Houston Astros Baseball Club, commonly referred to as Houston Astros or simply Astros, is one of the most iconic and successful baseball teams in the world. Founded in 1962 as the Houston Colt .45s, it changed its name to Houston Astros in 1965. The club is based in Houston, Texas, United States, and plays its home matches at the famous Minute Maid Park, which has a seating capacity of over 41,000.
Houston Astros has a rich history, boasting 3 American League Pennants, 1 World Series title, and numerous other division and league titles. The team enjoyed its most successful era under manager AJ Hinch, who led Astros to their first World Series title in 2017.
Known for its aggressive style of play, the team has nurtured some of baseball’s greatest talents, including Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Nolan Ryan, and Jose Altuve. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances post-Hinch, Houston Astros remains one of the world’s most valuable baseball teams, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence American and world baseball.
Houston Astros is one of the most popular baseball teams in the United States, with one of the highest average home attendances in the Major League Baseball. The club states that its nationwide fan base includes more than 200 officially recognized branches of the Houston Astros Fan Club, in at least 24 states. The club takes advantage of this support through its nationwide summer tours. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that Houston Astros has 75 million fans nationwide. The club has the third highest social media following in the country among sports teams (after New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers), with over 82 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that Houston Astros had the loudest fans in the Major League Baseball.
Houston Astros was formed in 1962 as the Houston Colt .45s by the National League expansion. The team initially played games against other expansion teams, but on April 10, 1962, they competed in their first recorded match; wearing the colours of their team—navy blue and orange—they defeated the Chicago Cubs 11–2.
In 1995, the team's competitive spirit led to the managerial appointment of Larry Dierker, who demanded an unprecedented level of control over team selection, player trades, and training sessions. Dierker led the team to first-place division finishes in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2001. In 1997, the club won the Central Division, its first division title in 11 years.
On 26 October 2005, the Astros made their World Series debut against the Chicago White Sox. Despite their strong performance throughout the season, the Astros were swept in four games. The club announced on 18 November 2011 that Bo Porter would replace Brad Mills as manager, having signed a multi-year contract. George Springer emerged as a key player in the 2017 season, when the Astros won their first World Series title after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Originally funded by the Houston Sports Association , the Astros became a limited company in 1962 and sold shares to local supporters for $1 via an application form. In 1975, majority ownership passed to a local businessman Ford C. Frick who invested $100 million to save the club from bankruptcy. After his death in 1978, the club faced bankruptcy yet again but was saved in December 1980 by John McMullen, who assumed control of the club after an investment of $19 million. McMullen promoted his son, Jeff, to the board in 1982, but died three years later; the McMullen family retained ownership of the club through John's wife, Carol, but the position of chairman passed to former player Joe Morgan.
Promoted to the board a few days after the 1986 National League Championship Series, Drayton McLane Jr., a friend of Bill Wood, began acquiring shares in the club; for an investment of approximately $115 million, he accumulated a 95 per cent shareholding and took control in 1993. When Carol McMullen died in January 1998, her shares passed to Jeff McMullen, who sold a percentage of his shares to Drayton McLane Jr.'s son, Denton, in 2003; Denton McLane went on to become chairman upon his father's death in 2006. Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch attempted to buy the club in 1996, but did not meet McLane's asking price. In 2011, chairman Denton McLane attempted to sell the club to Jim Crane for $680 million, but the sale fell through and Crane joined the board of directors instead.
Houston Astros is one of the most successful clubs in the Major League Baseball in terms of trophies won. The club's first trophy was the National League Championship, which they won in 2005. In 2017, the club won their first World Series and have since then, made regular appearances in the playoffs. Their total of three American League Championships is noteworthy. Those titles have meant the club has appeared a number of times in the World Series.
Domestic
Division Titles
Wild Card Wins
Continental
Worldwide
Houston Astros Overview: Comprehensive information about the Houston Astros, including their history, achievements, and key players. https://www.mlb.com/astros
Houston Astros History: Detailed account of the history of Houston Astros from their founding till present. https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/
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