1965 Houston Astros season
Encyclopedia
The Houston Astros
season was the franchise's first season in the Houston Astrodome, as well as its first season as the Astros after three seasons known as the Colt .45s. It involved the Houston Astros finishing in ninth place in the National League
with a record of 65-97, 32 games behind the eventual World Series
champion Los Angeles Dodgers
. The Astros were managed by Lum Harris
.
to the club's sales of novelties bearing the old nickname. Despite the trademark issues, the "Astros" nickname matched the futuristic ambiance of the revolutionary domed stadium. The nickname was also appropriate since Houston was, by then, the home of NASA
's astronaut
program. The scoreboard retained subliminal references to the old nickname, as it featured electronically animated cowboys firing pistols, with the "bullets" ricocheting around the scoreboard, when an Astros player would hit a home run. Early on, the groundskeepers also wore astronaut spacesuits to promote that futuristic image.
win over the New York Yankees
.
The stadium was designed as a defense against the oppressive heat and humidity of the Houston summer. Loosely based on the old Roman Colosseum, the Astrodome was dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World. As with many stadiums of that era, such as RFK Stadium and Shea Stadium
, the Astrodome was a multi-purpose stadium
, designed for both football as well as baseball.
Besides its roof, the Astrodome was revolutionary for a number of other reasons. It was one of the first stadiums to have individual, theatre-type seats for every seat in the venue. Additionally, it was one of the first stadiums to have luxury seats and club seating, at the time a relatively new concept in sports venues. It also had an "exploding scoreboard", which would show various animations after a home run or a win, as well as messages and advertising.
Positional abbreviations: C = Catcher; 1B = First base; 2B = Second base; 3B = Third base; SS = Shortstop; LF = Left field; CF = Center field; RF = Right field
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
season was the franchise's first season in the Houston Astrodome, as well as its first season as the Astros after three seasons known as the Colt .45s. It involved the Houston Astros finishing in ninth place in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
with a record of 65-97, 32 games behind the eventual World Series
1965 World Series
The 1965 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers against the American League champion Minnesota Twins, who had won their first pennant since 1933 when the team was known as the Washington Senators...
champion Los Angeles Dodgers
1965 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished the regular-season with a 97–65 record, which earned them the NL pennant by just two games over their arch-rivals, the San Francisco Giants...
. The Astros were managed by Lum Harris
Lum Harris
Chalmer Luman Harris was an American right-handed pitcher, coach, manager, and scout in Major League Baseball....
.
Offseason
On December 1, The Houston club changed its nickname from Colt .45s to Astros. The move resulted from objections by the Colt Firearms CompanyColt's Manufacturing Company
Colt's Manufacturing Company is a United States firearms manufacturer, whose first predecessor corporation was founded in 1836 by Sam Colt. Colt is best known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms over the later half of the 19th and the 20th century...
to the club's sales of novelties bearing the old nickname. Despite the trademark issues, the "Astros" nickname matched the futuristic ambiance of the revolutionary domed stadium. The nickname was also appropriate since Houston was, by then, the home of NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
program. The scoreboard retained subliminal references to the old nickname, as it featured electronically animated cowboys firing pistols, with the "bullets" ricocheting around the scoreboard, when an Astros player would hit a home run. Early on, the groundskeepers also wore astronaut spacesuits to promote that futuristic image.
Astrodome
On April 9, the former Houston Colt .45s took the field and officially became the Houston Astros. They inaugurated indoor baseball in the Astrodome with a 2-1 exhibitionExhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
win over the New York Yankees
1965 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 63rd season for the Yankees in New York and their 65th overall. The team finished with a record of 77-85, finishing 25 games behind the Minnesota Twins. New York was managed by Johnny Keane. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium.This season marked the beginning...
.
The stadium was designed as a defense against the oppressive heat and humidity of the Houston summer. Loosely based on the old Roman Colosseum, the Astrodome was dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World. As with many stadiums of that era, such as RFK Stadium and Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
, the Astrodome was a multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
, designed for both football as well as baseball.
Besides its roof, the Astrodome was revolutionary for a number of other reasons. It was one of the first stadiums to have individual, theatre-type seats for every seat in the venue. Additionally, it was one of the first stadiums to have luxury seats and club seating, at the time a relatively new concept in sports venues. It also had an "exploding scoreboard", which would show various animations after a home run or a win, as well as messages and advertising.
Notable transactions
- January 31, 1965: Bob Watson was signed as an amateur free agent by the Astros.
Opening Day starters
- Bob AspromonteBob AspromonteRobert Thomas Aspromonte is a former utility player who had a 13 year career in 1956 and from 1960 to 1971. He played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Colt 45's/Astros, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets all of the National League.During his career, Aspromonte played first base, second...
- John Bateman
- Jim BeauchampJim BeauchampJames Edward Beauchamp was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who played from to for the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Colt .45s/Astros, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Mets. He attended Grove High School in Grove, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University...
- Walt BondWalt BondWalter Franklin Bond was an American professional baseball player who appeared in six Major League Baseball seasons between and for the Cleveland Indians, Houston Colt .45s/Astros and Minnesota Twins...
- Bob BruceBob BruceRobert James Bruce is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.Bruce was a mainstay of the expansion Houston Colt .45 starting rotation in that team's early seasons, tying Turk Farrell for the team lead in wins in the Colt .45's inaugural 1962 season, and becoming the first Houston...
