Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are a professional baseball team based in Houston. They play in Major League Baseball and are part of the American League West Division.

The team started in 1962 as the Houston Colt .45s and joined the National League that year. They became the Houston Astros three years later when they moved into the Astrodome, the first indoor stadium for sports.

The Astros have had many great players and moments. In 2017, they won their first World Series championship. They won another World Series in 2022. The team has been very successful recently, winning many games and appearing in important playoff series often.

The Astros have strong rivalries with other teams, especially with the Texas Rangers in what is called the Lone Star Series, and also with the New York Yankees. By 2024, they had won over 5,000 games in their history.

History

Major League Baseball comes to Texas

From 1888 until 1961, Houston's baseball team was called the Houston Buffaloes. In 1952, local leaders tried to buy a Major League team. Instead, they started the Houston Sports Association. They worked with other cities to create a new league, but the plans failed. In 1960, the National League gave Houston a new team to start in 1962. The team was named the Colt .45s and played in Colt Stadium before moving to the Astrodome.

1962–1964: The Colt .45s

The Colt .45s began in 1962 and finished last in the league. In 1963, young players like Jimmy Wynn and Joe Morgan joined the team, but they still did poorly. In 1964, pitcher Jim Umbricht passed away, and the team changed its name to the Astros to honor Houston's role in space exploration.

1905 Houston Buffaloes team photo

1965–1970: The Great Indoors

The team moved into the Astrodome in 1965, called the "Eighth Wonder of the World." They used artificial turf named AstroTurf because real grass couldn’t grow under the dome. Even with new features, the team did not do well. In 1967, Don Wilson threw the first no-hitter in the Astrodome. The team had some exciting moments but often finished near the bottom of the league.

1971–1974: The boys in orange

The Astros changed their uniforms to bright colors in the 1970s. In 1971, they changed their uniform colors and style. In 1972, they traded with the Cincinnati Reds, but it didn’t go well for the Astros. The team had some good players, like César Cedeño, but they often finished in the middle of the league.

1975–1979: Cautious corporate ownership

Al Spangler, pictured in the first uniform of the Colt .45s in 1963

In the late 1970s, the team was sold, and new management focused on saving money instead of spending on better players. The team had a bad season in 1975 but improved in 1976 and 1977. In 1979, they started to improve and had their best record up to that point.

1980–1985: More rainbow, and seasons on the brink

The Astros made it to the playoffs in 1980 but lost. In 1981, a strike helped them reach the playoffs again, but they lost to the Dodgers. The team changed managers and players, finishing in the middle of the league for several years.

1986–1990: A deep run, and building for the future

In 1986, the Astros reached the championship series but lost to the New York Mets. After that, the team brought in new players like Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. The Astros almost left Houston a few times but stayed because of fan support and plans for a new stadium.

Houston Astrodome Scoreboard pictured during a June 7, 1969, game between the Astros and Cardinals

1991–1999: Fine tuning and first rebranding

In the early 1990s, the Astros almost left but stayed in Houston. They started doing better in the mid-1990s, winning division titles in 1997, 1998, and 1999. The team changed their uniforms and colors to a simpler look, moving away from the bright "rainbow" style.

2000–2004: New ballpark and second rebranding

The Astros moved to a new stadium in 2000, later called Minute Maid Park. They changed their uniforms again to a retro style. The team had some success but didn’t make the playoffs until 2004, when they lost the championship series to the St. Louis Cardinals.

2005: First World Series played in Texas

The Astrodome in 1965

In 2005, the Astros made it to the World Series for the first time, becoming the first team from Texas to do so. They played against the Chicago White Sox but lost. This was a big moment for Houston, especially after the city dealt with Hurricane Harvey.

2006–2009: The decline

After 2005, the Astros did not make the playoffs. They changed managers and players, finishing near the bottom of the league in some seasons.

2010–2014: Last years in the NL and move to the AL West

The Astros had several hard seasons, finishing with over 100 losses in 2011 and 2012. In 2011, the team was sold and prepared to move to the American League. In 2013, they joined the American League West Division.

2015–2019: Return to success, first World Series title and scandal

The Astros returned to the playoffs in 2015 and reached the championship series but lost. In 2017, they won the World Series for the first time, a big moment for Houston after Hurricane Harvey. However, the team faced a scandal for using technology to gain an unfair advantage during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

2020–present: Second World Series title

After the scandal, the Astros made changes in management. They returned to the playoffs regularly and won the World Series again in 2022. The team continued to compete well, making the playoffs in several seasons and winning division titles.

Uniforms

1962–1964: The Colt .45's

The Houston Astros started as the Colt .45s in 1962. Their home uniforms had a navy pistol with orange smoke forming a "C". The road uniforms showed the city name in navy letters with orange trim, and they wore a patch of the flag of Texas on the sleeve. Their caps were all navy with ".45s" written in orange.

