1976 – Amazingly, it takes 15 years for Houston to garner a vote in the Cy Young Award balloting. The vote goes to J.R. Richard, who has a 20-win season, but he is well behind San Diego’s Randy Jones in the returns.
1976 – The end of an era. Judge Roy Hofheinz agrees to sell most of his Astrodomain, including his shares of the HSA and the Astros, to Ford Motor Credit and General Electric Credit. Spending on the ballclub is held in check until new ownership is found three years later.
1976 – Ken Boswell’s bases-loaded triple keys an eight-run seventh inning as the Astros wrench the Big Red Machine, 10-5. Cliff Johnson adds a two-run double. Starter Joe Sambito gets the win.
1976 – Bo McLaughlin blanks the Phillies, 1-0, as the club notches their sixth straight complete-game to tie a team record. McLaughlin surrenders six hits. A solo shot by Cliff Johnson off Jim Kaat provides the game’s only tally.
1976 – Dan Larson does it all. The young righty tosses a five-hitter to beat Philadelphia, 8-3. At the plate, he gets three hits and drives in four. His three-run triple in the fourth breaks the game open. Wilbur Howard also contributes three hits.
August 13, 1976 the Toronto Franchise has a naming contest. In total, 154 people submitted the name “Blue Jays” to the contest. A draw was held to name the grand prize winner who won two season tickets for home games in 1977, plus a trip to Dunedin for one week of Spring Training.
1976 – As it ought to be. The 1,000th game in Astrodome history is a 7-0 shutout over San Diego as Larry Dierker spins a two-hitter. Bob Watson paces the offense with a home run and three runs batted in.
1976 – Bo McLaughlin, in his second big league start, fires a ten-inning six-hit shutout to nip the Giants, 1-0. Houston manages just four hits off Ed Halicki but Greg Gross doesn’t need one to chase home pinch-runner Wilbur Howard with a sacrifice fly to send the fans home happy.
1976 – Ed Herrmann goes 7-for-10 with a homer and seven RBIs in a twinbill sweep of the Expos, 7-6 and 10-1. Herrmann is a perfect 5-for-5 in the ten-inning opener. Greg Gross gets four hits to pace a 22-hit assault in the nightcap. Dan Larson tosses a complete game victory in his major league debut.
1976 – Cesar Cedeno becomes the first Houston player to homer in an All-Star Game . His two-run shot off Frank Tanana caps a 7-1 National League win in Philadelphia. Ken Forsch pitches a scoreless ninth to finish the game
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