|

2005 – The burnt orange Hummer owned by Koby Clemens’ father is stolen from the Memorial High School parking lot. It is recovered later in a southwest Houston apartment complex, apparently unharmed. The Hummer was a gift from the New York Yankees to celebrate father Roger’s 300th major league win. The elder Clemens returns from the Astros’ spring training camp to aid in the investigation. Koby is later drafted and signed by the Astros as an infielder. 

ByTom

2005 – The burnt orange Hummer owned by Koby Clemens’ father is stolen from the Memorial High School parking lot. It is recovered later in a southwest Houston apartment complex, apparently unharmed. The Hummer was a gift from the New York Yankees to celebrate father Roger’s 300th major league win. The elder Clemens returns from the Astros’ spring training camp to aid in the investigation. Koby is later drafted and signed by the Astros as an infielder. 

|

Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio receive induction into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame

ByTom

2005 – Sometimes they seem like Siamese twins even though Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio are not. The two infielders receive induction into the Hall of Fame – the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco, that is. Soon to be Astro teammates for 15 years straight, the pair are closing careers they hope will land them in a bigger hall – the one in Cooperstown, NY. 

|

2005 – After signing 30-something veterans Turk Wendell and Dave Burba to spring contracts, the Astros really get “old school”, inking 44-year-old lefthander John Franco to a one-year $700,000 deal. The 21-year veteran comes to Houston in second place all-time for career saves (424) and appearances (1,088) but is released with a 0-1 record after 31 games. 

ByTom

2005 – After signing 30-something veterans Turk Wendell and Dave Burba to spring contracts, the Astros really get “old school”, inking 44-year-old lefthander John Franco to a one-year $700,000 deal. The 21-year veteran comes to Houston in second place all-time for career saves (424) and appearances (1,088) but is released with a 0-1 record after 31 games. 

| |

Hopes of retaining free agent center fielder Carlos Beltran are dashed when the deadline to re-sign him expires. Beltran had rejected a reported seven-year $105 million dollar offer, the richest in club history, before signing with the New York Mets a few days later. 

ByTom

Hopes of retaining free agent center fielder Carlos Beltran are dashed when the deadline to re-sign him expires. Beltran had rejected a reported seven-year $105 million dollar offer, the richest in club history, before signing with the New York Mets a few days later. 

|

2004 – Off-seasons can be hazardous to your health, part two. Lance Berkman tears the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing flag football at a church outing. He misses the first six weeks of the 2005 season but rebounds with 24 homers and 82 RBIs to anchor the Astros lineup. 

ByTom

2004 – Off-seasons can be hazardous to your health, part two. Lance Berkman tears the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing flag football at a church outing. He misses the first six weeks of the 2005 season but rebounds with 24 homers and 82 RBIs to anchor the Astros lineup. 

|

2004 – Gerry Hunsicker resigns as General Manager after nine seasons. Assistant GM Tim Purpura is promoted to replace him. Hunsicker oversaw five teams that reached the National League playoffs. Purpura’s first priority will be attempting to re-sign free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran who starred in the postseason. 

ByTom

2004 – Gerry Hunsicker resigns as General Manager after nine seasons. Assistant GM Tim Purpura is promoted to replace him. Hunsicker oversaw five teams that reached the National League playoffs. Purpura’s first priority will be attempting to re-sign free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran who starred in the postseason. 

|

2004 – Houston agrees to pick up the contract option on outfielder Craig Biggio, assuring him an 18th season in an Astros uniform. Biggio owns franchise records in several categories and is coming off a season where he hits .281 with 24 home runs. 

ByTom

2004 – Houston agrees to pick up the contract option on outfielder Craig Biggio, assuring him an 18th season in an Astros uniform. Biggio owns franchise records in several categories and is coming off a season where he hits .281 with 24 home runs. 

|

In a classic postseason pitching duel, Houston’s Brandon Backe and St. Louis’ Woody Williams trade one-hit performances over the first seven innings. Backe keeps his no-hit bid until a two-out single by Tony Womack in the sixth and allows just that for eight innings. In the bottom of the ninth, Jeff Kent belts a mammoth three-run homer off Jason Isringhausen to send the crowd into delirium, a 3-0 triumph in Game Five and a 3-2 lead in the N.L.C.S., needing just one win in Missouri to reach the World Series. 

ByTom

2004 – In a classic postseason pitching duel, Houston’s Brandon Backe and St. Louis’ Woody Williams trade one-hit performances over the first seven innings. Backe keeps his no-hit bid until a two-out single by Tony Womack in the sixth and allows just that for eight innings. In the bottom of the ninth, Jeff Kent belts a mammoth three-run homer off Jason Isringhausen to send the crowd into delirium, a 3-0 triumph in Game Five and a 3-2 lead in the N.L.C.S., needing just one win in Missouri to reach the World Series. 

|

2004 – Carlos Beltran homers off Julian Tavarez in the seventh to give the Astros a 6-5 triumph in Game Four of the N.L.C.S., evening the series at 2-2 . It is Beltran’s seventh straight postseason game with a home run, setting a new record. It’s also his eighth in this postseason to tie him with Barry Bonds for that mark. Houston tied it the inning before on a solo shot by Lance Berkman and a run-scoring single by Raul Chavez. Dan Wheeler and Brad Lidge silence the Redbirds after Roy Oswalt pitched the first six innings. 

ByTom

2004 – Carlos Beltran homers off Julian Tavarez in the seventh to give the Astros a 6-5 triumph in Game Four of the N.L.C.S., evening the series at 2-2 . It is Beltran’s seventh straight postseason game with a home run, setting a new record. It’s also his eighth in this postseason to tie him with Barry Bonds for that mark. Houston tied it the inning before on a solo shot by Lance Berkman and a run-scoring single by Raul Chavez. Dan Wheeler and Brad Lidge silence the Redbirds after Roy Oswalt pitched the first six innings.