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In the following five years the Astros finished second in the Central, twice winning the wild card. One of those wild cards took the club to the teams first World Series. The Astros played the White Sox in 2005 after shocking the Braves and the Cardinals in the NL. The team could not continue the magic and were swept by the White Sox in a series with low scoring ball games.Originally called the Colt .45s, the club changed its name because of the arrival of the space program to Houston. The new team name, the Astros, and the new ballpark, the Astrodome. The Astrodome is famous for being one of the first venues with artificial turf.
The Astros struggled during the ‘60s, failing to finish over .500 and generally ending the season near the bottom of the league. The ‘70s were kinder to the Astros, who finished second twice and third twice during the decade.
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About The Houston Astros
During those first two decades the Astros had a good deal of talent with Joe Morgan and Jimmy Wynn and pitchers Ken Johnson and Bob Bruce. The talent could not rally enough victories to reach the plaoffs though.
The ‘80s saw the Astros reach the playoffs three times, twice losing in the National League Championship Series. The first appearance in the post season in 1980 was a close series with the Philadelphia Phillies. The series went all five games with four being played into extra innings. The Astros lost in game five in a heart breaking 8-7 game that went 10 innings. The Astros of the ‘80s were a team known for its pitching more than its hitting, with legendary pitchers like Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton.
The end of the ‘80s and the beginning of the ‘90s had the team selling off its parts and beginning anew. The result was a young team built around Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. The two were the anchors of the Astros for over a decade. Over that decade the club won four NL Central Division titles in five years from 1997 to 2001, but could not make it out of the first round in the playoffs.
In the following five years the Astros finished second in the Central, twice winning the wild card. One of those wild cards took the club to the teams first World Sereis. The Astros played the White Sox in 2005 after shocking the Braves and the Cardinals in the NL. The team could not continue the magic and were swept by the White Sox in a series with low scoring ball games.
Minute Maid Park had an exciting close to last season as the Houston Astros made a serious run at the wild card spot. They, of course, came up short as the team crippled its chances with a poor mid-September. Still, for a team still searching for an identity in the post Biggio and Bagwell era, it was not a bad showing.
The hope is that veterans Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee will be recognized as two of the games most dangerous hitters. In fact, most of this club, sans outfielders Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn, are veterans. This is really the Houston Astros three years ago without the believed B-Boys. There are some holes in the lineup, but the team has enough hitting capability to make another attempt to secure a wild card spot, they just need to get hot before the All Star break.
The pitching is just as old. Wandy Rodriguez is the youngest projected starter at the age of 29. Still, Roy Oswalt remains a solid ace, and veterans like Mike Hampton and Brian Moehler have managed to stick around for a reason. Jose Valverde is a great closer and the bullpen pitched well last season.
The real question for the Houston Astros is how long until they shed the vets and begin to build around budding stars Hunter Pence and speedster Michael Bourn. I have a feeling that this may be the last season. If the club stays in the fight then this roster will last until the end of the season. If not, get in line for a spectacular fire sale.
