![Before the Astrodome was built in 1965, the Houston team played at Colt Stadium, seen in the background.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Astrodomain-1969.large-thumbnail.jpg)
Houston’s Role in the Initiation of Sunday Night Baseball
Colt Stadium, back, was Houston’s fiery first MLB home from…
![Instead of using shovels, Judge Roy Hofheinz and other officials fire six-shooters at the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Astrodome on January 3, 1962.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Groundbreaking-Astrodome-495x400.png)
Movies, Bullfights, and Baseball, Too: Astrodome Built for Spectacle First and Sports Second
Instead of using shovels, Judge Roy Hofheinz and other officials…
![Astros' wives prepare to play their husbands at the Astrodome in 1974.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Astros-better-halves-495x400.png)
The Houston Astros and Wooing Women Fans
The “Astros Better Halves” prepare to play their husbands…
![](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Boren-Table1-2014-TNP-495x306.jpg)
The Colt .45s and the 1961 Expansion Draft
On October 10, 1961, the National League held the expansion draft…
Dick “Turk” Farrell: Houston’s First All-Star
Pitcher Dick “Turk” Farrell was selected in 1962 to represent…
![This could be the rarest baseball card issued since World War II.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/BatemanJohn-1963-Pepsi-Cola-card.large-thumbnail.png)
The 1963 Pepsi Cola Colt .45s Baseball Card Set
This article investigates the 1963 Pepsi Cola Colt .45s Baseball…
Almost Three Games in One: Astros 1, Mets 0 on April 15, 1968
The Sporting News neatly summarized the April 15, 1968, game…
![The 1968 mid-summer classic was the first All-Star Game to be played at night.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Astrodome-1968-ASG.png)
The 1968 All-Star Game
In the early 1960s, each of the recent expansion cities played…
![In his major league debut on September 5, 1971, tied an MLB record with 15 strikeouts against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Richard4-Astros-495x400.jpg)
The Saga of J.R. Richard’s Debut: Blowing Away 15 Sticks at Candlestick
When Houston Astros right-handed flamethrower James Rodney Richard,…
![Future Hall of Famer was 67 years old when he took his last managing stint in the big leagues with the Houston Astros in 1972.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Durocher-Leo_McWilliams-action-160-NBL-387x400.jpg)
From the Gashouse to the Glasshouse: Leo Durocher and the 1972–73 Houston Astros
On July 23, 1972, Leo Durocher stepped down as manager of the…
![](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/research-collection4_350x300.jpg)
There Used to be a Big Dome
There used to be a big dome right here
Where the field was…
Don Wilson: Houston’s Fallen Star
Wow! Look at all those bright colors. The baseball field at…
Rainout in the Astrodome
A rainout in the Astrodome? How is that possible? It’s domed,…
![spent 11 seasons with the Houston Astros, hitting .252 in 965 games from 1979-89.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Ashby-throw-495x400.jpg)
Catching Rainbows and Calling Stars: Alan Ashby and the Houston Astros
Few individuals saw more Astros history that Alan Ashby. An…
![17-game winner shut out the Mets for the first eight innings.](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Knepper-Bob-495x400.png)
The Greatest Game Ever Played? October 15, 1986
Fans of the Houston Astros are a long-suffering lot. While…
![](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/102205-Biggio-introduction-WS-Game-1-Copy_0-495x400.jpg)
The Houston Astros Hall of Stats
The purpose of a Hall of Fame is to celebrate the greats and…
![](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Geisler-TNP2014-Table1-428x400.png)
Astrodome Proves to Be No Hitters Park
Long fences and “dead” indoor air gave Astrodome a reputation…
![](https://sabrweb.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/research-collection4_350x300.jpg)
Astrodome Attendance Below League Average
Despite the phenomenal engineering feat and the novelty of the…