1987 – Astros deal two minor leaguers to Atlanta for shortstop Rafael Ramirez and cash. Ramirez serves as a transition from the tandem of Reynolds and Thon while prospects mature in the minors.
1987 – Bill Wood is named General Manager. He had been the interim GM for two months and gets the official word right before baseball’s winter meetings begin.
1987 – Houston Oilers owner Bud Adams announces his NFL team will not leave Houston for Jacksonville, after agreements are made to increase seating capacity and add luxury suites to the Astrodome. This sets the wheels in motion that would change the appearance of the Dome, removing the giant centerfield scoreboard and Judge Hofheinz’ now-vacant right field apartment.
1987 – In one of his final acts as General Manager, Dick Wagner decides to exercise a contract option on Nolan Ryan. It was a strange year for the Express, leading the league in strikeouts and ERA but suffering an 8-16 record. The Astros could have either paid the 40-year-old righthander an estimated $1.3 million or released him to free agency.
1987 – Gerald Young notches four hits and swipes four bases to lead Houston over the Dodgers, 8-1. Kevin Bass also has a four-hit night with a home run and four RBIs. Nolan Ryan registers nine whiffs in a little over six innings for the victory.
1987 – Glenn Davis smashes three home runs and drives in five but the Astros fall to San Diego, 8-7. Alan Ashby also homers and hits a sacrifice fly in the ninth to tie it but Rob Nelson’s pinch-hit single in the bottom of the frame settles the issue.
1987 – Nolan Ryan and Juan Agosto combine on a two-hitter for a 2-0 whitewash of the Pirates. Ryan notches his 210th strikeout of the season, most ever by a pitcher aged 40 or older. A two-run single by Bill Doran plates the only runs.
1987 – Billy Hatcher smacks four hits and swipes two bases to pace an 11-2 triumph over Atlanta. Hatcher goes deep off Joe Boever in the eighth to cap his night. Bill Doran adds three hits. Mike Scott strikes out ten over eight innings for the win.
1987 – In his first major-league game, Ken Caminiti homers and triples, scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth for a 2-1 triumph over Philadelphia. Another rookie, Gerald Young, singles off Mike Jackson with the bases loaded to send the fans home happy. Danny Darwin goes the distance on a four-hitter.
1987 – Glenn Davis belts a three-run homer with two out in the ninth to stun the Phillies, 7-6. It comes off Steve Bedrosian who had just set a record by converting 13 consecutive save appearances. Davey Lopes also homers. Dave Smith saves it for Larry Andersen.
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