 2005, recipients of Stryker implants began complaining about pain, difficulty walking, fractures from poorly-fitting implants and squeaking. In a six-page letter, the Food and Drug Administration warned Stryker about the problems.[53]
Bench, who says he has experienced some squeaking, quipped, “I don’t care if it plays "Dixie".[54]
Nicknames[link]
- Hench Ench
- The Binger Banger
See also[link]
- List of members of the Baseball Hall of Fame
- List of Major League Baseball retired numbers
- List of Gold Glove Award winners at catcher
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBIs
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
- List of Major League Baseball home run champions
- Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award
- The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
References[link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Johnny Bench at Baseball Reference
- ^ Johnny Bench at Baseball Almanac
- ^ Johnny Bench at The Baseball Cube
- ^ a b c d e Johnny Bench at The Baseball Library
- ^ a b c d http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com
- ^ Johnny Bench Biography at ESPN.com
- ^ "Video". CNN. March 31, 1969. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1082237/2/index.htm.
- ^ 1965 Amateur Baseball Draft, Second Round at The Baseball Cube
- ^ http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/articles/johnny-bench-memorabilia-buying-guide
- ^ http://www.baseball-almanac.com/articles/fastest-pitcher-in-baseball.shtml
- ^ April 30, 1969 Astros-Reds box score at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1968 Rookie of the Year Award voting results at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1968 National League Gold Glove Award winners at Baseball Reference
- ^ Baseball Digest, February 1998
- ^ Progressive Leaders & Records for Assists as Catcher at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1970 National League Most Valuable Player Award voting results at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1970 NLCS at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1970 World Series at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1972 National League Most Valuable Player Award voting results at Baseball Reference
- ^ a b Johnny Bench: Number 1 Home Run Hitter of All Catchers, by Hal McCoy, Baseball Digest, December 1980, Vol. 39, No. 12, ISSN 0005-609X
- ^ 1972 NLCS Game 5 box score at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1972 NLCS at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1972 World Series at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1973 National League Team Statistics and Standings won the series in five games win advance to the World Series against the Oakland A's.
- ^ Baseball Digest January 1980, Vol. 39, No. 1, ISSN 0005-609X
- ^ 1975 National League Team Statistics and Standings
- ^ Peterson, Bill (1995-04-23). "Big Red Machine Rates Among Best Ever; Balance of Offense, Defense made '75 Cincinnati Team So Great". Rocky Mountain News (Scripps Howard news Service).
- ^ 1975 NLCS at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1975 World Series at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1975 World Series at The Sporting News
- ^ 1976 NLCS at Baseball Reference
- ^ Thurmon Munson post-season batting statistics at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1976 World Series at Baseball Reference
- ^ Post-season Awards at Baseball Reference
- ^ All Roads Lead to October (chapter 10) by Maury Allen, St. Martin's Press 2000 ISBN 0-312-26175-6
- ^ 1979 NLCS at Baseball Reference
- ^ September 17, 1983 Astros-Reds box score at Baseball Reference
- ^ The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers
- ^ Gold Glove Award winners at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1970 Most Valuable Player Award voting results at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1972 Most Valuable Player Award voting results at Baseball Reference
- ^ Lou Gehrig Award, Babe Ruth Award, Hutch Award winners at Baseball Reference
- ^ Randy Hundley at The Baseball Library
- ^ a b Are Catchers Today As Good Defensively As In The Past?, by Rick Van Blair, Baseball Digest, March 1994, Vol. 53, No. 3, ISSN 0005-609X
- ^ http://www.uc.edu
- ^ Johnny Bench at The Baseball Hall of Fame
- ^ Cincinnati Reds retired numbers at mlb.com
- ^ Johnny Bench at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame
- ^ Johnny Bench at The Sporting News 100 Greatest Baseball Players
- ^ Johnny Bench at The Major League Baseball All-Century Team
- ^ Johnny Bench at the Rawlings All Time Gold Glove Award winners
- ^ http://soxanddawgs.com
- ^ Stryker Hip Implant Injury - FDA Warning
- ^ http://neuro-ortho.org
External links[link]
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- Johnny Bench at the Baseball Hall of Fame
- johnnybench.com Official Website
- Book Review of Catch Every Ball at Letters On Pages
- Baseball's Greatest Catcher
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Bench, Johnny
- Johnny Bench: Number 1 Home Run Hitter of All Catchers, Baseball Digest, December 1980
- Johnny Bench: From Binger to Cooperstown, Baseball Digest, February 2000
- Johnny Bench at the Internet Movie Database
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bench, Johnny |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | American baseball player |
| Date of birth | December 7, 1947 |
| Place of birth | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Johnny_Bench
Related pages:
http://fr.wn.com/Johnny Bench
http://es.wn.com/Johnny Bench
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Bench
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
| Delino DeShields | |
|---|---|
| Second baseman | |
| Born: (1969-01-15) January 15, 1969 (age 43) Seaford, Delaware |
|
| Batted: Left | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| April 9, 1990 for the Montreal Expos | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 8, 2002 for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .268 |
| Hits | 1,548 |
| Runs batted in | 561 |
| Stolen bases | 463 |
| Teams | |
Delino Lamont DeShields (born January 15, 1969 in Seaford, Delaware[1]) is a former Major League Baseball player. He enjoyed a 13-year career as a second baseman, playing with five teams. He is currently the manager for the Dayton Dragons in the Cincinnati Reds organization.[2]
Contents |
Early life[link]
DeShields was born in Seaford, Delaware and played for Seaford High School. DeShields was to attend Villanova University where he would have played point guard on the basketball team; however, after being selected as the 12th overall pick in the 1987 MLB draft, he chose a career in baseball.
