1991 – Former Astro Phil Garner has something extra to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The then-Milwaukee manager and his family are saved from a fire in their Kingwood, TX home. Two constables force open the front door after spotting smoke coming from the house. Over $100,000 worth of damage is done.
1991 – Jeff Bagwell is named N.L. Rookie of the Year, capturing 23 of 24 first place votes. His .294 average, 15 homers and 82 RBIs are just the first sign of things to come. The other vote goes to Pittsburgh’s Orlando Merced.
1991 – George Brunet dies of a heart attack in Poza Rica, Mexico at age 56. The lefthander made 22 appearances for the Colt .45s in their first two seasons as part of a 15-year major league career. After that, he continued to pitch in the minors and then in Mexico until he was 54.
1991 – Ken Caminiti and Charlie Hayes trade five-RBI nights from the third base spot and Al Osuna is handed a two-run lead in the bottom of the tenth, 10-8. But he can’t hold it as the Phillies score three to win it, 11-10. Rafael Ramirez has four hits in a losing effort.
1991 – Rebounding from a 9-2 deficit, Houston gets off the mat for a 12-9 triumph in San Diego to snap a five-game losing streak. Luis Gonzalez launches a three-run bomb and drives in four. Andujar Cedeno also homers.The Astro bullpen fires five innings of one-hit ball. Ryan Bowen claims the victory and Al Osuna gets the save.
1991 – Craig Biggio singles home Gerald Young in the tenth for a 2-1 triumph over Los Angeles, sweeping the series and winning their seventh straight. The last-place Astros also turn their second triple play of the season when Mike Simms snares a fly to right by Alfredo Griffin and guns down Mike Sharperson who tried to advance to third. Ken Caminiti fires to Andujar Cedeno to get Stan Javier who was trailing the play.
1991 – Ken Oberkfell cracks a two-run double off Dave Smith in the 11th inning for a 6-4 triumph over the Cubs. A three-run shot by Luis Gonzalez off Greg Maddux stakes Houston to an early lead but George Bell tags Jim Clancy with a homer in the ninth to send it to extra innings.
1991 – After giving up three runs in the top of the ninth, the Astros storm back with four in the bottom half of the frame to stun Montreal, 9-8. Doubles by Luis Gonzalez and Ken Caminiti key the rally.
1991 – State Senators pass a bill to rename a part of State Highway 288 the “Nolan Ryan Expressway”. The highway passes near the Astrodome on its way through Ryan’s boyhood hometown of Alvin.
1991 – It’s March Madness time and the most popular guy at the Astros camp is rookie Kenny Lofton. During his years at the University of Arizona, Lofton was known more as a guard for the highly-ranked Wildcat basketball team than as a speedy center fielder. Lofton becomes the resident expert in tournament betting pools.
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