Houston Astros Team History | SPORTS TEAM HISTORY

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

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.

History of the Astros

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