1965–1974: Shooting stars

In 1965, the team changed its name to the Astros and moved to the Astrodome. They changed their uniforms. The new home uniforms had a "shooting star" design. The road uniforms looked similar but used the Astros logo instead of the Texas flag. In 1971, the colors changed, with orange becoming navy and navy becoming a lighter blue. Players' names were added to the back of the jerseys. By 1972, the uniforms changed to polyester fabric and used elastic waistbands instead of belts.

1975–1986: Tequila sunrise/Orange rainbows

In 1975, the Astros introduced bright new uniforms with yellow, orange, and red stripes. There was a large dark blue star on the chest and stripes down the pants. These uniforms were unique and popular with fans, even though some people did not like them. They were worn for both home and away games until 1980.

1980–1993: Rainbow shoulders

In 1980, the Astros changed to a simpler uniform with rainbow designs only on the shoulders. At first, this was worn on the road, but later it was also used at home. The navy cap returned, and the orange cap was retired by 1983. By 1987, this became the main uniform, replacing the older rainbow styles.

1994–1999: Midnight blue and gold

After a change in ownership, the Astros updated their look in 1994. They dropped the rainbow colors for midnight blue and metallic gold. The new logo had a stylized star, and both home and road uniforms featured this design. The road uniform was adjusted in 1997, and the team also wore midnight blue alternate uniforms.

2000–2012: Railroad design

When the Astros moved to Minute Maid Park in 2000, they changed their colors to brick red, sand, and black, inspired by a former railroad depot. The home uniforms had black pinstripes with "Astros" in black script, while the road uniforms had "Houston" in red script. They also had alternate uniforms in black and brick red.

2013–present: Return to navy and orange

In 2013, the Astros returned to their classic navy and orange colors. The new uniforms had block letters for the city and team name, with orange trim. They also brought back the orange rainbow stripes on the sides. Special "Space City" uniforms were introduced in 2022, honoring NASA's "worm" logo and the Tequila sunrise designs from the 1970s. These uniforms were worn for the last time on September 22, 2024, with a new design planned for 2025.

Achievements

Main article: List of Houston Astros seasons

The Houston Astros have many achievements in their history. They have special records and awards that show how great the team has been.

One special award is the Darryl Kile Award. It is given each year to a player from the Houston Astros and a player from the St. Louis Cardinals. The award is for players who are good teammates and kind friends.

The team also has special records and retired numbers that honor important players. Number 42 is retired across all of Major League Baseball to honor Jackie Robinson.

See also: Houston Astros award winners and league leaders § Darryl Kile Award

Team name	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	W-L%
Colt .45s (1962–1964)	486	196	288	2	.405
NL Astros (1965–2012)	7,652	3,803	3846	3	.497
NL total (1962–2012)	8,138	3,999	4,134	5	.492
AL Astros (2013–present)	1,680	922	758	–	.549
All-time regular season	9,818	4,921	4,892	5	.501
All-time postseason	159	83	76	–	.522
Source:

Hall of Fame

The Houston Astros announced plans for their own team Hall of Fame in January 2019. The Hall of Fame includes players with retired numbers and members of the 2012 Walk of Fame. It is located in the former Home Run Alley area of the ballpark, now called Hall of Fame Alley. Plaques for the inductees were displayed starting in August 2019, with more players added in later years, such as Terry Puhl and Tal Smith in 2022.

Texas Sports Hall of Fame

Main article: Texas Sports Hall of Fame

Key
Bold	Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
†	Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame as an Astro
Bold	Recipient of the Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award

Year	No.	Player	Position	Tenure
Houston Astros Hall of Fame
2019	14	Bob Aspromonte	3B	1962–1968
	5	Jeff Bagwell^†	1B	1991–2005
	4, 7	Craig Biggio^†	2B / C / OF	1988–2007
	25	José Cruz	OF	1975–1987
	49	Larry Dierker	P Broadcaster Manager	1964–1976 1979–1996 1997–2001
	—	Gene Elston	Broadcaster	1962–1986
	—	Milo Hamilton	Broadcaster	1985–2012
	12, 35, 18, 8	Joe Morgan	2B	1963–1971, 1980
	36	Joe Niekro	P	1975–1985
	38, 37	Shane Reynolds	P	1992–2002
	50	J.R. Richard	P	1971–1980
	34	Nolan Ryan	P	1980–1988
	33	Mike Scott	P	1983–1991
	45, 32	Jim Umbricht	P	1962–1963
	23, 40	Don Wilson	P	1966–1974
	18, 24	Jimmy Wynn	OF	1963–1973
2020	22, 17	Lance Berkman	OF/1B	1999–2010
	28	César Cedeño	CF	1970–1981
	—	Roy Hofheinz	Owner	1960–1975
	44	Roy Oswalt	P	2001–2010
	13	Billy Wagner^†	P	1995–2003
	38, 11, 26, 27	Bob Watson	1B/LF GM	1966–1979 1993–1995
2022	21	Terry Puhl	OF	1977–1990
2022	—	Tal Smith	Executive	1960–1973 1975–1980 1994–2011
2023	—	Bill Brown	Broadcaster	1987–2016
2023	19	Bill Doran	2B	1982–1990
2024	—	René Cárdenas	Broadcaster	1961–1975 2007
2024	11	Ken Caminiti	3B	1987–1994 1999–2000
2026	3	Phil Garner	3B Manager	1981–1987 2004–2007
2026	14	Alan Ashby	C Broadcaster	1979–1989 1998–2006, 2013–2016

