Pardon my reminiscing: Of late there have been a number of comments complaing about McLane and the Astros lack of playoff success. I suspect that most of the complainers are well under 30. Those of you who have been following the Astros since the mid-80's are truly spoiled. In the past decade the Astros have one of the best records in the major leagues, which, unfortunately, hasn't equated itself to playoff victories. Granted, we all want the championship, but there can only be one team. While the Astros have never opened up the checkbook as much as other teams, their payroll continues to be in the middle of the pack. Let's put things in perspective. I have been following the Astros since their inception as the Colt .45's. One of my fondest memories as a six year old was going to Colt Stadium and sitting in an enclosed area and getting to eat all of the fried chickena and drink all of the red soda water I could handle. Truly a special moment (although my sister could care less). The Astros did not have a winning season until the 70s. Their first .500 season was 1969 when they finished 81-81. That year they started out 4-20 with their 20th loss being a no-hitter by Jim Maloney. The next night, the late Don Wilson threw a no-hitter and a magical season began. The Astros were actually in a pennant race in September. They faded down the stretch, but it was a glorious season. If you have never read the book, Ball Four, by Jim Bouton, I highly recommend it. You will gain a unique perspective on Astros baseball. The Astros had some success in the 70s but never won a title. Their first division championship was in 1980. It was a great playoff series with the Phillies, but Nolan Ryan and the bullpen could not hold a lead late in game 7. 1981 brought about another playoff apprearance due to the strike shortened season. The Astros and Dodgers played a best of 5 sereis to see who would represent the Western division. The Astros took a 2-0 series lead, but lost the final three games. Then came 1986. Another magical season. Due to an out of town commitment, I had to give up my 2 tickets to Mike Scott's pennant clinching no-hitter. Fortunantely we gave them to my mother-in-law and my wife's grandmother - Gahm. Gahm said that it was one of the most thrilling experiences of her life. We lost her not too long after that, so I always feel blessed that I was able to give up those tickets. Again, another depressing playoff loss occurred. That was pretty much it until the early 90's. Actually, the turning point, in my opinion, came in 1992. The Astros (not yet a good team) had to go on a long road trip due to the Republican National Convention taking up the Dome. Their trip was highly successful and seemed to be the start of their success the past 10 years. They have now made the playoffs 4 of the past 5 years, again, the lack of playoff success is heartbreaking but the overall triumphs far outweigh the losses. I just find it hard to empathize with the whiners and complainers. I followed this team for 18 years before they even got into the playoffs. I'd go to bed at night with my transistor radio under my pillow so I could listen to the game. To all of you whiners, if you want an owner who has unlimited money, follow the Yankees. If you want to follow a team that for the past TEN years, year in and year out has given the city of Houston some excitement and does it with generally a good group of guys that don't cause embarassment to the city, follow the Astros. If you read this long, beware, I may start my Oilers reminiscing next (Oh, that AFL championship game in 1962 against the Dallas Texans)....
Nice post..Thanks for sharing. I don't go back that far.My first memories are of going to the dome as a young kid and CRUUUUUUUUUUUZ across the old scoreboard...that was also magical to me ...I've been hooked on the Stros ever since..win or lose I wouldn't trade my team for any other.
Those are some great memories, bobrek. I myself am not at all an old timer. I don't have a full appreciation for what the Astros have done the past 10 years, but I am thankful for it. I can't remember the exact year, but I do remember that the first baseball game I ever attended was the Astros vs. the Reds. I did not have a very good working knowledge of the players at that time, so I can't even tell you who pitched for the Astros that day, but I do remember that Glen Wilson, in the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs and the Astros down 1, hit a 3 run walk off homer that had all the fans in the Astrodome on their feet screaming their heads off. That was a great moment, and one that probably started my love affair with Astros baseball.
I remember the Colt 45s. I remember the hubub when they changed the team name to Astros. I seem to remember going to an Astros-Reds game when Pete Rose was a rookie. I remember once he got a walked and "hustled" down to first base. A murmur arose in the stands around me about what a hot-dog the kid was...
Great post!! I agree entirely. I'm 27 years old...baseball was my favorite sport growing up...so I remember many Astro disappointments. This is clearly the greatest era in Astro history...that's why I'm not a McLane complainer!
