That team was so well stocked that who to protect from the expansion draft was between Abreu and Hidalgo. L’Embarras des richesses.
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I think that photo was of the all-rookie starting line-up.
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I learned something today for the first time. I knew Murff pretty well and knew of the players he signed who played major roles with the ‘69 Mets: Koosman, Ryan, Boswell (I pitched against him in HS), and Grote.
I NEVER knew Murff scouted for the .45s, and I did not remember Grote’s ever being with Houston. Bateman I remember well. What I said yesterday about Grote was 100% wrong.
Learn something new every day.
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My top five:
- Joe Morgan
- Craig Biggio
- Jose Altuve
- Eric Yelding
- Adam Everett
I guess I have a bias towards middle infielders (though Biggio was still catcher when he became a favorite).
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Unless they had left Bell, and his contract, unprotected.
great info on here, awesome.
Mine:
- Jeff Bagwell
- Craig Biggio
- Roy Oswalt
- Jose Altuve
- Billy Doran
- Lance Berkman
- Alex Bregman
- Glenn Davis
- Bill Spiers
- Ken Caminiti
Sidenotes:
I loved Billy Doran and he was my favorite player when I first started following the team in the mid 80’s. At the time I remember being pissed off on annual basis when Sandberg would take BillyD’s Allstar roster spot…and then also annually steal his Gold Glove. Yes I was biased, but I really felt like Doran was every bit as good as Sandberg, especially when you consider one played at Wrigley and the other played in the cavernous Astordome.
Also, I had forgotten about Caminiti making his way back to the club for a couple years after the SD trade. He wasn’t the hitter in his early years with Houston (for reasons we know now) but I remember loving to watch him play defense at 3B (cannon arm).
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good list.
I was excited when Houston traded for Jim Gentile. No telling how many homers he would hit for the Astros! Alas, most of his majestic long, high drives died on the Astrodome warning track.
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Diamond JIm only hit 14 dingers in parts of two Houston seasons but his career was spiraling down by that point. He went to Cleveland after Houston and his production did not pick back up. In his career he averaged 31 dingers per season. Still living at age 88
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Back in the 70s when I was going to college in OKC, I ran into Jim Gentile managing the tire and auto repair department at a Super TG&Y store in Edmond. It was kind of eye opening. However, he was nice and engaging and seemed to be enjoying life. Guys didn’t make much money in MLB back in the 60s.
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I liked Mike Cuellar and Joe Pepitone. I never liked Curt Blefary. I have always felt Cuellar for Blefary is one of the worst trade the Astros ever made.
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agreed.
Top 10 by Teams by 3 Players (in bold) can only use once (earlier in Stros career the better)
1976 Stros - Cesar Cedeno, Joaquin Andujar, and J.R. Richard
1977 Stros - Luis Pujols, Bob Watson, and Jose Cruzzzz
1978 Stros - Rafeal Landestoy, Jeffrey Leonard, and Terry Puhl
1979 Stros - Craig Reynolds, Alan Ashby, and Frank LaCorte
1980 Stros - Nolan Ryan, Joe Morgan, and Gary Woods
1981 Stros - Dickie Thon, Dave Smith and Phil Garner
1982 Stros - Bill Doran, Kevin Bass, and Ray Knight
1983 Stros - Mike Scott, Jerry Mumphrey, and Omar Moreno
1984 Stros - Glenn Davis, Frank DiPino and Mark Bailey
1985 Stros - Charlie Kerfeld, Jim Deshais, and Eric Bullock
1986 Stros - Aurelio Lopez, Billy Hatcher, and Larry Andersen
1987 Stros - Ken Caminiti, Gerald Young, and Buddy Biancalana
1988 Stros - Craig Biggio, Casey Candaele, and Rafael Ramirez
1989 Stros - Mark Portugal, Eric Anthony, and Eric Yelding
1990 Stros - Luis Gonzales, Franklin Stubbs, and Glenn Wilson
1991 Stros - Jeff Bagwell, Kenny Lofton, and Daryl Kile
1992 Stros - Tony Eusebio, Shane Reynolds, and Steve Finley
1993 Stros - Doug Drabek, Todd Jones, and Pete Harnisch
1994 Stros - Mike Hampton, Greg Swindell, and Brian Hunter
1995 Stros - Donnie Wall, Ricky Gutierrez, and Derek Bell
1996 Stros - Billy Wagner, Billy Spiers, and Bobby Abreu
1997 Stros - Sean Berry, Jose Lima, and Richard Hildalgo
1998 Stros - Moises Alou, Brad Ausmus, and Randy Johnson
1999 Stros - Lance Berkman, Carl Everett and Daryl Ward
2000 Stros - Morgan Ensberg, Wade Miller, and Octavio Dotel
2001 Stros - Roy Oswalt, Jose Vizcaino, and Orlando Merced
2002 Stros - Geoff Blum, Carlos Hernandez, and Jason Lane
2003 Stros - Jeff Kent, Eric Brunlett, and Adam Everett
2004 Stros - Carlos Beltran, Chris Burke, and Brandon Backe
2005 Stros - Luke Scott, Wandy Rodriguez, and Charlton Jimerson
2006 Stros - Taylor Buchholtz, Chris Sampson, and Fernando Nieve
2007 Stros - Hunter Pence, Mark Loretta, and Carlos Lee
2008 Stros - Jose Cruz Jr, Michael Bourne, and Jose Valverde
2009 Stros - Bud Norris, Pudge Rodriguez, and Kaz Matsui
2010 Stros - Jason Castro, Brett Myers, and Mark Melancon
2011 Stros - Jose Altuve, JD Martinez, and Jordan Lyles
2012 Stros - Dallas Keuchel, Marwin Gonzalez, and Jed Lowrie
2013 Stros - Brad Peacock, Chris Carter, and Rick Ankiel
2014 Stros - George Springer, Jake Marisnik , and Collin McHugh
2015 Stros - Carlos Correa, Lance McCullers Jr, and Evan Gattis
2016 Stros - Alex Bregman, Yuli Gurriel, and Teoscar Hernandez
2017 Stros - Josh Reddick , Charlie Morton, and Chris Devenski
2018 Stros - Justin Verlander, Gerritt Cole, and Framber Valdez
2019 Stros - Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker and Michael Brantley
2020 Stros - Martin Maldonaldo, Bryan Abreu, and Christian Javier
2021 Stros - Zach Greinke, Luis Garcia, and Chas McCormick
2022 Stros - Jeremy Pena, Hunter Brown, and Hector Neris
These years do not align exactly so do not wrack your brain trying to reconfigure as it was more of an indulgent exercise to see which teams I liked the best based on the players I supported. The bolds make my top 10. Will order them later.
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Impressive exercise.
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See that you do, sir.
Didn’t even bother to order them .
Harumph.
Harumph I say.
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Excellent list, thanks…was really curious who were posters favorite players over the years. Love looking back at the names and memories.
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