|

1977 – Ballboy Scotty Tarvin gloves Larry Bowa’s double down the right field line. Umpires allow Bowa to take third during the 7-4 Phillies win at the Dome. Bowa later scores. Greg Luzinski tags Bo McLaughlin for a titanic shot into the upper reserved seats to help Philadelphia. 

ByTom

1977 – Ballboy Scotty Tarvin gloves Larry Bowa’s double down the right field line. Umpires allow Bowa to take third during the 7-4 Phillies win at the Dome. Bowa later scores. Greg Luzinski tags Bo McLaughlin for a titanic shot into the upper reserved seats to help Philadelphia. 

| |

Houston bombs the Rangers in a 16-6 exhibition win in Oklahoma City.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1977 – Houston bombs the Rangers in a 16-6 exhibition win in Oklahoma City. Willie Crawford drives in five runs but the moment nobody forgets is when Bob Watson doubles into a double play. Texas catcher Bill Fahey tags out both Enos Cabell and Jose Cruz at the plate. 

|

1977 – An exhibition game with the Texas Rangers in Tulsa, OK, is halted when a part of the stand collapses, injuring 17 people. Players helped carry victims to aid, some making stretchers out of wooden planks. 

ByTom

1977 – An exhibition game with the Texas Rangers in Tulsa, OK, is halted when a part of the stand collapses, injuring 17 people. Players helped carry victims to aid, some making stretchers out of wooden planks. 

|

1977 – Astros obtain outfielder Willie Crawford and infielder Rob Sperring from San Francisco for infielder Rob Andrews. After the season, outfielder Art Gardner is sent to the Giants to complete the deal. 

ByTom

1977 – Astros obtain outfielder Willie Crawford and infielder Rob Sperring from San Francisco for infielder Rob Andrews. After the season, outfielder Art Gardner is sent to the Giants to complete the deal. 

| |

Houston trades catcher Alfred Henry “Skip” Jutze to Seattle for a minor leaguer and cash. After being brought to Houston with high expectations in 1973, Jutze finds himself unable to hold the job and is quietly dispatched to an expansion team in the other league. He ends with a .215 career average. 

ByTom

Houston trades catcher Alfred Henry “Skip” Jutze to Seattle for a minor leaguer and cash. After being brought to Houston with high expectations in 1973, Jutze finds himself unable to hold the job and is quietly dispatched to an expansion team in the other league. He ends with a .215 career average. 

| |

David Matranga is born in Orange, CA. The injury call-up is 1-for-5 in his big league career but he is only the second Astro to homer in his first major league at bat. 

ByTom

David Matranga is born in Orange, CA. The injury call-up is 1-for-5 in his big league career but he is only the second Astro to homer in his first major league at bat. 

|

Pitcher Larry Dierker and infielder Jerry DaVanon are traded to St.Louis for catcher Joe Ferguson

ByTom

1976 – Pitcher Larry Dierker and infielder Jerry DaVanon are traded to St.Louis for catcher Joe Ferguson. For Dierker, it’s the beginning of the end of a stellar career. For Ferguson, it means another chance to be a starting catcher instead of an oufielder. He argues with manager Bill Virdon about blocking the plate but hits .243 with 23 homers and 83 RBIs in 1-1/2 seasons before being traded again. 

JR Richards
|

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. 

ByTom

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. 

|

The end of an era. Judge Roy Hofheinz agrees to sell most of his Astrodom

ByTom

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. 

|

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. 

ByTom

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.