Great post, bobrek. Always good to hear of memories. There's something incredibly special about baseball history, that isn't rivaled by any other sport in the US...
Great post bobrek. I'm only 27, so most of my Astros memories have been good ones. I don't remember much from '80 & '81 playoffs, otherr than crying after the 'Stros lost. I was there in '83 when Ryan broke Walter Johnson's strikeout mark (still have the souvenier ball they gave out), & in '84 when Dickie Thon, one of my favorite players, got beaned (I'll never forget watching him get carried off on a stretcher, & waving to the applauding crowd as he left the field), but '86 was the year I became a baseball fan for life. I got to see the All-Star game in the Dome & Scotty's no-hitter, which was definitely as exciting as your relatives said. Then there was Game 6, without a doubt the best baseball game I've ever seen, live or on TV. We were sitting in the Loge behind home plate, with an almost direct view down the 3rd base line, & the hush that came over the crowd for 1-2 seconds before Hatcher's blast hit the fair pole, & the ensuing jubilation, were amazing to witness in person.
I was actually in about the 4th row of the field boxes when Thon was hit. It was a horrible sound. As an aside, a female comic once said that "Dickie Thon" sounded like a fund raiser for horny women. We were at the Astros-Mets playoff series as well. There was a book written about game 6 called something like "The greatest game ever played". During game one 1 of the series, someone tried to steal my wife's firebird from the dome parking lot. The crack Astrodome security squad prevented the theft (although the steering column was busted). We wandered through the lot for about 30 minutes and could not find the car. To prevent a further theft attempt, the security folks had towed it up onto the grass.
Game 1 was awesome that year!! Actually every game was great that year. I remember sitting on the couch with my dad and jumping up and down when Davis hit that homer off Gooden. Scott was absolutely untouchable! Game 6 was just unreal. I have that book, bobrek. It's a great read...covers the whole series in depth, off the field and on the field. His point is that all those factors considered, it's the greatest game in the history of all sports. Pretty interesting read, particularly as an Astros' fan. I remember nearly crying seeing Bill Doran (my boyhood idol!) in the dugout after the game. What a rollercoaster ride of a game that was!! My father was at a game once in the Dome where a lady was hit hard by a foul ball...that was bad enough...the ushers (in their red coats!) started carrying her out...before they could get her out of the stadium, another foul ball hit her..while she was being helped out!!! I was at the game back in 94 when Bags hit 3 homers...2 in the same inning!!! I was at a Dodger/Astro game once with my dad that went 20 something innings...we left after 17 innings!! It was a Friday night in the middle of the summer, so no need to wake up early the next day! I remember going on the field for a pre-game clinic with Terry Puhl and some others when I was in Cub Scouts! The Astros rock!!! I love that team!!! My best Astro game ever though was last year on Opening Day...took my son to his first game ever and went with my father. Three generations enjoying Opening Day together!! Really just a great day!!!
Here you go Buck: http://www.astrosdaily.com/files/books/ The particular book is "The Greatest Game Ever Played". There are a number of other books of interest here as well. My advice is to start with Ball Four. A very funny book.
Thanks. I've read Ball Four; I've got the latest version where he talks about his daughter's death, very heartbreaking stuff.
Another book to check out is Leo Durocher's "Nice Guys Finish Last." Great book about Leo's life in baseball. He started in the Major Leagues as a rookie on the 1927 Yankees with Ruth and Gehrig, many experts call this the greatest team in baseball history. His baseball career ended in 1973 as manager of the Houston Astros. He had retired in 1969 after his Cub team collapsed and watched the Mets win the World Series. He was talked out of retirement by his good friend and Astros GM Spec Richardson. The thing that really sparked Leo's interest was a young player the Astros had that many people compared to Willie Mays. His name was Cesar Cedeno. Anyway, he talks about his time as manager of the Astros in the last 2 chapters of the book. Very good read.
Great posts, everyone! Slap those whiners down HARD! 1986 was a special year. I watched Game 1 while at "The Jalapeno Tree" on Nasa Rd 1, and saw every single pitch of game six from my couch. It was absolutely riveting baseball. I love baseball!
Ah, memories of dome baseball with the scoreboard. To be able to go back again and watch the scoreboard explode after an Astros homerun, which were rare back then. Pitching, speed, defense and those rainbow uniforms. Four out of five years in the playoffs isn't too shabby. It only takes one magical season for a team to become "clutch". This season could still be the big one for the Astros. Lots of games to play between now and October. 1980 NLCS. So close. If J.R. Richards hadn't suffered that stroke. Oh what might have been.
