trivia

[chandler44]

So, the question is, have the Astros ever had a left-handed starting pitcher to go to another team, then come back to start another game for us?

I found 4 lefties that were here, left, and came back: Juan Agosto, Greg Gross, Trever Miller, and Ron Villone.

[crashtest]

Chandler,

Superb, great research! However, the only one to fit the bill is Ron Villone in that he had GAMES STARTED boh times. Trever started ONE game his fist stint, but none since. Juan Agosto was used exclusively in relief. Greg Gross was a right fielder for us who did nothing but hit singles. But he could hit a lot of them. He went on to play wih Philly where he gained a reputation as one of the league best pinch hitters. In his second stint with us, he came in for one of those mop up jobs they sometimes give position players.

[chandler44]

Oops, I knew I went through that too fast last night. Greg Gross? LOL

[crashtest]

Also, what is the all-time "comeback" roster? By that, I mean, what is the best line-up composed of players who played for us, went to another team, and came back.

C - Brad Ausmus
1B - Denis Menke/Enos Cabell
2B - Joe Morgan
3B - Ken Caminiti
SS - Mark Loretta
LF - Luis Gonzalez
CF - Jim Beauchamp
RF - Jesus Alou
LHP - Ron Villone
RHP- Joaquin Andujar
RP - Russ Springer


IF - Hector Torres
OF - Pete Incaviglia
P- Xavier Hernandez
PH/IF/OF - Denny Walling
PH/OF/IF - Greg Gross

Gross or Walling would probably make a better centerfielder, but my "ground rules" are that the player needs to have played at least one game at the position BOTH TIMES that he played here - baseball-reference.com provides that data.

You know what? - just taking the expected productivity from what these players did on their RETURN for us, not to mention things like Morgan's MVP seasons and Caminiti in his prime, I think this roster would beat this year's team 60% of the time.

I need a couple of more starting pitchers and a better CF, but the roster is shaping up pretty well!

[crashtest]

I'd probably take Denis Menke at 1B and use Enos to spell Caminti at 3B whenever he was hung over or high, that is, whenever Enos wasn't also high +- or whenever we pined to see somebody strikeout on the 2 strike slider in the dirt in memory of B-G-O.

I'd also like to play the games in the Astrodome, since I doubt my comeback lineup would hit 80 HRs at MMP- probably less than 50 in the Dome.

[crashtest]

Which pitcher threw the most innings in one game in Houston history?

[crashtest]

Who pitched the first two no-hit no-run games in Houston history?

[astrobuddy]

Don Wilson and Ken Forsch ??

After I wrote that I went and looked it up.

I know the answer now.

[crashtest]

astrobuddy said:

Don Wilson and Ken Forsch ??

After I wrote that I went and looked it up.

I know the answer now.

Interesting, isn't it?

[crashtest]

crashtest said:

Name the nickname:

1. The Trout
2. The Flea
3. The Dawg
4. The Grouper
5. The Dalton Gang
6. The Guv'ner
7. Snuffy
8. The Rooster
9. Sluggo
10. La Malita
Bonus Question: Which Astro pitcher lost a testicle after taking a one-hopper back to the mound?

An update on answers:

James got most of these. I'm not sure if he gave Jim Pendleton as The Guv'ner.

[crashtest]

crashtest said:

1. Who were the first three announcers in the booth for the Colt .45s in 1962?

2. Who was the first new announcer added?

3. What station was the inaugural flagship radio station?


4. What channel in Houston televised the Sunday road games circa 62-64?

5. Who was the post-game color guy (an ex-player) who commented on the (probable) loss circa 62-64?

6. Which was the official beer of the 1962 Colt .45s?

7. Which petroleum company had its logo on the huge scoreboard when the Astrodome opened in 1965?

8. Name the colors of the different levels of seating when the Astrodome opened in 1965, from field level to the skyboxes.

9. Where was Judge Roy's apartment?

10. What was the parking lot theme at Colt Stadium?

I think most of these got answered. The theme to the Colt Stadium parking lot was not the La Brea Tar Pits as James suggested. (The asphalt was poured just in the nick of time for opening day leading to some sticky trekking). It was Old West heroes, like Cheyenne Bodie, Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Cody, etc:



It was close to the dark horse's ass that I stepped in a puddle of Nellie Fox's tobacco juice.

[crashtest]

The bonus question:

Mr. One-and-Oh was Wade Blasingame. (Maybe better stated as Mr. One-and-Aaaaauuuuggghhh).

[crashtest]

jamesa46 said:

crashtest said:

Who was the very first player selected by the Colt .45s in the expansion draft?

Eddie Bressoud

Correctamundo!

[crashtest]

Which petroleum company was the first to put their logo on the big scoreboard at Colt Stadium?

[crashtest]

Who was the first player to play in an official game for the Colt .45s to be traded? With whom did we trade and who did we get?