1965 – Astros deal catcher Jerry Grote to the New York Mets for pitcher Tom Parsons and cash. Although batting just .182 with the Colt .45s, the San Antonio native goes on to several All-Star seasons in New York while Parsons never catches on in Houston.
1965 – A liner by pitcher Robin Roberts falls between outfielders Curt Flood and Mike Shannon. The two collide and infielder Dal Maxvill has to run down the ball. Roberts gets a two-run double out of it which keys a 4-2 triumph over St. Louis. It’s the 281st career win for the future Hall-of-Famer. The Astros would finish the year with a 65-97 record and draw over two million fans in their first year at the Dome.
1965 – Frank Thomas drills two home runs and drives in five during a doubleheader sweep of the Mets, 4-3 and 3-2. He is then traded to Milwaukee for a minor leaguer. Thomas accounts for all four runs in the opener while Robin Roberts wins his fourth game of the month. Bob Bruce spins a four-hitter in the nightcap while Rusty Staub goes deep. But all of Gotham buzzes instead about the sudden retirement of 75-year-old Met skipper Casey Stengel.
1965 – Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente demonstrates his greatness with one of the defensive gems of the century. The Pirates misjudge a bunt from Bob Lillis that rolls casually into shallow left. Clemente dashes in from right field to grab it and throw out Walt Bondat third. His hustle is rewarded when the Bucs rally to overcome Houston, 10-9, in eleven innings.
1965 – The rift between owners Roy Hofheinz and R.E. “Bob” Smith reaches its climax when Hofheinz buys out Smith’s remaining shares of the Houston Sports Association. Smith dared the Judge to do it, thinking he couldn’t come up with the funds but Hofheinz put the money together, breaking Smith’s heart. On the field, the road-weary Astros lose in St. Louis, 9-4.
1965 – The Braves smuggle their own fireworks from Milwaukee through Los Angeles and San Francisco just so they could challenge the Home Run Spectacular at the Astrodome. They get their chance when Joe Torre takes Larry Dierker deep, tossing firecrackers onto the field and lighting sparklers in the dugout. Houston fans applaud the gesture. Milwaukee wins, 7-1.
1965 – Bob Bruce outduels Bob Gibson as Houston blanks the Cardinals, 2-0. Bruce allows six hits. Gibson surrenders only four but one of them is a two-run double by Bob Lillis for the game’s only tallies.
1965 – Joe Morgan stays hot, clubbing two home runs to lead a 10-1 thumping of the Mets in a 19-hit attack. Dick Farrell cruises through a five-hitter and is named to represent Houston at the All-Star Game for the fourth time.
1965 – The Astros pass the one million mark in attendance for the first time during a 6-2 victory over the Mets. A two-run triple by Joe Morgan highlights the scoring. Larry Dierker outpitches Hall-of-Famer Warren Spahn who is a quarter-century older than the 18-year-old righthander.
1965 – After 140 relief appearances, Claude Raymond makes his first big league start, scattering seven hits for a complete-game 10-1 triumph at St. Louis. Lee Maye, Jim Gentile and Jim Wynn blast homers while Bob Aspromonte drives in three. Rain cancels the second game of the scheduled twinbill.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!