1979 Houston Astros season
Encyclopedia
The 1979 Houston Astros
season was a season in American baseball. The team finished second in the National League West
, 1½ games behind the first-place Cincinnati Reds
. The 1979 Astros were the last National League
franchise in the 20th century to hit more triple
s than home run
s. The club had 52 triples compared to 42 home runs.
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 a season in American baseball. The team finished second in the National League West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
, 1½ games behind the first-place Cincinnati Reds
1979 Cincinnati Reds season
The 1979 Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds winning the National League West under their first-year manager John McNamara, with a record of 90-71, 1½ games better than the Houston Astros. However, the Reds lost the National League Championship Series to the eventual World Series champion...
. The 1979 Astros were the last 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...
franchise in the 20th century to hit more triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
s than home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s. The club had 52 triples compared to 42 home runs.
Offseason
- December 8, 1978: Floyd BannisterFloyd BannisterFloyd Franklin Bannister is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched for the Houston Astros , Seattle Mariners , Chicago White Sox , Kansas City Royals , California Angels , and the Texas Rangers .-History:In 1973, as a high school...
was traded by the Astros to the Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
for Craig Reynolds.
Notable transactions
- April 27, 1979: The Astros traded a player to be named later to the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
for George ThroopGeorge Throop (baseball)George Lynford Throop is a former professional baseball pitcher. Throop pitched in parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball between and ....
. The Astros completed the deal by sending Keith Drumright to the Royals on October 26. - June 13, 1979: Bob Watson was traded by the Astros to the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe 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"...
for Pete LaddPete LaddPeter Linwood Ladd is a former professional baseball pitcher. Ladd pitched in all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball between and . Mainly used as a relief pitcher, Ladd started just one game out of 205 total games pitched...
, a player to be named later, and cash. The Red Sox completed the deal by sending Bobby SprowlBobby SprowlRobert John Sprowl is a retired professional baseball player who was a pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1978 to 1981. He played for the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros....
to the Astros on June 19.
Draft picks
- June 5, 1979: 1979 Major League Baseball Draft1979 Major League Baseball DraftThe 1979 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 5-7, 1979, via conference call.-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1979 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :...
- Bill Doran was drafted by the Astros in the 6th round.
- Mark RossMark RossMark Joseph Ross is a former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of six seasons in Major League Baseball between 1982 until 1990....
was drafted by the Astros in the 7th round. - Lemmie MillerLemmie MillerLemmie Earl Miller is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He appeared in eight games for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 1984 baseball season. Miller later moved to the Rockford, Illinois area and was head coach of the Kishwaukee College men's baseball team.-External links:...
was drafted by the Astros in the 1st round (20th pick) of the secondary phase, but did not sign.
Roster
| 1979 Houston Astros | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 108 | 336 | 68 | .202 | 2 | 35 | |
| 1B | 132 | 470 | 123 | .262 | 6 | 54 | |
| SS | 146 | 555 | 147 | .265 | 0 | 39 | |
| LF | 157 | 558 | 161 | .289 | 9 | 72 | |
| CF | 157 | 600 | 172 | .287 | 8 | 49 | |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | 181 | 45 | .249 | 0 | 10 | |
| 49 | 163 | 39 | .239 | 3 | 18 | |
| 82 | 147 | 48 | .327 | 3 | 31 | |
| 42 | 43 | 11 | .256 | 0 | 10 | |
| 14 | 14 | 2 | .143 | 0 | 2 | |
| 7 | 6 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | 6 | 4 | .667 | 0 | 2 |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 292.1 | 18 | 13 | 2.71 | 313 | |
| 26 | 177.2 | 11 | 6 | 3.04 | 58 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 194 | 12 | 12 | 3.43 | 77 | |
| 12 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 5.00 | 24 | |
| 11 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 4.09 | 20 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1.69 | 13 | |
| 19 | 25.2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6.66 | 9 | |
| 14 | 22.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.22 | 15 | |
| 12 | 16.1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5.51 | 12 | |
| 10 | 12.1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.92 | 6 | |
| 6 | 7.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12.27 | 6 | |
| 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 3 | |