No.	Name	Position	Tenure
Astros in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame
—	Lee Ballanfant	Scout	1961–1970
3	Pete Runnels	IF	1963–1964
5	Jeff Bagwell	1B Coach	1991–2005 2010
7	Craig Biggio	2B/C	1988–2007
8, 12, 18, 35	Joe Morgan	2B	1963–1971 1980
11	Eddie Mathews	3B	1967
12, 77	Iván Rodríguez	C	2009
17	Lance Berkman	OF/1B	1999–2010
21	Andy Pettitte	P	2004–2006
22	Roger Clemens	P	2004–2006
34	Nolan Ryan	P	1980–1988
38	Robin Roberts	P	1965–1966
49	Larry Dierker	P Manager	1964–1977 1997–2001

Personnel

Further information: List of Houston Astros managers

Active roster

Spring training

The Houston Astros practice and play in the early part of the season at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, since 2017. They share this stadium with the Washington Nationals.

Before that, from 1985 to 2016, the Astros practiced in the early part of the season at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida.

Minor league affiliations

Main article: List of Houston Astros minor league affiliates

The Houston Astros work with seven teams to help train players. These teams are called the minor leagues.

Class	Team	League	Location	Ballpark	Affiliated
Triple-A	Sugar Land Space Cowboys	Pacific Coast League	Sugar Land, Texas	Constellation Field	2021
Double-A	Corpus Christi Hooks	Texas League	Corpus Christi, Texas	Whataburger Field	2005
High-A	Asheville Tourists	South Atlantic League	Asheville, North Carolina	HomeTrust Park	2021
Single-A	Fayetteville Woodpeckers	Carolina League	Fayetteville, North Carolina	Segra Stadium	2017
Rookie	FCL Astros	Florida Complex League	West Palm Beach, Florida	Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches	2023
	DSL Astros Blue	Dominican Summer League	Boca Chica, Santo Domingo	Houston Astros Complex	2022
	DSL Astros Orange	Dominican Summer League	Boca Chica, Santo Domingo	Houston Astros Complex	2022

Rivalries

Divisional

Lone Star Series: Texas Rangers

Main article: Lone Star Series

The Lone Star Series is a fun rivalry between Texas' two baseball teams, the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. This rivalry began when the teams played special games set up by the league. The winner got to keep a big, silver cowboy boot for a year.

Later, the Astros moved to the same league as the Rangers, making their games even more exciting. Both teams have been close in recent years, fighting for the top spot in their division. In 2023, they met in the playoffs, and the Rangers won after a tough series.

Seattle Mariners

The Astros have a strong rivalry with the Seattle Mariners. Both teams have been competing closely for the top spot in their division, especially in recent years. The Mariners have often finished just a few games behind the Astros. In 2022, the Mariners made it back to the playoffs, but the Astros won when they met.

American League

New York Yankees

The Astros and the New York Yankees have had exciting matchups, especially in the playoffs. The Astros have won all four playoff series they’ve played against the Yankees. Even though the Yankees have been strong, the Astros have won these important games.

National League

Los Angeles Dodgers

Main article: Astros–Dodgers rivalry

The Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers have a long history of competing against each other. Their biggest meeting was in the 2017 World Series, where the Astros won. However, this victory was overshadowed by some unfair tactics, which upset fans and players from both teams. The Dodgers have won more regular-season games against the Astros, but the teams are tied in playoff wins.

Radio and television

Since 2013, the Houston Astros have used KBME, Sportstalk 790 AM, as their main radio station. Before that, they used KTRH from 1999 to 2012. Both stations are owned by iHeartMedia.

For television, Astros games were shown on Fox Sports Houston before moving to a new channel in 2013. This new channel changed a little, but the Astros now have their own channel called the Space City Home Network. The current team of people who talk about the games on TV includes Todd Kalas, Geoff Blum, and reporter Julia Morales.

Mascots

Main article: Orbit (mascot)

In 1977, the Houston Astros introduced their first mascot, Chester Charge. He was a soldier on a horse who appeared at games and ran around the bases after wins.

Today, the Astros' mascot is Orbit, a lime-green space creature wearing an Astros jersey. Orbit was the team's official mascot from 1990 to 1999. In 2000, a rabbit named Junction Jack became the mascot, but Orbit returned in 2012. The name Orbit reminds us of Houston's connection to NASA.