Career[link]
DeShields became the regular second baseman for the Montreal Expos in 1990, finishing in second place for the NL Rookie of the Year award. He suffered from a sophomore slump in 1991, but went on to post his two best years in 1992 and 1993, hitting .294 and averaging 45 stolen bases.
On November 19, 1993, DeShields was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for then-prospect Pedro Martínez. In retrospect, this is considered one of the worst trades in Dodgers history.[3] DeShields hit a mediocre .241 during his three years in Los Angeles, while Martinez went on to win three Cy Young Awards and established himself amongst the greatest pitchers of his time.
In 1996, DeShields signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals, and later played with the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs. In 2001, he was the last out in Hideo Nomo's no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles.
After retirement[link]
DeShields is the Co-Founder and VP of the Urban Baseball League. He also travels with Oil Can Boyd as part of the Oil Can Boyd Urban All Stars to promote baseball in African American communities.
The Cincinnati Reds have formally announced Delino DeShields will be the new field manager for the Dayton Dragons in 2011[4]
Personal[link]
Delino DeShields is married to Michelle Elliott DeShields, an educator and television host for the PBS series Georgia Traveler airing on Georgia Public Broadcasting. He has five children (two sons, Delino, Jr and D'Angelo and three daughters, Diamond, Denim, and Delaney). His eldest child, Delino DeShields, Jr., was drafted with the 8th overall pick by the Houston Astros in the 2010 MLB Draft.[5] His daughter Diamond is listed by ESPNU as one of the top 25 women's basketball recruits for the class of 2013.[6] At age 15, Diamond was the youngest member of the gold-medal winning United States team at the 2010 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship [7] and verbally committed to North Carolina.
Highlights[link]
- Named State Baseball Player of the Year in 1986.
- Placed second in Rookie of the Year Award voting in 1990
- Led National League in triples (14, 1997)
- 9-time top 10 finisher among NL base stealers (1990–98)
- His career 463 stolen bases ranks him 44th on the all-time list
- Wore his socks just below the knee, to honor the players of the defunct Negro Leagues
- Inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 2006.
- Inducted into the Eastern Shore Baseball Foundation Hall of Fame and Museum in 2010.
Delino recently moved back to his native Delaware and plans to spend time with his family, fish, and play mens softball.
See also[link]
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions
References[link]
- ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/deshide01.shtml
- ^ "Reds shuffle Mustangs field staff for 2009". MiLB.com. 2009-01-08. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090108&content_id=493566&vkey=pr_milb&fext=.jsp. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
- ^ Newhan, Ross (22 Apr 2008). "A Long-Term Trade Deficit". Los Angeles Times: pp. D–7. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/22/sports/sp-pedrodelino22
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.baseballrumormill.com/2010/05/2010-mlb-top-20-mock-draft.html
- ^ http://insider.espn.go.com/ncw/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=98672&season=2013
- ^ http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-high-school-sports/2010/06/28/deshields-helps-lead-team-usa-to-the-gold-medal/?cxntfid=blogs_georgia_high_school_sports
External links[link]
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- BaseballLibrary
|
|||||
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Deshields, Delino |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | American baseball player |
| Date of birth | January 15, 1969 |
| Place of birth | Seaford, Delaware |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Delino_DeShields
Related pages:
http://fr.wn.com/Delino DeShields
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delino_DeShields
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
| Matt Cain | |
|---|---|
 Cain before his Major League debut with the Giants in August 2005 |
|
| San Francisco Giants – No. 18 | |
| Starting pitcher | |
| Born: (1984-10-01) October 1, 1984 (age 27) Dothan, Alabama |
|
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| August 29, 2005 for the San Francisco Giants | |
| Career statistics (through May 27, 2012) |
|
| Win–loss record | 74–75 |
| Earned run average | 3.33 |
| Strikeouts | 1,151 |
| Teams | |
|
|
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Matthew Thomas Cain (born October 1, 1984) is an American professional baseball player. A starting pitcher, Cain plays for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He is 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and weighs 235 pounds (107 kg).
