2009 Houston Astros

The Houston Astros had a respectable 2008 season, finishing 3rd in the NL Central, an improvement from their 4th place finish in 2007. The Astros are counting on newly added pitcher Mike Hampton to take them to the playoffs in 2009, but the real question of the season is who’ll back up Brad Ausmus’s replacement Ivan Rodriguez - Humberto Quintero, J.R. Towles, Toby Hall and Lou Palmisano are all hoping for the spot, with Quintero as the frontrunner. The Astros are an aging team, but though older players may be more accident prone, they also have a lot more experience, which can easily outweigh the energy of youth to win a game. As always the stands of Minute Maid Park are sure to be packed to the gills with loyal fans, so don’t wait, get your 2009 Houston Astros tickets today!

From the Colt .45’s to the Astros

When the National League expanded prior to the 1962 season they placed the Mets in New York and the Colt .45’s in Houston. After 3 seasons the team moved into the Astrodome, the first indoor baseball stadium ever built and dubbed the “8th Wonder of the World”, and were renamed the Astros. The Colt .45’s/Astros developed some stars in their early days, notably Joe Morgan and Jim Wynn, but were never able to compete until 1980.

The Nolan Ryan Years

In 1980 Nolan Ryan came home to Texas, becoming baseball’s first million dollar man. He teamed with fellow veteran pitchers Joe Niekro and Vern Ruhle to bring the Astros back to back West Division crowns. Nolan Ryan once again helped the team to the West Division title in 1986, but once again the team failed to make it to the World Series.

Though the Astros missed the playoffs for several years following the 1986 season, their fans were treated to standout seasons from young stars Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, who were well on their way to setting most of the team’s batting records. The “Killer B’s” as they were known finally broke through in 1997 and powered the Astros to the first of three straight division titles. Before the 2000 season the Astros finally moved out of the Astrodome into the brand new Minute Maid Park.

Still Reaching for the World Series Title

In 2005 the Astros finally reached their first World Series. After a thrilling League Championship victory over the heavily favored Cardinals the team seemed to run out of gas getting swept by the Chicago White Sox. With the recent retirement of Bagwell and Biggio the Astros are entering into a new era of baseball in Houston. Led by new stars such as Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman the team continues to put fans in the seats and compete in the tough NL Central.