One thing about Houstonians, we love the Houston Astros! As we push through the dog days of summer, it’s a great time to cheer on our favorite team. Here’s more on the rich history of the ‘Stros in Houston.
Baseball Begins In Houston
Baseball has always been a popular sport in Houston — even before the Astros became our official hometown team. When the Texas League was created in 1888, several baseball teams were born. Out of the league, the Houston Buffaloes were the most renowned team, winning multiple Texas League and Dixie Series championships.
Major League Baseball Arrives
George Kirksey, a local sportswriter and public relations executive, and Craig Cullinan, a businessman and heir to Texaco, formed the Houston Sports Association in hopes of bringing major league baseball to the city. R.E. "Bob" Smith, businessman and landowner, and Roy Hofheinz, former Houston mayor, were also brought into the association. Hofheinz also was working on bringing the world’s first domed stadium to the city. Their dreams came true. The city was granted expansion into Major League Baseball in October 1960, and Houston’s first team became the Houston Colt .45s, named after the “Gun that won the West.”
The Astros Are Born
That name didn’t last long; it was retired after the 1964 season. Shortly after, Hofheinz, the team president, said the new team would be named the Astros and the domed stadium would be called the Astrodome, in honor of the NASA Space Center and local astronauts. On April 9, 1965, the Astros played their first game against the New York Yankees, beating them 2 -1.
Over the years, the Astros have had standout players and seasons. In the 1980s, some of their best pitchers graced the stadium, including Nolan Ryan and Mike Scott. Craig Biggio joined the team in 1988 and played a record 20 seasons with the Astros – becoming the first player to be elected into the Hall of Fame. In 2011, Jim Crane led a group of investors who bought the team. Crane then began to build a staff that led to one of the Astros’ most successful teams. Standout players Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman helped lead the Astros to their first-ever World Series victory in 2017, right after the city was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. The Astros also dealt with a sign stealing scandal in 2017 that Houstonians would all like to forget about.
A few years later, the Astros won another World Series, and an out-of-this-world home run from Yordan Alvarez will stay etched in baseball fan’s minds for years to come. The Astros recently brought back fan favorite Carlos Correa. Some Houston fans made the trek to Boston to see the star player take on the Red Sox this past weekend, including Mayor Whitmire. The Astros are currently holding the top spot in the American League West. Let’s go ‘Stros!