- Joe GainesJoe GainesArnesta Joe Gaines is an American retired professional baseball outfielder. He spent all or parts of seven seasons in Major League Baseball as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles and Houston Colt .45s/Astros...
- Bob LillisBob LillisRobert Perry Lillis is a retired American infielder, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball...
- Joe MorganJoe MorganJoe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
- Jimmy WynnJimmy WynnJames Sherman Wynn , nicknamed the "Toy Cannon," is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. During a 15-year baseball career, he played from 1963-1977 for five different teams: the Houston Colt .45s/Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Milwaukee Brewers...
Notable transactions
- April 24, 1965: Don LarsenDon LarsenDonald James Larsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953-67 for seven different teams. Larsen is best known for pitching the sixth perfect game in baseball history, doing so in game 5 of the 1956 World Series...
was traded by the Astros to the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
for Bob SaverineBob SaverineRobert Paul Saverine is a former Major League Baseball infielder/outfielder. He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent before the 1959 season and played for the Orioles and the Washington Senators...
and cash. - May 23, 1965: Ken JohnsonKen Johnson (right-handed pitcher)Kenneth Travis Johnson is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who became the first and so far only pitcher to lose a complete game nine-inning no-hitter.-No-hit game:...
and Jim BeauchampJim BeauchampJames Edward Beauchamp was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who played from to for the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Colt .45s/Astros, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Mets. He attended Grove High School in Grove, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University...
were traded by the Astros to the Milwaukee BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Lee MayeLee MayeArthur Lee Maye was a Major League Baseball player. He played eleven seasons in the majors as an outfielder for the Milwaukee Braves , Houston Astros , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , and Chicago White Sox .Maye was also well known as a Rhythm & Blues singer...
. - June 14, 1965: Gus TriandosGus TriandosGus Triandos is a Greek-American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball mostly as a catcher but also played as a first baseman for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and the Detroit Tigers of the American League and the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros...
was purchased by the Astros from the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. - July 10, 1965: Frank Thomas was purchased by the Astros from the Philadelphia Phillies.
- August 20, 1965: Gus Triandos was released by the Astros.
- September 1, 1965: Frank Thomas was traded by the Astros to the Milwaukee Braves for a player to be named later. The Braves completed the deal by sending Mickey Sinnerud (minors) to the Astros on September 11.
Roster
| 1965 Houston Astros | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen basesPositional abbreviations: C = Catcher; 1B = First base; 2B = Second base; 3B = Third base; SS = Shortstop; LF = Left field; CF = Center field; RF = Right field
| Pos | Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | Avg. | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 117 | 391 | 27 | 92 | 6 | 3 | .235 | 2 | 37 | 10 | |
| 1B | 117 | 407 | 46 | 107 | 17 | 2 | .263 | 7 | 47 | 2 | |
| 2B | 157 | 601 | 100 | 163 | 22 | 12 | .271 | 14 | 40 | 20 | |
| 3B | 152 | 578 | 53 | 152 | 15 | 2 | .263 | 5 | 52 | 2 | |
| SS | 124 | 408 | 34 | 90 | 12 | 1 | .221 | 1 | 38 | 2 | |
| LF | 108 | 415 | 38 | 104 | 17 | 7 | .251 | 3 | 36 | 1 | |
| CF | 157 | 564 | 90 | 155 | 30 | 7 | .275 | 22 | 73 | 43 | |
| RF | 131 | 410 | 43 | 105 | 20 | 1 | .256 | 14 | 63 | 3 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases| Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | Avg. | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 229 | 21 | 52 | 8 | 1 | .227 | 6 | 31 | 4 | |
| 81 | 227 | 22 | 55 | 11 | 1 | .242 | 7 | 31 | 0 | |
| 45 | 142 | 15 | 28 | 3 | 1 | .197 | 7 | 14 | 4 | |
| 23 | 58 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .172 | 3 | 9 | 0 | |
| 15 | 45 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 0 | .200 | 1 | 9 | 0 | |
| 21 | 41 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 0 | .268 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 11 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | .200 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .333 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts| Player | G | GS | IP | W | L | ERA | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 34 | 229.2 | 9 | 18 | 3.72 | 107 | 95 | 38 | 145 | |
| 33 | 29 | 208.1 | 11 | 11 | 3.50 | 94 | 81 | 35 | 122 | |
| 29 | 25 | 158 | 4 | 15 | 4.67 | 99 | 82 | 55 | 77 | |
| 26 | 19 | 146.2 | 7 | 8 | 3.50 | 69 | 57 | 37 | 109 | |
| 10 | 10 | 76 | 5 | 2 | 1.89 | 22 | 16 | 10 | 34 | |
| 8 | 8 | 51.2 | 3 | 2 | 4.18 | 25 | 24 | 11 | 28 | |
| 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts| Player | G | GS | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 13 | 131.1 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 4.32 | 67 | 63 | 46 | 92 | |
| 33 | 7 | 96.1 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 2.90 | 35 | 31 | 16 | 79 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 71.1 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 3.28 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 53 | |
| 32 | 57.2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6.40 | 42 | 41 | 16 | 37 | |
| 25 | 56 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3.54 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 46 | |
| 26 | 47 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4.79 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 35 | |
| 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.38 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Awards and honors
All-Star Game1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 36th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 13, 1965 at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota...
- Turk FarrellTurk FarrellRichard Joseph "Turk" Farrell was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a 14-year career from 1956 to 1969...