Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. On April 10, 1962 the Astros (then known as the Colt .45's) won their inaugural game. What former American League MVP was the Colt .45's starting and winning pitcher that day?
2. What outfielder led the Colt .45's in home runs in 1962?
3. On September 27, 1963, Houston started a lineup of nine rookies, 5 of whom were still teenagers. The two gray-beards of the group were a pair of outfielders, 21-year old Jimmy Wynn and another 21-year old who would later become an NFL head linesman and who has some rather well known siblings. Which of the following would that man be?
4. What Houston pitcher was the first pitcher in history to throw a nine-inning no-hitter and lose?
5. What Astro pitcher surrendered Willie Mays' 500th career home run?
6. Eddie Mathews collected his 500th career home run while a member of the Astros. What future Hall-of-Fame pitcher surrendered the historic clout?
7. A little over a month after Eddie Mathews hit his 500th home run, the Astros traded him to the Detriot Tigers for which pitcher?
8. On June 10, 1968, two Astro players refused to play in that day's game because of mourning for the slain Robert Kennedy and were later fined. Which two players?
9. Roger Maris hit his 275th and final career home run off which Astro pitcher?
10. This Astro infielder was traded to the Braves at the end of the 1968 season. At that time he was the last of the original Colt .45's still with the franchise as an active player. Who was he?
11. What was the first year the franchise recorded a .500 or better winning percentage?
12. Who became the first Houston player to hit three home runs in a single game?
13. Most baseball fans know that Bob Watson is credited with scoring the 1,000,000th run in major league history. Who drove in that historic run?
14. Pitcher Joe Niekro hit the only home run of his major league career while a member of the Astros. Which pitcher has the dubious honor of allowing this home run?
15. In 1978, which Astro pitcher became the first National League right hander to strike out 300 or more batters in a single season?
16. In 1979 what former Astro standout, then playing in the American League, became the first major league player to hit for the cycle in both the American and National Leagues?
17. In his first start as an Astro, Nolan Ryan hit his first career home run off which future Hall-of-Famer?
18. Which former Astro holds the distinction of being both Nolan Ryan's and Bob Gibson's 3000th strikeout victim?
19. 1980: after 19 years as a member of the National League, the Astros finally reached the post season, but had to win a one game playoff against the Los Angeles Dodgers to do so. Which Astro hitter drove in four runs in the game, including a key three-run home run to help the Astros reach the post season for the first time?
20. In Game 4 of the 1980 NLCS, many Astro fans still cringe at the mention of umpire Doug Harvey's name for his call on the infamous "triple play that wasn't", but for my money the goat horns in this game belong to this Astro outfielder whose base running gaffes twice took the Astros out of potential big innings, once by leaving third too early on a potential sacrifice fly by Luis Pujols in the sixth inning. Can you name this outfielder?
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