Established
1962
City
Houston
League History
2000 – Present / Major League Baseball
1962 – 1999 / National League
Team History
1965 – Present / Houston Astros
1962 – 1964 / Houston Colt 45’s
Nickname
Astros – The Houston Astros have been a Major League Baseball team since 1962, and throughout their history, they have gone through several iterations in terms of their nickname. The name “Astros” was adopted after the team moved to Houston from its former home in Colt Stadium in 1965. But where did this unique moniker come from?
The origins of the Astros nickname can be traced back to an article written by a local newspaper editor named Bill McCurdy. In 1964, McCurdy wrote an editorial calling for Houston's new baseball franchise to take on a space-age theme that would reflect the city's growing reputation as "Space City USA." He suggested that "Astro" could be used as part of either a single-word or two-word moniker for the club, with other possibilities being “Cosmos” and “Stars."
In November 1964, it was officially announced that ownership had settled on using Astro (or Astrodome) as part of its official name – becoming one among many teams taking advantage of America's fascination with space exploration during what has become known as The Space Race era. As such, when fans refer simply to them today, they are often referred to by just 'the 'Stros.'
Ultimately though, it is clear why ownership chose Astro/s; not only did it fit into what was going on during this period, but also because there were already several sports teams around Texas who had taken up similar nicknames, such as Dallas Cowboys ('Boys'), San Antonio Spurs ('Spurs') and even nearby Rice Owls ('Owls'). With all these considerations, we know why our beloved hometown baseball squad is called 'the Stros!'
Championship
World Series 2
2022, 2017
Stadium
2003 – Present / Minute Maid Park
2002 / Astros Field
2000 – 2002 / Enron Field
2000 / The Ballpark at Union Station
1966 – 1999 / Astrodome
1965 / Harris County Domed Stadium
1962 – 1964 / Colt Stadium
Owner
2011 – Present / Jim Crane
1992 – 2011 / Drayton McLane, Jr.
1979 – 1993 / John McMullen
1975 – 1979 / General Electric & Ford Motor Company
1962 – 1975 / Roy Hofheinz
- 1965
- 2000
- 2012
- 2017
- 2022
-
ReNamed the Astros
Construction of the domed building was finally completed in late 1964. In honor of Houston’s significance to the country’s space program, it was appropriately named the Astrodome, and to maintain the theme, the Colt .45s were proudly renamed the Astros. -
New Stadium – Minute Maid Stadium
The 2000 season saw a move to a new stadium. Originally called Enron Field, the stadium was to feature a functional retractable roof, a particularly useful feature with unpredictable Houston weather. The ballpark also featured more intimate surroundings than the Astrodome. In 2002, naming rights were purchased by Houston-based Minute Maid, after Enron went bankrupt. The park was built on ... -
Realignment to American League
On November 15, 2011, it was announced that Crane had agreed to move the franchise to the American League for the 2013 season. The move was part of an overall divisional realignment of MLB, with the National and American leagues each having 15 teams in three geographically balanced divisions. Crane was given a $70 million concession by MLB for agreeing ... -
World Series Winner 2017
The 2017 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2017 season. The 113th edition of the World Series, played between October 24 and November 1, was sponsored by the internet television service YouTube TV and officially known as the World Series presented by YouTube TV. It was a best-of-seven playoff between the National League (NL) champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the American League (AL) champion Houston Astros. The Astros defeated the Dodgers, four games to three, to ... -
Astros No-Hitter World Series Win in 2022
The 2022 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2022 season. The 118th edition of the World Series was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champion Houston Astros and the National League (NL) champion Philadelphia Phillies. The Astros defeated the Phillies in six games to earn their second championship. The series was broadcast on ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Astros
The Houston Astros, previously known as the Houston Colt .45s, have a long and storied history in Major League Baseball. From their early days as the Colt .45s to becoming World Series champions, the Astros have been an integral part of baseball for over half a century.
The team was founded in 1962 as the Houston Colt .45s, named after the famous handgun made by Samuel Colt’s company (Colt Industries). The Colt .45s played at Colt Stadium until 1965 when they moved into what is now known as Minute Maid Park. During this period, they were managed by Hall of Famer Harry Walker and had some notable players such as Joe Morgan and Jimmy Wynn on their roster. They also won two National League pennants during that era. Still, they failed to win any championships before moving to the American League West division from 1972-1993.
Under the leadership of manager Bill Virdon between the 1975-1977 seasons, the Houston Colt .45s, now known as the Houston Astros, finished second twice in the American League West division. They had stars like J.R. Richard leading them on the pitching side, while Cesar Cedeno provided offensive firepower from the outfield position. This era was affectionately called the "Luv Ya Blue" era due to its popularity among fans during those years.
In 1994, the Astros switched divisions again when MLB added three new teams, expanding the league's size and realigning divisions. The Astros moved back eastward, joining the Central Division, where they have stayed ever since. They have won five NL Central titles, including one wildcard berth. The team has played an exciting brand of baseball throughout this tenure, featuring star names such as Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and George Springer. They led the Astros all the way through the 2017 season, culminating in the franchise's first World Series championship title by beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in a thrilling five-game series. This victory ended a 55-year drought without major success, finally bringing a joyous moment for the entire city!
Despite having limited resources compared to other big-market clubs, the Houston Astros continue to strive for excellence in both off-field operations and developing a young talent pool. They are ensuring a bright future for the organization.
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
5 / Jeff Bagwell
7 / Craig Biggio
24 / Jimmy Wynn
25 / Jose Cruz
32 / Jim Umbricht
33 / Mike Scott
34 / Nolan Ryan
40 / Don Wilson
49 / Larry Dierker
42 / Jackie Robinson
*Blue is this team’s history