Contents |
Early career[link]
Cain graduated from Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee, where he earned the nickname "Big Sugar" and was selected by the Giants in the first round (25th overall) in the 2002 MLB Draft.[1]
Prior to the 2005 season, Cain was named the #13 prospect in baseball by Baseball America.[2]
Pitching style[link]
Cain features a mix of mostly four pitches: a four-seam fastball (89-92 mph), a slider (85-88), a curveball (78-81), and a changeup (85-88). Very infrequently, he also throws a two-seam fastball at 90-92 mph. Cain leads with his four-seamer, throwing it just over half the time in 2011. His changeup is his secondary pitch to left-handed hitters, while he throws sliders as a secondary pitch to right-handed hitters. Cain throws curveballs in roughly equal proportions to righties and lefties.[3]
Major League career[link]
2005[link]
Cain made his major league debut on August 29, 2005, at the age of 20 against the Colorado Rockies, losing the game despite giving up only three hits and two runs in five innings. Following his debut, Cain joined the team's regular five-man starting rotation, finding immediate success. He earned his first major league win on September 4 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and notched his first complete game, a two-hitter, against the Chicago Cubs on September 9. Cain finished his first season with seven starts over 46 1⁄3 innings in which he posted a 2–1 record, 30 strikeouts, a 2.33 ERA, a 0.928 WHIP, and a minuscule .151 opponent batting average.[4][5]
When he was called up, Cain was the second youngest pitcher in the major leagues, behind Félix Hernández of the Seattle Mariners.
2006[link]
Cain's 2005 performance was impressive enough that manager Felipe Alou named him to the team's 2006 starting rotation before spring training began. Cain began the season as the team's fourth starter.
In 2006, Cain struggled with consistency, but showed signs of dominance in several starts, flirting with a no-hitter on more than one occasion. On April 24, 2006, Cain pitched six innings without allowing a base runner against the New York Mets, one of the league's most prolific offenses. On May 21, Cain pitched his first complete game shutout, a one-hitter against the Oakland Athletics. On June 19, Cain pitched 7 2⁄3 innings of no-hit ball against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim before finally surrendering a single to Chone Figgins in the eighth inning.
Late in the season Cain increased his chances for Rookie of the Year consideration with a run of remarkable pitching. From August 12 to September 14 Cain recorded a 5–0 record with an almost unheard-of ERA of 0.21. During this streak, he allowed just one earned run in 42 innings—and did not allow an earned run in 30 2⁄3 innings. He led all National League rookie pitchers with 13 wins and 179 strikeouts in 2006. His 2006 record was 13–12, with a 4.15 ERA. Cain finished in a fifth-place tie in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.
2007[link]
In 2007, Cain changed his uniform number from 43 to 18, following the departure of Moisés Alou, who wore 18 in 2006.
He started the 2007 season with a 1.55 ERA with 11 hits in 29 innings pitched. This run was capped on April 22, in which he pitched a complete game allowing only one run (in the ninth) and just three hits. It was the third complete game of his young career. Cain's record through August 3 was 3–12. He had limited opponents to a batting average of .238 against him during that stretch. The Giants scored two or fewer runs in 20 of Cain's first 30 starts.[6] Additionally, the bullpen blew four leads behind him.[7]
Cain went 4–1 over his next five starts.[8] This stretch was bolstered in part by a power surge at the plate by Cain himself. He hit his first and second career home runs in these starts, off Tim Redding of the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano.[9]
Cain finished the season with the 10th-lowest ERA in the National League at 3.65. The Giants went 9–23 in his starts; the bullpen lost leads in five of his starts and the team scored 2 runs or fewer in 21 of his starts.[10]
2008[link]
Cain went 8–14 with a 3.76 ERA, 186 strikeouts and 217.2 innings. Cain's season record was deceiving, as he again received low run support. As in 2007, Cain hit two home runs for the season, the third and fourth of his career.
2009[link]
Cain finished the 2009 season with a 14–8 record with a 2.89 ERA and 171 strikeouts. His ERA ranked seventh in the NL, and tenth in major league baseball. He finished the season with a career-high in wins (14), and winning percentage (.663).
