Killer 'B's and a Birthday

[DOUGHBOYS]

The Houston Astros celebrate their 50th birthday this year.
During their 50 years, the Astros have only made it to one World Series.
They started out as the Colt 45's and changed the name when the 'eighth wonder of the world' was built, the Houston Astrodome. The Colt 45's did not have the bad start that the Mets had, but they were certainly not a good team. They finished eighth out of 10 teams in their inaugural year. The team was bad enough that their best pitcher, Turk Farrell had a 3.02 E.R.A. and still managed to lose 20 games.
The dome was home to many exciting teams including teams featuring Joe Morgan and 'the Toy Cannon', Jimmy Wynn. Like the Mets, the Astros contended for a division win in 1969. But, unlike the Mets, they faded.
The 70's brought on the ugly uniform era and the Astros were chief offenders. Their Rainbow uni's are among the ugliest uniforms in baseball memory. Good players, especially pitchers dotted this era for the Astros. Larry Dierker, Ken Forsch, Joe Niekro, and J.R. Richard were all great right handers.

In 1980 with a rotation of Nolan Ryan, Ken Forsch, Joe Niekro, and J.R. Richard. Richard would have his career shortened by a stroke that year. That rotation carried them to the National League Championship Series before losing to the Phillies.
In 2000, the Astros moved into their new and current home, Enron Field, which obviously has had some name changes over the years.
Their teams had always been competitive with the emergence of the 'Killer B's', Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, and Lance Berkman. They had a hard time finding the right playing partners for the trio though.
In 2004, the Astros won their division. In 2005,it all came together for them. They won their division, then beat the Braves in a memorable clinching game in 18 innings on a home run by a player who's name started with a 'B', Chris Burke.
In the World Series, the Astros were swept by the Chicago White Sox.
This leaves them as part of a trick trivia question. The Astros are included with newer teams who have never been to a World Series as 'teams without a victory in a World Series'.

Since then, they signed Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte in an effort to put another winner on the field, but that try failed.
The Astros, ironically, now find themselves in the same place as their counterpart birthday boys, the Mets.
Little is expected out of either team and both have a lot of rebuilding to do before being considered contenders once again.

Some Astros 'Stuff'-

Biggio and Berkman played in exactly 5,000 games

Six Hall of Famers have played with the Astros-
Joe Morgan
Nolan Ryan
Don Sutton
Nellie Fox
Robin Roberts
Eddie Mathews

Mathews hit his 500th while as a member of the Astros

Joe Niekro has the most wins in Astros history with 144. Roy Oswalt had 143.

Nolan Ryan threw in 115 less games than Niekro did for the Astros, but had 700 more strike outs.

Jeff Bagwell is the Astros MVP winner. He won the award in 1994.

Jose Cruz, either as a player or coach was involved in every post season for the Astros.