The Houston Colt .45s and the New York Mets choose in the first National League expansion draft
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The Houston Colt .45s and the New York Mets choose in the first National League expansion draft

ByTom

1961 – The Houston Colt .45s and the New York Mets choose in the first National League expansion draft. Among the Colt selections are Bob Aspromonte and Dick Farrell (both from L.A.), Hal Smith and Roman Mejias (Pit.), Ken Johnson (Cin.), Al Spangler(Mil.) and Bob Lillis (St.L.). Houston’s first pick is infielder Eddie Bressoud but he is traded before the inaugural season begins.

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Colt .45s ink 17-year-old Daniel “Rusty” Staub to a contract, winning a bidding war for the New Orleans schoolboy with a $110,000 signing bonus. It’s the same day that Hurricane Carla smashes into the Texas Gulf Coast with winds over 120-MPH. While striking south of the Houston area, the local winds and rain are enough to inflict damage on Busch Stadium where the Houston Buffs play. The stadium is auctioned and demolished in the coming months, leaving a void for fans of the longtime minor league club.

ByTom

1961 – Colt .45s ink 17-year-old Daniel “Rusty” Staub to a contract, winning a bidding war for the New Orleans schoolboy with a $110,000 signing bonus. It’s the same day that Hurricane Carla smashes into the Texas Gulf Coast with winds over 120-MPH. While striking south of the Houston area, the local winds and rain are enough to inflict damage on Busch Stadium where the Houston Buffs play. The stadium is auctioned and demolished in the coming months, leaving a void for fans of the longtime minor league club.

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1961 – 494 acres of land on the south end of Houston are bought by R.E. “Bob” Smith and Judge Roy Hofheinz. 180 acres are sold to Harris County as the site where the new domed stadium will be built.

ByTom

1961 – 494 acres of land on the south end of Houston are bought by R.E. “Bob” Smith and Judge Roy Hofheinz. 180 acres are sold to Harris County as the site where the new domed stadium will be built.

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1961 – Houston holds their first rookie camp in Jacksonville, FL. Farm director Bobby Bragan conducts the camp for young players under contract with the newly-named Colt .45s. 

ByTom

1961 – Houston holds their first rookie camp in Jacksonville, FL. Farm director Bobby Bragan conducts the camp for young players under contract with the newly-named Colt .45s. 

Yastrzemski and Williams

Boston Red Sox announce that rookie Carl Yastrzemski will start the season in left field, succeeding the legendary Ted Williams

ByThis Day in Baseball

On March 19, 1961, the Boston Red Sox announce that rookie Carl Yastrzemski will start the season in left field, succeeding the legendary Ted Williams. Yastrzemski will remain a fixture in the Red Sox’ lineup for the next 23 years and will gain election to the Hall of Fame in 1989.  

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1961 – The Houston Sports Association announces “Colt .45s” as the winner of the “Name That Team” contest. Entries from as far away as Australia came in. Many had suggested “Colts” but the gun, rather than the horse, won out much to the later chagrin of Judge Roy Hofheinz. 

ByTom

1961 – The Houston Sports Association announces “Colt .45s” as the winner of the “Name That Team” contest. Entries from as far away as Australia came in. Many had suggested “Colts” but the gun, rather than the horse, won out much to the later chagrin of Judge Roy Hofheinz. 

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1961 – The first tryout camp is held in Houston for the new National League expansion team. It is held at Busch Stadium, the same southeast Houston locale that had been called Buffs Stadium for decades.

ByTom

1961 – The first tryout camp is held in Houston for the new National League expansion team. It is held at Busch Stadium, the same southeast Houston locale that had been called Buffs Stadium for decades.

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Houston Sports Association announces an agreement with Apache Junction, AZ for spring training facilities beginning the following season. Geronimo Park, in the shadow of Superstition Mountain, serves as the spring home of the Colt .45s in their first two seasons and is remembered best for its desolation and rumored curses.

ByTom

1961 – Houston Sports Association announces an agreement with Apache Junction, AZ for spring training facilities beginning the following season. Geronimo Park, in the shadow of Superstition Mountain, serves as the spring home of the Colt .45s in their first two seasons and is remembered best for its desolation and rumored curses.

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1961 – Harris County officials and members of the Houston Sports Association stump for votes in favor of the upcoming bond election to be held on January 31st. The bonds would allow the County to begin building the first indoor baseball arena, a condition National League owners gave Judge Hofheinz while approving Houston for an expansion franchise.

ByTom

1961 – Harris County officials and members of the Houston Sports Association stump for votes in favor of the upcoming bond election to be held on January 31st. The bonds would allow the County to begin building the first indoor baseball arena, a condition National League owners gave Judge Hofheinz while approving Houston for an expansion franchise.

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1961 – The Houston Sports Association buys the minor league Houston Buffs, a team affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals for decades. The HSA runs the team for the rest of the season while building a transition to National League play the following year. 

ByTom

1961 – The Houston Sports Association buys the minor league Houston Buffs, a team affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals for decades. The HSA runs the team for the rest of the season while building a transition to National League play the following year.