1962 – Catcher John Bateman is inked to a free agent contract. The hulking catcher leads the team in home runs and RBIs in 1963 but his career year comes in 1966 when Bateman puts up a .279 average with 17 homers, 24 doubles and 70 RBIs – all career highs. He hits .228 over six seasons in Houston (1963-1968). Bateman dies in Sand Spring, TX at age 56 on December 3, 1996.
1962 – The first Houston training camp begins in Apache Junction, AZ. The fledgling Colt .45s would finish with a 14-7 spring record, best in the majors – a testament to what 40 guys can accomplish when none of them are assured of employment.
1962 – Manager Harry Craft and General Manager Paul Richards begin the first winter publicity caravan in team history, starting in Victoria. The team has had one every year since then, touring cities throughout Texas and Louisiana. Among the other travelers are infielders Norm Larker, Bob Aspromonte, Don Buddin and Joey Amalfitano and broadcaster Gene Elston. This year’s tour also makes a stop in Monterrey, Mexico.
Comiskey family sells its interest in the Chicago White Sox
1961 – The Colts obtain pitchers Bob Bruce and Manny Montejo from Detroit for pitcher “Toothpick” Sam Jones. Bruce compiles a 42-58 record and a 3.78 ERA in five seasons for Houston. Picked in the expansion draft from San Francisco, Jones, a two-time All-Star, pitches only spot duty in his remaining three big league seasons.
1961 – Outfielders Mike White and Johnny Weekly are selected during the winter supplemental draft. White’s career year is 1964 when he bats .271 in 89 games for the Colts. He makes token appearances in 1963 and 1965, his only other two seasons in the majors.
1961 – Eddie Bressoud, Houston’s first official draft selection, is traded to Boston for shortstop Don Buddin. Buddin would bat .163 in 40 games before being sold to Detroit. Bressoud, claimed from the Giants, comes alive for the Red Sox and becomes an All-Star by 1964.
1961 – Colts purchase righthander Hal Woodeshick from the Detroit Tigers. A starter his first year in Houston, Woodeshick develops into a closer the next two seasons and makes the All-Star team in 1963.
1961 – An All-Star exhibition game is held at Busch Stadium (formerly Buff Stadium) in Houston as a prelude to major league play the next year. 5,600 fans turn out to see the National Leaguers triumph, 6-1, over the American League squad. Bill White of St. Louis rips a home run. Bob Aspromonte, one of the newly-drafted Houston players, also gets into the game.
1961 – Houston makes their debut as a major league franchise through an Arizona instructional league team based in Scottsdale dubbed the “Colt .22s”.
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