The Devil Rays announce the team will play their exhibition games in St. Petersburg, the city being vacated by the Cardinals, who have trained there since 1946. The American League expansion team becomes the first club in the ‘modern era’ to host spring training games in their major league home city.
1996 – Houston batters Cincinnati, 13-5, on 18 hits. Sean Berry has three hits and five RBIs. Derek Bell has four hits while four other Astros enjoy multi-hit evenings.
1996 – Houston sends lefthander Billy Wagner to the minors, intent on converting him to a starting pitcher. By year’s end, he is in the Astros bullpen, winning two games and saving nine in 37 appearances.
1995 – Infielder Dave Magadan signs a free agent contract with the Chicago Cubs. Magadan had hit .313 in his one season in Houston, part of a run in the majors that lasted 16 years.
1995 – Third baseman Sean Berry is acquired from Montreal for pitcher Dave Veres and catcher Raul Chavez. Berry helps Houston to two division titles. Chavez returns to the Astros organization in 2000, working his way into a backup role during 2004 and 2005 where he launched a home run in postseason play.
1995 – On his 30th birthday, free agent Craig Biggio re-signs with the Astros in a four-year deal worth $22 million dollars. Biggio had mulled offers from other clubs but decides to stay with the team he began with. Manager Terry Collins calls the deal the best Christmas present he’s ever had.
1995 – Gerry Hunsicker is named as General Manager. Drayton McLane also announces that the team will continue to play in the Astrodome in 1996 but will be sold to out-of-town interests if attendance does not increase.
1995 – Amid rumors that the Astros will be sold and moved to Virginia, General Manager Bob Watson resigns and takes the same position with the New York Yankees. His short tenure in Houston breaks the color bar for blacks in the General Manager ranks but in New York he gets the World’s Championship ring that he long coveted.
1995 – Houston sweeps a twinbill at Pittsburgh, 6-5 and 5-4. James Mouton singles home Orlando Miller in the ninth to win the opener while Derek Bell caps a 5-for-9 day with a home run and a double to pace the Astros in the nightcap.
1995 – Doug Drabek hurls a three-hitter and strikes out nine as he blanks the Dodgers, 4-0. Jeff Bagwell goes deep off Hideo Nomo while Craig Biggio spanks a solo shot off Jose Parra to account for half of Houston’s runs.
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