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Astros avoid arbitration with pitcher Mike Hampton, agreeing to a $1.3 million dollar contract, halfway between what both sides wanted. Hampton responds with a 15-10 record and becomes a critical member of three division-winning Houston teams. 

ByTom

1997 – Astros avoid arbitration with pitcher Mike Hampton, agreeing to a $1.3 million dollar contract, halfway between what both sides wanted. Hampton responds with a 15-10 record and becomes a critical member of three division-winning Houston teams. 

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1996 – Pitcher Russ Springer is signed to a free agent contract. The righthanded reliever has two stints with the Astros (1997, 2004-2006), compiling an 8-9 record with three saves in Houston.

ByTom

1996 – Pitcher Russ Springer is signed to a free agent contract. The righthanded reliever has two stints with the Astros (1997, 2004-2006), compiling an 8-9 record with three saves in Houston.

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1996 – Outfielder Luis Gonzalez and pitcher Mike Magnante are signed to free agent deals. It’s the second go-round in Houston for the popular Gonzalez who, after leaving again, would find a home run stroke and blast 57 for Arizona in 2001 and muscle a bloop single off Mariano Rivera to beat the Yankees in Game Seven of the World Series. 

ByTom

1996 – Outfielder Luis Gonzalez and pitcher Mike Magnante are signed to free agent deals. It’s the second go-round in Houston for the popular Gonzalez who, after leaving again, would find a home run stroke and blast 57 for Arizona in 2001 and muscle a bloop single off Mariano Rivera to beat the Yankees in Game Seven of the World Series. 

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Astros swap pitchers Todd Jones and Doug Brocail along with outfielder Brian Hunter and shortstop Orlando Miller to Detroit for pitchers Jose Lima, C.J. Nitkowski and Trever Miller along with catcher Brad Ausmus and first baseman Daryle Ward. Ausmus is the man Houston really wants but Lima and Ward eventually become major contributors. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1996 – Astros swap pitchers Todd Jones and Doug Brocail along with outfielder Brian Hunter and shortstop Orlando Miller to Detroit for pitchers Jose Lima, C.J. Nitkowski and Trever Miller along with catcher Brad Ausmus and first baseman Daryle Ward. Ausmus is the man Houston really wants but Lima and Ward eventually become major contributors. 

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1996 – John Bateman dies in Sand Spring, TX at age 56. The native Texan would enjoy a ten-year big-league career with a .230 batting average and 81 home runs. 

ByTom

1996 – John Bateman dies in Sand Spring, TX at age 56. The native Texan would enjoy a ten-year big-league career with a .230 batting average and 81 home runs. 

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1996 – Schedules with interleague play are introduced for the first time. Houston will host three teams from the American League Central, including the Milwaukee Brewers who would switch to the National League Central Division in 1998. 

ByTom

1996 – Schedules with interleague play are introduced for the first time. Houston will host three teams from the American League Central, including the Milwaukee Brewers who would switch to the National League Central Division in 1998. 

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Luman Harris dies in Pell City, AL at age 81. Harris coached the Colt .45s until he became manager late in the 1964 campaign. He lasts through the 1965 season with a 70-105 record. His best days are with Atlanta (1968-1973) where he skippers the first Western Division winners in 1969. 

ByTom

1996 – Luman Harris dies in Pell City, AL at age 81. Harris coached the Colt .45s until he became manager late in the 1964 campaign. He lasts through the 1965 season with a 70-105 record. His best days are with Atlanta (1968-1973) where he skippers the first Western Division winners in 1969. 

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1996 – Houston voters approve a new baseball-only stadium to be built downtown, with a slim 51% of the vote. Astros ownership had threatened to leave Houston as the NFL Oilers are doing, if the stadium was not okayed. 

ByTom

1996 – Houston voters approve a new baseball-only stadium to be built downtown, with a slim 51% of the vote. Astros ownership had threatened to leave Houston as the NFL Oilers are doing, if the stadium was not okayed. 

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Larry Dierker, the Astros’ former player and broadcaster, is named the new manager despite having no previous coaching or managing experience. 

ByTom

1996 – Larry Dierker, the Astros’ former player and broadcaster, is named the new manager despite having no previous coaching or managing experience. Terry Collins is relieved after three years, posting a 224-197 record marred by late-season collapses. 

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1996 – Tony Eusebio doubles home James Mouton with the season’s final run in a 5-4 ten-inning victory over the Marlins. Fans come to honor pitcher Nolan Ryan who sees the Astros retire his #34 jersey. 

ByTom

1996 – Tony Eusebio doubles home James Mouton with the season’s final run in a 5-4 ten-inning victory over the Marlins. Fans come to honor pitcher Nolan Ryan who sees the Astros retire his #34 jersey.