www abdopublishing com Published by Abdo Publishing a division of ABDO PO Box 398166 Minneapolis Minnesota 55439 Copyright 2015 by Abdo Consulting Group Inc International copyrights reserved in all countries No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher SportsZone is a trademark and logo of Abdo Publishing Printed in the United States of America North Mankato Minnesota 052014 092014 Editor Matt Tustison Copy Editor Nicholas Cafarelli Interior Design and Production Carol Castro Cover Design Kazuko Collins Photo Credits David J Phillip AP Images cover Pat Sullivan AP Images title 8 47 James A Finley AP Images 4 43 bottom David J Phillip AP Images 7 33 34 Darron Cummings AP Images 10 Houston Chronicle AP Images 12 Photo by Focus on Sport Getty Images 15 24 42 top JPK AP Images 16 Houston Astros AP Images 18 Charles E Knoblock AP Images 21 DY AP Images 22 Photo by Ronald C Modra Sports Imagery Getty Images 27 42 middle Susan Ragan AP Images 29 42 bottom Getty Images 30 Brett Coomer AP Images 36 43 top John Bazemore AP Images 39 43 middle Smiley N Pool The Houston Chronicle AP Images 41 Tim Johnson AP Images 44 Library of Congress Control Number 2014933080 Cataloging-in-Publication Data Roselius J Chris Houston Astros by J Chris Roselius p cm Inside MLB Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN 978-1-62403-471-8 1 Houston Astros Baseball team History Juvenile literature I Title GV875 H64R67 2015 796 357’64097641411 dc23 2014933080
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Back from the Dead 4 Chapter 2 The Beginning 12 Chapter 3 What Could Have Been 18 Chapter 4 Finally Finding Success 24 Chapter 5 The Killer Bs 30 Chapter 6 Getting Over the Hump 36 Timeline 42 Quick Stats 44 Quotes and Anecdotes 45 Glossary 46 For More Information 47 Index 48 About the Author 48
CHAPTER 1 BACK FROM THE DEAD
A s the Chicago White Sox celebrated winning the World Series in a sweep on October 26 2005 at Minute Maid Park members of the Houston Astros looked on in disbelief But when some of the disappointment went away those players could look back on a remarkable season Remarkable is a good word to describe the Astros presence in their first World Series that season It was the National League NL team’s 44th year in the major leagues Enter ing the season Houston had to fill gaps They were created by key player departures and injuries Center fielder Carlos Beltran signed with the New York Mets He had helped lift the Astros to the NL Champi onship Series NLCS in 2004 Second baseman Jeff Kent also was not re-signed He was the team leader in runs batted in RBIs in 2004 All-Star slugger Astros players including Brad Ausmus 11 Dan Wheeler 35 Astros players including Brad Ausmus 11 Dan Wheeler 35 and Chad Qualls 50 celebrate after the team won the 2005 NLCS and Chad Qualls 50 celebrate after the team won the 2005 NLCS BACK FROM THE DEAD 5
