2007 – Ed Wade strikes a deal with Philadelphia, his former employer. Houston deals closer Brad Lidge and utilityman Eric Bruntlett to the Phillies for outfielder Michael Bourn, reliever Geoff Geary and minor leaguer Mike Costanzo. Bourn spent three years at the University of Houston before signing with the Phils. Costanzo is dealt to Baltimore later that winter.
September call-up J.R Towles, with his 4-for-4 performance and getting hit with a pitch with the bases loaded, establishes a franchise-record eight RBIs when the Astros rout the Cardinals, 18-1 The outstanding offensive output by the 23 year-old rookie catcher, who started the season with the Single-A Salem Avalanche, helps Houston produce its most lopsided victory in team history.
On July 24, 2007, At a press conference, an emotional Craig Biggio announces he will retire after this season, bringing his 20 year-old career as the longest-tenured player in Astro history to an end. The newest member of the 3,000 hit club, the only player in All-Star history to appear in the game as a…
On June 28, 2007, Craig Biggio of the Astros collected his 3,000th career against the Rockies in Houston. The milestone hit came in the seventh inning against Colorado starter Aaron Cook, and plates Brad Ausmus to tie the Rockies at one. In total he will collect five singles on the day and his…
2006 – Slugger Carlos Lee is signed to a six-year contract for a reported $100 million dollars. Nicknamed “El Caballo”, the outfielder comes to Houston after stops with the White Sox, Brewers and Rangers. The Astros also ink righthander Woody Williams to a two-year deal worth $12.5 million dollars. The 40-year-old veteran is a Houston native who formerly pitched at the University of Houston.
The Astros announce the club will not exercise their option on first baseman Jeff Bagwell for the 2007 season. ‘BagPipes’ is the all-time franchise leader in home runs, RBIs, and walks.
On May 31, 2006, Roger Clemens agrees to terms on a one-year deal with the Houston Astros to come back for a 23rd season, or at least the remaining four months of the current season. After winning the NL Cy Young Award in his first season with Houston in 2004, and leading the team to their first World Series…
2006 – Taylor Buchholz gets his first big league win, blanking the Pirates, 3-0. Buchholz has a one-hitter with one out to go before an error and a single causes Manager Phil Garner to bring Brad Lidge in to get the final out. Craig Biggio scores all three runs using a single, a double and a homer. The Astros’ all-time franchise record climbs above .500 for the first time since early 1962.
For the first time since their first month of play, the Houston Astros have a .500 franchise record. With a 13 – 12 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Astros become the 13th team in the majors with a record of .500 or better. The victory puts the franchise at .500 for the first time since the Colt .45s, as the team was known, were 6-6 before a 2 – 1 loss to the Milwaukee Braves on April 27, 1962. The franchise record is 3,507-3,507. Carlos Lee goes 4 for 5 with a pair of two-run home runs for Milwaukee.
2006 – It’s normally not news when a player shows up for spring training but that’s not true this time for Jeff Bagwell. The first baseman arrives with a $15.6 million dollar insurance tag on his head if he can’t play. Bagwell insists he’ll play despite an arthritic right shoulder that required surgery the previous year. He fields grounders and hits in light drills the first day and talks briefly with owner Drayton McLane.
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