Houston Astros: Past, Present and Future

In their 51st and last season in the National League, the Houston Astros, (they are moving to the American League starting in 2013) after a decent start went into a horrible free fall. They lost an incredible 25 of 27 games at one point, in what has to be one of the worst records ever for that span of games.

Thus it is safe to say that in 51 years of National League play, the Astros, nee the Colt .45’s, will have but one pennant and no World Series wins. That is not to say they were completely without success. They were involved in 4 NLCS, going (1-3) and losing in two of the best LCS ever played. The other loss was in 7 games. Their 1980 NLCS vs the Philadelphia Phillies was not so arguably the best LCS ever contested. It was a best of 5 series which the Phils took with an (8-7) 10 inning win in the decisive 5th game. Games (2-5) of that epic LCS went into extra innings. The Phillies, having a surprising awful 2012 season, and with just 2 World Series wins in their far longer history, went on to win their first World Series after surviving vs the Astros in 1980.

The other epic LCS involving the Astros resulted in the New York Mets (the Mets, the Astros/Colt 45’s fellow 1962 expansion team, recently lost 14 of 16 games and very likely are out of contention for post season play after a very good first half of the season) winning a series clinching 16 inning, 6th game which is considered one of baseball’s all time great games.

So on to the American League in 2013 and here is remembering Jimmy “The Toy Cannon” Wynn, Rusty Staub, Mike Scott, Jose Cruz and others. Some great National League memories regarding the Astros from Mike Scott’s division clinching no hitter in 1986  to Nolan Ryan’s record breaking 5th no hitter in 1981. Right now “Houston we have a problem” but new league, new hope in a new year but alas that is next year regarding the Astros.