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Houston inks a pair of free agent hurlers. One of them is lefty Pete Schourek, who has a history of arm problems and demands to only be used as a starter. He goes 7-6 in 15 starts before being sold to Boston in mid-season. 

ByTom

Houston inks a pair of free agent hurlers. One of them is lefty Pete Schourek, who has a history of arm problems and demands to only be used as a starter. He goes 7-6 in 15 starts before being sold to Boston in mid-season. 

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1997 – Reliever John Hudek is traded to the New York Mets for outfielder Carl Everett. The righthander comes from nowhere to make the All-Star team in 1994 but returns to reality, leaving Houston with a 5-7 record and 29 saves over four injury-plagued seasons.

ByTom

1997 – Reliever John Hudek is traded to the New York Mets for outfielder Carl Everett. The righthander comes from nowhere to make the All-Star team in 1994 but returns to reality, leaving Houston with a 5-7 record and 29 saves over four injury-plagued seasons.

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1997 – Jeff Bagwell blasts the front office after pitcher and close friend Darryl Kile agrees to a contract with the Colorado Rockies. Bagwell disputes the numbers the Astros say they offered Kile to stay. General Manager Gerry Hunsicker says he’s disappointed with the reaction of his star player. 

ByTom

1997 – Jeff Bagwell blasts the front office after pitcher and close friend Darryl Kile agrees to a contract with the Colorado Rockies. Bagwell disputes the numbers the Astros say they offered Kile to stay. General Manager Gerry Hunsicker says he’s disappointed with the reaction of his star player. 

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1997 – Pitcher Doug Henry is signed as a free agent. The reliever posts a three-year mark of 11-8 with five saves and a 3.88 ERA. 

ByTom

1997 – Pitcher Doug Henry is signed as a free agent. The reliever posts a three-year mark of 11-8 with five saves and a 3.88 ERA. 

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land for a new downtown ballpark near the old Union Station terminal are acquired by the H.S.A

ByTom

1997 – The last parcels of land for a new downtown ballpark near the old Union Station terminal are acquired by the H.S.A. The largest sale is from a man named Billy Marlin. Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (HOK) are already on board with a stadium design and Brown and Root will serve as project managers for stadium construction. In other news, the Astros sign outfielder Dave Clark to a free agent contract. Clark bats .206 in 93 games during one disappointing season in Houston. 

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Outfielder Moises Alou is acquired for pitchers Oscar Henriquez, Manny Barrios and Mark Johnson. Alou’s four seasons in Houston are marked with superb play and controversy. In three of those years, he averages 31 homers, 115 RBIs and a .331 batting average. In the other year, he misses the entire season with a knee injury that leaves others questioning his commitment to the team. 

ByTom

1997 – Outfielder Moises Alou is acquired for pitchers Oscar Henriquez, Manny Barrios and Mark Johnson. Alou’s four seasons in Houston are marked with superb play and controversy. In three of those years, he averages 31 homers, 115 RBIs and a .331 batting average. In the other year, he misses the entire season with a knee injury that leaves others questioning his commitment to the team. 

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1997 – Five years to the day after officially acquiring the ballclub, owner Drayton McLane, Jr. is on hand for groundbreaking ceremonies on a new downtown stadium. It’s tentatively named the “Ballpark at Union Station” where the former train depot was located. The stadium is funded in a number of ways and the sale of naming rights will be part of the process. 

ByTom

1997 – Five years to the day after officially acquiring the ballclub, owner Drayton McLane, Jr. is on hand for groundbreaking ceremonies on a new downtown stadium. It’s tentatively named the “Ballpark at Union Station” where the former train depot was located. The stadium is funded in a number of ways and the sale of naming rights will be part of the process. 

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Craig Biggio is named the winner of the sixth annual Branch Rickey Award for outstanding community service

ByTom

1997 – Craig Biggio is named the winner of the sixth annual Branch Rickey Award for outstanding community service. Biggio lends his name and time to several charitable organizations in Houston, particularly those who help with childrens diseases.