The owner of a Houston sports bar begins a campaign to raise $70,000 for Astros slugger Glenn Davis. That’s what separates the Astros and Davis on a one-year contract, according to his agent Gerry Hunsicker. The two sides would eventually agree to meet roughly halfway. Davis is humbled by the public’s show of support but declines taking their money.

ByTom

1987 – The owner of a Houston sports bar begins a campaign to raise $70,000 for Astros slugger Glenn Davis. That’s what separates the Astros and Davis on a one-year contract, according to his agent Gerry Hunsicker. The two sides would eventually agree to meet roughly halfway. Davis is humbled by the public’s show of support but declines taking their money.

|

Astros announce the firing of Gene Elston, play-by-play voice of the ballclub since 1962

ByTom

1986 – Astros announce the firing of Gene Elston, play-by-play voice of the ballclub since 1962. Outcry from fans and the Houston media are swift but Elston moves on to do work for CBS Radio and write books. 20 years later, he receives the Ford C. Frick Award by the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

|

1986 – Mike Scott wins the N.L. Cy Young Award. Scott wins 18 games and leads the league in ERA (2.22) and strikeouts (306). Fernando Valenzuela of Los Angeles finishes second with the other nine of the 24 first-place votes.

ByTom

1986 – Mike Scott wins the N.L. Cy Young Award. Scott wins 18 games and leads the league in ERA (2.22) and strikeouts (306). Fernando Valenzuela of Los Angeles finishes second with the other nine of the 24 first-place votes.

|

Hal Lanier is named National League Manager of the Year in his rookie season which saw the Astros the surprise winners of the Western Division. New York Mets skipper Davey Johnson finishes second.

ByTom

1986 – Hal Lanier is named National League Manager of the Year in his rookie season which saw the Astros the surprise winners of the Western Division. New York Mets skipper Davey Johnson finishes second.

|

1986 – Mike Scott tames the Mets again with a 3-1 triumph to even the N.L.C.S. at 2-2. Alan Ashby and Dickie Thon swat home runs to account for all of Houston’s runs . While not as sharp as his Game One win, Scott continues to master New York with a complete-game three-hit, five-strikeout victory 

ByTom

1986 – Mike Scott tames the Mets again with a 3-1 triumph to even the N.L.C.S. at 2-2. Alan Ashby and Dickie Thon swat home runs to account for all of Houston’s runs . While not as sharp as his Game One win, Scott continues to master New York with a complete-game three-hit, five-strikeout victory 

|

Len Dykstra homers off Dave Smith in the bottom of the ninth to give the Mets a 6-5 decision over the Astros

ByThis Day in Baseball

1986 – Len Dykstra homers off Dave Smith in the bottom of the ninth to give the Mets a 6-5 decision over the Astros in New York. The Mets lead the best-of-seven N.L.C.S., 2-1. Houston had an early 4-0 advantage, keyed by a Bill Doran homer , but New York ties it with a three-run blast from Darryl Strawberry. 

|

Mike Scott outduels Dwight Gooden for a 1-0 victory at the Astrodome in Game One of the N.L.C.S.

ByTom

1986 – Mike Scott outduels Dwight Gooden for a 1-0 victory at the Astrodome in Game One of the N.L.C.S. Scott fans 14 Mets on his way to a complete game shutout. Glenn Davis supplies all the offense with a second-inning home run . New York complains about Scott scuffing the ball but the umpires find nothing wrong. The next day, the Mets even the series with a 5-1 decision as Bob Ojeda outduels Nolan Ryan. 

|

1986 – Mike Scott strikes out eight batters in a 2-1 victory over the Giants, finishing the season with 306 strikeouts. His bid for a second consecutive no-hitter is broken up with a leadoff double in the seventh by Will Clark. Houston rallies with a run in the ninth then a solo homer by Bill Doran for the game-winner. 

ByTom

1986 – Mike Scott strikes out eight batters in a 2-1 victory over the Giants, finishing the season with 306 strikeouts. His bid for a second consecutive no-hitter is broken up with a leadoff double in the seventh by Will Clark. Houston rallies with a run in the ninth then a solo homer by Bill Doran for the game-winner. 

|

1986 – Nolan Ryan follows Jim Deshaies’ previous two-hitter with six innings of no-hit ball against the Giants before Mike Aldrete singles to break up the bid. Charley Kerfeld surrenders a hit in the ninth as the pair combine for a two-hit, 6-0 whitewash that clinches a tie for the N.L. West pennant. Glenn Davis belts his 30th home run of the season, the first Astro to hit that many since Jim Wynn in 1969. 

ByTom

1986 – Nolan Ryan follows Jim Deshaies’ previous two-hitter with six innings of no-hit ball against the Giants before Mike Aldrete singles to break up the bid. Charley Kerfeld surrenders a hit in the ninth as the pair combine for a two-hit, 6-0 whitewash that clinches a tie for the N.L. West pennant. Glenn Davis belts his 30th home run of the season, the first Astro to hit that many since Jim Wynn in 1969. 

|

1986 – Billy Hatcher’s two-run single is the game-winner as the Astros stun the Padres, 5-3, with three runs in the ninth. Terry Puhl draws a bases-loaded walk off Goose Gossage to tie it. Dave Smith becomes the first Astro to reach 30 saves. 

ByTom

1986 – Billy Hatcher’s two-run single is the game-winner as the Astros stun the Padres, 5-3, with three runs in the ninth. Terry Puhl draws a bases-loaded walk off Goose Gossage to tie it. Dave Smith becomes the first Astro to reach 30 saves.