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1966 – “13” is not an unlucky number when the Astros trip the Cubs, 4-3, in 13 innings. Jim Wynn singles home Joe Morgan for Houston’s 13th win of the season. Dick Farrell and Bill Faul, who both wear 13 on their backs, are the starters but it’s Frank Carpinwho gets the victory.

ByTom

1966 – “13” is not an unlucky number when the Astros trip the Cubs, 4-3, in 13 innings. Jim Wynn singles home Joe Morgan for Houston’s 13th win of the season. Dick Farrell and Bill Faul, who both wear 13 on their backs, are the starters but it’s Frank Carpinwho gets the victory.

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1966 – Joe Morgan homers and drives in three to pace the Astros past the Cubs, 10-2. Dave Giusti is the complete-game winner, assisted by three Chicago errors that provide five unearned runs. Sonny Jackson adds three hits and a stolen base.

ByTom

1966 – Joe Morgan homers and drives in three to pace the Astros past the Cubs, 10-2. Dave Giusti is the complete-game winner, assisted by three Chicago errors that provide five unearned runs. Sonny Jackson adds three hits and a stolen base.

A dropped third strike keys a 5-4 win over the Braves.
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A dropped third strike keys a 5-4 win over the Braves.

ByTom

1966 – A dropped third strike keys a 5-4 win over the Braves. Phil Niekro has Rusty Staub out on strikes but he is safe at first after Gene Oliver lets the pitch roll away in the ninth inning. John Bateman eventually singles Staub home with the game-winner. Lee Maye and Jim Gentile also homer for Houston.

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A tornado rips through the Astros’ spring training home in Cocoa, FL

ByThis Day in Baseball

1966 – A tornado rips through the Astros’ spring training home in Cocoa, FL. Three light towers are toppled, one crashing into the grandstand. The scoreboard has vanished. The batting cages are ruined. That day’s exhibition game with Kansas City is cancelled.

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1966 – Players with the Astros and Dodgers are flown from Florida to Houston to test the new artificial surface. Balls bounce too high in the infield and engineers add more sand under the rug to make it behave more like natural grass. 

ByTom

1966 – Players with the Astros and Dodgers are flown from Florida to Houston to test the new artificial surface. Balls bounce too high in the infield and engineers add more sand under the rug to make it behave more like natural grass. 

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The Astros deal outfielder Johnny Weekly and cash to the Mets for pitcher Gary Kroll. The righthander would see just ten games with Houston.

ByTom

The Astros deal outfielder Johnny Weekly and cash to the Mets for pitcher Gary Kroll. The righthander would see just ten games with Houston.

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Astros deal two pitchers and cash to the Chicago White Sox for catcher Bill Heath and outfielder Dave Nicholson

ByTom

1965 – Astros deal two pitchers and cash to the Chicago White Sox for catcher Bill Heath and outfielder Dave Nicholson. Heath would hit .301 with eight RBIs as a backup. Nicholson would bat .246 with ten homers in part-time duty. 

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 Joe Morgan receives four votes for National League Rookie of the Year, finishing a distant second to the Dodgers’ Jim Lefebvre. Morgan bats .271 with 14 homers and 20 steals in his first full season in Houston. 

ByTom

1965 – Joe Morgan receives four votes for National League Rookie of the Year, finishing a distant second to the Dodgers’ Jim Lefebvre. Morgan bats .271 with 14 homers and 20 steals in his first full season in Houston. 

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1965 – Joe Morgan receives the first vote of any Houston player for the National League MVP Award. But it is just one vote. Willie Mays of San Francisco gets the award over Dodgers Sandy Koufax and Maury Wills.

ByTom

1965 – Joe Morgan receives the first vote of any Houston player for the National League MVP Award. But it is just one vote. Willie Mays of San Francisco gets the award over Dodgers Sandy Koufax and Maury Wills.