Great post, bobrek, and from all of you. I went to that 20-something inning game with my Dad, and we stayed to the very end. Didn't we win? My Mom almost freaked because we were out so late at a " ...baseball game??" We also went to those early Oiler games. Saw Blanda kick the first 50 yard fieldgoal in Pro history. Great memories! Colt Stadium was also famous for it's numerous and rabid mosquito's.
Yeah, we were at the 24 inning game in 1968 with my mom's uncles from Michigan. They really wanted to see the exploding scoreboard. Unfortunately we left after 22 innings. One of the reasons they now rake the field every 5 innings is due to that game. They only raked after the 5th inning. There was a bad hop grounder to Bud Harrelson in the 24th (I think Aspromonte hit it), that led to the Astros 1-0 victory. The Mets complained about the field conditions afterwards.
Remember the guys that used to rake the infield at the Dome? Those orange space suits with the helmets and everything? damn I feel old
The Judge was a real showman. Had all sorts of crazy ideas... some were great, like the scoreboard. The ground crew thing was nuts, and must have been uncomfortable as hell for them. But pretty funny! I feel old as well
Since I have been the greatest, and maybe only McLane Basher this last week, Ill take this a finger pointed in my whining face. I too have fond memories. I remember the Days of Enos Cabell. I may not be as long an Astros fan, but I went to my first game in 81. All I can recall of that game was that the Good guys lost to the Pad's in a battle of ugliest uniforms ever. My mom has a great picture of me in a tee shirt from that game. Flaming baseball with Astros in the middle. My very first sports memorabilia, came from waiting for my favorite player to come out and sign my glove. Which Jose Cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuzzz did for me. I slept with the glove for many nights, and didnt play a little league game for years without it. It was my power. Mike Bass was my second favorite player for a while. I remember the feeling of anger knowing Dickie Thon would never be the same. I remember laughing at Gary Carter b**** about Mike Scott's splitter in the 86 series (to me still the greatest playoff series ever.) Ive been through lots of mediocre years, a few 90 loss seasons. Working on 21 years of cheering for the Stro's. Every day I go into work explaining to my friend why the Stros will win more games than the Mets this year. Please, dont question my loyalty, or ease of loving a winning team. To me team comes waaaaaaaaay before the owner ever will. Ive never complained about the players in here. No Bagwell sucks in the playoffs, no Biggio is a choke artist. You want to win a championship? Look at the payrolls of the teams that have been there since early to mid 90's (winners and losers) Tell me what the common denominator is? Times have changed. You want to be a middle of the road payroll team, and still expect playoff success, ask all the other pretenders out there if its possible. My gripe with McLane was strickly his promise to spend the money once he got his toy-AFUS. Then as soon as it was built, turned and capped the team. In essence lying. There isnt one of you out there who wouldnt trade McLane for Georgie, or Ted Turner a few years ago. I know big payroll doesnt guarantee success in all cases (ack Rangers ack). But it doesnt hurt. Ask the future Astros orginization, the A's if its going to work, and Im sure they'll say yes. But whats happened to them the last 2 years. Baseball isnt like the other sports because it doesnt have a cap. And untill it gets one, big spenders are going to win, and thats that. I had no gripe with McLane till first year of Enron, and I read an article that claimed the Stros would be capped. To me, he lied to the people of Houston, and sucker punched the fans. Yeah, we had crappier owners in Houston, but that no excuse. Regardless of whos the owner, Ill always believe the Stros are the best team in baseball. Because they are my favorite team. Ive never not watched a game of theirs and believed they were going to lose (if you dont count the playoffs). I have and always will be their biggest fan. As a fan, I have the right to b**** about McLane If I want too. Did you ever complain about Derek Bell love to swing at anything, or Bob Kneppers inability to win a big game, or heck if your that old school Rusty Staubs blazing speed down the first base line? If not then you have the right to call someone a whiner or complainer. Obviously we are all Astro fans. A very rare breed if you dont live in the Houston Area. Keep labels to someone else. You cheer or jeer whoever you want. I wont call you any less an Astro fan. Especially if you decide to jeer a non player.
