William DeWitt buys the Cincinnati Reds from the Crosley Foundation for $4.625 million.
1962 – William DeWitt buys the Cincinnati Reds from the Crosley Foundation for $4.625 million.
A former member of the New York Giants requesting anonymity reveals that Bobby Thomson’s home run in the 1951 playoffs against the Brooklyn Dodgers was helped by a sign-stealing
A former member of the New York Giants requesting anonymity reveals that Bobby Thomson’s home run in the 1951 playoffs against the Brooklyn Dodgers was helped by a sign-stealing clubhouse spy. The spying is claimed to have gone on for the last three months of the season. Thomson, along with former Giants manager Leo Durocher, vehemently denies that he received help, but a source close to the team confirms the spy operation.
At spring training, Yankees slugger Roger Maris declines to pose with Mets coach Rogers Hornsby because the Hall of Famer criticized him in his book My Wars with Baseball.
At spring training, Yankees slugger Roger Maris declines to pose with Mets coach Rogers Hornsby because the Hall of Famer criticized him in his book My Wars with Baseball.
1962 – Mickey Herskowitz of the Houston Post has his first column published as a mythical Houston pitcher named “Lefty” who tells about life with the Colt .45s. He continues the columns for five years and they sell as a book entitled “Letters From Lefty”. A few more letters show up through 1971. They remain some of the best stories about the early years of the franchise.
1962 – Mickey Herskowitz of the Houston Post has his first column published as a mythical Houston pitcher named “Lefty” who tells about life with the Colt .45s. He continues the columns for five years and they sell as a book entitled “Letters From Lefty”. A few more letters show up through 1971. They remain some of the best stories about the early years of the franchise.
Construction begins on the Astrodome
1962 – Construction begins on the Astrodome, a short hike from where Colt Stadium is nearing completion. The excavation pit for the domed stadium floor soon becomes a haven for breeding mosquitoes in land that was once marsh fields.
1962 – Colt .45s get their first-ever win in a 2-1 exhibition victory over the Cleveland Indians. Jack Waters singles home Jim Pendleton with the winning run. Jim Umbricht is the winning pitcher.
1962 – Colt .45s get their first-ever win in a 2-1 exhibition victory over the Cleveland Indians. Jack Waters singles home Jim Pendleton with the winning run. Jim Umbricht is the winning pitcher.
Houston Colt .45s lose the first exhibition game in their history
1962 – Houston Colt .45s lose the first exhibition game in their history to the Los Angeles Angels, 7-3, in Palm Springs, CA. Bob Aspromonte scores the first run and Roman Mejias gets the first Colt hit, a clean single off Eli Grba.
Gene Elston & Al Helfer are the Colts’ first radio broadcasters
1962 – KPRC-AM introduces Gene Elston and Al Helfer as the Colts’ first radio play-by-play team. Loel Passe, a local favorite after his years with the Houston Buffs, is later added to the crew. Although Helfer leaves after the first year, Elston and Passe would be together for the next fourteen seasons. Elston would remain with the club through 1986.
1962 – St. Louis voters approve a bond issue that will fund the improvements necessary to build a new downtown stadium for the Cardinals.
1962 – St. Louis voters approve a bond issue that will fund the improvements necessary to build a new downtown stadium for the Cardinals.
Gene Freese suffers a severely fractured ankle in the team’s first intrasquad game, keeping the Reds’ third baseman out of action until mid-August. The 28 year-old infielder, who played an important role in Cincinnati’s National League championship last season, will never regain the form he displayed during the pennant drive.
Gene Freese suffers a severely fractured ankle in the team’s first intrasquad game, keeping the Reds’ third baseman out of action until mid-August. The 28 year-old infielder, who played an important role in Cincinnati’s National League championship last season, will never regain the form he displayed during the pennant drive.
