1985 – Outfielder Jerry Mumphrey is dealt to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Billy Hatcher and a minor leaguer. Mumphrey compiles a .291 average over three seasons in Houston. Hatcher bats .266 over four seasons but provides better power and speed.
1985 – It’s no boo-boo. The Astros sign 59-year-old Yogi Berra to serve as a bench coach for new skipper Hal Lanier. The quotable Berra is persuaded to come to Texas at the request of owner John McMullen. The two are neighbors in New Jersey.
1985 – Bob Lillis is fired as manager of the Astros. The former infielder is 276-261 in just over three seasons at the helm.
1985 – Houston bloodies the Redbirds, 17-2, at the Dome before fans watch a screening of “Jaws” on the new Diamondvision scoreboard. Mark Bailey belts a grand slam while Dickie Thon homers and drives in four to lead the 19-hit attack. Bailey, Glenn Davis and Terry Puhl each deliver three of those hits.
1985 – Pinch-hitter Dickie Thon blasts a three-run shot off Mark Davis to key a 7-5 victory over San Francisco. He drives in an insurance run to give him four RBIs. Jeff Heathcock wins as Nolan Ryan leaves after three innings.
1985 – Craig Reynolds bangs out four hits as Houston bombs the Mets, 12-4. Mark Bailey and Jose Cruz contribute three hits each in the 19-hit effort. The New Yorkers are gracious hosts, giving the Astros four errors to work with. They ought to be since the Astros giftwrapped 16 unearned runs in a doubleheader fiasco the day before.
1985 – Kevin Bass launches two solo homers to pace a 4-2 triumph over Montreal. Jose Cruz drives in the other two runs to set a new franchise mark for RBIs (783), since broken by Jeff Bagwell.
1985 – Joe Niekro becomes the winningest pitcher in club history with a two-hit shutout of the Giants, 5-0. Mark Bailey helps his batterymate with a three-run blast. Niekro had failed in the previous six starts to notch his 138th win as an Astro, leading to offers from Niekro to pay the hitters for helping him set the mark.
1985 – Jim Pankovits ‘ grand slam off John Candelaria breaks a 3-3 tie as Houston belts the Pirates, 8-3. The blast keys a seven-run seventh inning after Phil Garner and Mark Bailey delivered RBI singles. Nolan Ryan picks up the victory.
On May 20, 1985, a game between the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers scheduled for Municipal Stadium is postponed due to rain, representing the first rainout of the 1985 season. The cancellation marks the latest point that the first rainout of a season has taken place. A record 458 games had been played prior to…