1967 – Astros send pitcher Jim Ray to the Mets on a 30-day conditional deal. The Mets send him back a month later. It’s a lucky break as Ray goes 42-25 with 23 saves over the next six years in Houston, used as both a reliever and a spot starter.
Houston Astros acquire Eddie Mathews from the Atlanta Braves
1966 – Astros draft pitcher Bo Belinsky from the Phillies organization in the winter supplemental draft and pitcher Pat House from the Braves. Belinsky is soon regaling the Houston press with tales of his vaunted night life. The Astros will assign catcher Ron Brand, a Mormon, to be his roommate on the road.
1966 – Angry Cub Manager Leo Durocher rips the dugout phone off the wall and throws it onto the Astrodome field. Bob Aspromonte deepens Leo’s misery with a grand slam home run that sparks a 7-4 comeback victory. Southwestern Bell replaces the phone the next day and the Astros hand Durocher the repair bill.
1966 – Houston’s Jim Wynn suffers a fractured left wrist, hand and elbow after slamming into the CF fence at Philadelphia. Done for the season, the Toy Cannon will still lead the Astros with 18 home runs. Houston also loses, 6 – 5.
1966 – The Astros set a home attendance mark which stands for 22 years, as 50,908 fans watch Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers down Houston, 5-2. Koufax is no mystery to Jim Wynn who goes 4-for-4 with a homer and two doubles. John Bateman also doubles twice but they don’t get enough help elsewhere.
1966 – 19-year-old Larry Dierker outduels Hall-of-Famer Sandy Koufax for a 3-0 whitewash of the Dodgers. Dierker surrenders just five hits. A two-run single by Chuck Harrison and a solo shot by Bob Aspromonte supply the offense.
On June 11, 1966, Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs ties a modern day record by hitting three triples in an 8-2 win over the Houston Astros at the Astrodome Chicago OF Adolfo Phillips also ties a record by striking out 9 straight times in 2 consecutive games (more than 18 innings).
On June 5, 1966, at Forbes Field the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Houston Astros 10-5, during the victory slugger Willie Stargell goes 5-for-5, includes two home runs and a double. The hitting spree gives Stargell nine hits in nine consecutive at-bats over the last two games. In the same game Roberto Clemente hits his second…
Apr 24, 1966 At the Astrodome, San Francisco’s Willie Mays tags Jim Owens for a milestone, his 511th career homerun tying Mel Ott for most in National League history.
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