1964 Houston Colt .45s season
Encyclopedia
The Houston Colt .45s
season was the team's third season in Major League Baseball
. It involved the Houston Colt .45s finishing in ninth place in the National League
with a record of 66-96, 27 games behind the eventual World Series
champion St. Louis Cardinals
. It was their final season for the team at Colt Stadium
before relocating their games to the Astrodome
in 1965
, along with the accompanying name change to the "Astros
" for the '65 season.
, Astros pitcher Jim Umbricht
died of cancer. Umbricht had come back from cancer in to pitch in 35 games, but it returned during the offseason. His uniform number 32 would be retired by the Astros the following season
.
Ken Johnson
became the first pitcher in major league history to lose a complete game
no-hitter
in nine inning
s when he was beaten 1-0 by the Cincinnati Reds
. Cincinnati's Pete Rose
scored the only run
of the game in the ninth inning, when he reached second base on an error
and later scored.
Positional abbreviations: C = Catcher; 1B = First base; 2B = Second base; 3B = Third base; SS = Shortstop; LF = Left field; CF = Center field; RF = Right field
Statesville affiliation shared with Boston Red Sox
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 team's third season in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. It involved the Houston Colt .45s 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 66-96, 27 games behind the eventual World Series
1964 World Series
The 1964 World Series pitted the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals against the American League champion New York Yankees, with the Cardinals prevailing in seven games. St...
champion St. Louis Cardinals
1964 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 83rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 73rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 93-69 during the season and finished first in the National League, edging the co-runner-ups Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies by one game each on...
. It was their final season for the team at Colt Stadium
Colt Stadium
Colt Stadium was a Major League baseball stadium that formerly stood in Houston, Texas. It was the home of the Houston Colt .45s. It was their temporary home from 1962-1964 while the Astrodome was being built, just to the south of it. The stadium consisted of an uncovered grandstand stretching from...
before relocating their games to the Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas, USA. The stadium is part of the Reliant Park complex...
in 1965
1965 Houston Astros season
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...
, along with the accompanying name change to the "Astros
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...
" for the '65 season.
Offseason
On April 8, just a few days before Opening DayOpening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
, Astros pitcher Jim Umbricht
Jim Umbricht
James Umbricht was an American Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended the University of Georgia. He pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Colt .45s . During his 5-year baseball career, Umbricht compiled 9 wins, 133 strikeouts,...
died of cancer. Umbricht had come back from cancer in to pitch in 35 games, but it returned during the offseason. His uniform number 32 would be retired by the Astros the following season
1965 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over Minnesota Twins ; Sandy Koufax, MVP*All-Star Game, July 13 at Metropolitan Stadium: National League, 6-5; Juan Marichal, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Arizona State...
.
Notable transactions
- October 10, 1963: Claude RaymondClaude Raymond (baseball)Jean Claude Marc Raymond was a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox , Milwaukee Braves/Atlanta Braves , Houston Colt .45's/Houston Astros and Montreal Expos...
was drafted by the Colt .45s from 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....
in a 1963 special draft.
Regular season
On April 23, Houston pitcherPitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Ken Johnson
Ken 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:...
became the first pitcher in major league history to lose a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in nine inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
s when he was beaten 1-0 by the Cincinnati Reds
1964 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds finishing in a tie for second place in the National League with the Philadelphia Phillies. Both teams finished at 92-70, one game behind the NL and World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals...
. Cincinnati's Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
scored the only run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
of the game in the ninth inning, when he reached second base on an error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
and later scored.
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...
- Nellie FoxNellie FoxJacob Nelson Fox was a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Chicago White Sox. Fox was born in St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania. He was selected as the MVP of the American League in...
- Eddie KaskoEddie KaskoEdward Michael Kasko is a former infielder, manager, scout and front office executive in American Major League Baseball....
- Jim OwensJim Owens (baseball)James Philip Owens , nicknamed "Bear," is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from to with the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros. He was 5'11" tall and he weighed 190 pounds.Originally signed by the Phillies in , he played in the minors until...
- Pete RunnelsPete RunnelsJames Edward "Pete" Runnels was a Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Washington Senators , Boston Red Sox and Houston Colt .45s . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed....
- Johnny WeeklyJohnny WeeklyJohnny Weekly was a Major League Baseball player. Weekly played for the Houston Colt .45s from to . He batted and threw right-handed.He was born in Waterproof, Louisiana and died in Walnut Creek, California....
- 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
- May 26, 1964: Walt WilliamsWalt Williams (baseball)Walter Allen Williams is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for the Houston Colt .45s , Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , and the New York Yankees .-Early life:Williams was nicknamed No-Neck due to his relatively short stature...
was selected off waivers from the Colt .45s by the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
Roster
| 1964 Houston Colt .45s | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders | 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 | 100 | 298 | 26 | 54 | 9 | 3 | .181 | 3 | 24 | 0 | |
| 1B | 148 | 543 | 63 | 138 | 16 | 7 | .254 | 20 | 85 | 2 | |
| 2B | 133 | 442 | 45 | 117 | 12 | 6 | .265 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| 3B | 157 | 553 | 51 | 155 | 20 | 3 | .280 | 12 | 28 | 6 | |
| SS | 133 | 448 | 45 | 109 | 16 | 1 | .243 | 0 | 22 | 4 | |
| LF | 135 | 449 | 51 | 110 | 18 | 5 | .245 | 4 | 38 | 7 | |
| CF | 89 | 280 | 30 | 76 | 11 | 3 | .271 | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| RF | 89 | 307 | 37 | 78 | 9 | 7 | .254 | 7 | 34 | 8 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74 | 221 | 18 | 42 | 8 | 0 | .190 | 5 | 19 | 0 | |
| 61 | 125 | 9 | 23 | 4 | 1 | .184 | 1 | 7 | 0 | |
| 6 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .067 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
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 | 35 | 218 | 11 | 16 | 3.63 | 100 | 88 | 44 | 117 | |
| 35 | 29 | 202.1 | 15 | 9 | 2.76 | 73 | 70 | 62 | 135 | |
| 32 | 27 | 198.1 | 11 | 10 | 3.27 | 80 | 72 | 52 | 117 | |
| 28 | 24 | 157 | 6 | 11 | 3.90 | 76 | 68 | 37 | 90 | |
| 27 | 21 | 132 | 3 | 15 | 3.95 | 68 | 58 | 26 | 53 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 11 | 118 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 3.28 | 48 | 43 | 32 | 88 | |
| 3 | 1 | 2.1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19.29 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | 78.1 | 2 | 9 | 23 | 2.76 | 32 | 24 | 32 | 58 | |
| 38 | 79.2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2.82 | 28 | 25 | 22 | 56 | |
| 34 | 50 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4.14 | 24 | 23 | 14 | 28 | |
| 7 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.00 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 14 | |
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: San AntonioStatesville affiliation shared with Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...