On July 5, 2009, Cain was announced as an All Star for the first time in his young career. On Matt Cain's final start before the All Star Game, he was hit by a line drive right below his elbow and was forced to miss pitching for the All Star Team, although he did still attend and was announced as an All Star. Pirates pitcher Zach Duke replaced Cain on the NL All Star team.[11]
On September 25 Matt Cain was awarded the Willie Mac Award, presented yearly to a Giants player who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership consistently shown by Willie McCovey throughout his long career, which is voted upon by the players and coaching staff.[12]
2010–11[link]
 |
This section contains weasel words: vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. Such statements should be clarified or removed. (February 2012) |
Cain was part of a rotation that included 2008 and 2009 National League Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum, 2002 American League Cy Young award winner Barry Zito, along with Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner. In the month of May, Cain pitched into the sixth inning or later in all 6 of his starts while giving up 9 earned runs on 23 hits with 35 strikeouts and 18 walks in 44 2⁄3 innings pitched with an overall record of 3–3 with an 1.81 earned run average.
For the season Cain was 13–11 with a 3.14 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 177 strikeouts, 61 walks, 223 innings pitched, and 4 complete games including 2 shutouts.
On October 28 Cain capped an impressive post-season performance as he pitched 7 2⁄3 scoreless innings in Game 2 of the World Series to become the fifth pitcher to pitch at least 20 innings in the postseason without allowing an earned run, earning the nickname Big Game Cain among Giants fans.[13] His total post-season stats of a 2–0 record, with a 0.00 ERA through 21⅓ innings pitched helped the Giants win their first championship in San Francisco.[14]
Matt Cain was an Allstar for the second time in his career in 2011 and continued his success thereafter. Cain had a 2.39 ERA in 12 starts after the All-Star break but earned just 3 wins in that stretch, due to a continued lack of run support on the part of the Giants offense.
On September 28, 2011, Cain hit his fifth career home run against the Colorado Rockies.
2012[link]
On April 2, 2012, Cain agreed to a five-year contract extension worth a guaranteed $112.5 million through 2017 with an option for 2018, surpassing Kevin Brown for the largest deal for a right-handed pitcher. Cain earns a $5 million signing bonus, and will earn $20 million each season from 2013–17. His option for 2018 will vest automatically if he is not on the disabled list to an elbow or shoulder injury in 2017 and is worth $21 million. Should he be on the DL for those reasons in 2017, the Giants can either pick up the $21 million option or pay a $7.5 million buyout. Cain was scheduled to become a free agent after the 2012 season.[15] On April 13th, pitching the Giants' home opener, Cain threw a complete game shut out, walking none and allowing only one hit. It was the third one-hitter of Cain's career. He is currently 6-3.
Personal life[link]
Matt Cain is married (Chelsea) and has a daughter, Hartley Mae, born in December 2010.[citation needed]
References[link]
- ^ "Matt Cain Player File". MLB.com. http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=430912. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
- ^ "2005 Top 100 Prospects". Baseball America. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/050303top100charts.html. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
- ^ "PITCHf/x Player Card: Matt Cain". BrooksBaseball.net. http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=430912. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
- ^ "Matt Cain Statistics". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cainma01.shtml. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
- ^ "Matt Cain Stats". MLB.com. http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=430912§ion1=1&statSet1=1§ion2=1§ion3=1&statSet3=1&statSet2=3. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
- ^ Haft, Chris (2007-09-16). "One hit too much for unlucky Cain". MLB.com. http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070915&content_id=2210821&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
- ^ Haft, Chris (2007-08-04). "Cain snakebitten against Padres". MLB.com. http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070803&content_id=2127848&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
- ^ "Matt Cain 2007 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/gl.cgi?n1=cainma01&t=p. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
- ^ "Matt Cain Home Run Log (Batting)". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/event_hr.cgi?n1=cainma01&type=b. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
- ^ Shea, John (2008-04-13). "Another crusher for Cain". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/12/SPCA104OHM.DTL. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090712&content_id=5837910&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
- ^ http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090925&content_id=7159206&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf
- ^ http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101028&content_id=15893052&vkey=news_sf&c_id=sf
- ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_player_postseason.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=430912
- ^ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (April 2, 2012). "Giants To Extend Matt Cain". MLB Trade Rumors. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/04/giants-to-extend-matt-cain.html.
External links[link]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Matt Cain |
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Edwin Jackson 2003–04 |
Youngest Player in the National League 2005 |
Succeeded by Lastings Milledge 2006 |
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Cain, Matt |
| Alternative names | Cain, Matthew Thomas |
| Short description | American baseball pitcher |
| Date of birth | 1984-10-1 |
| Place of birth | Dothan, Alabama, United States |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Matt_Cain
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
