My First MLB Game July 20th, 1962 Quiz

Answer: Colt 45s

1962 was the inaugural season for Major League Baseball in Houston. The franchise was called the Colt 45s as a result of a name the team contest. The team finished the season with a record of 64 wins and 96 losses. The team name was changed to the Astros for the 1965 season.

The Aeros is the name of a professional hockey team from Houston, and the Texans are a National Football League team in Houston.

Answer: Turk Farrell

Richard "Turk" Farrell was selected by Houston in the 1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft, which also included the New York Mets. Farrell completed the season with an excellent 3.04 ERA but still lost 20 games. He was a three time All Star for Houston. None of the other three choices were active players in 1962.

Hall of Fame member Nolan Ryan was a starting pitcher for Houston from 1980 through 1988. Ryan also played for the Mets, Angels, and Rangers in his 27 year career. During that time he threw 7 no hitters, 61 shutouts, 222 complete games and struck out 5,714 batters.

J.R. Richard was a starting pitcher in Houston from 1971 through 1980 whose career was brought to a premature end by a stroke a few weeks after starting the 1980 All Star game for the National League.

Billy Wagner was a relief pitcher and closer in Houston from 1995 through 2003.

Answer: Stan Musial

Stan Musial played for St Louis from 1942 through 1963. He was a three time National League MVP, won three World Series championships with the Cardinals, and was a 24 time All Star. Musial is the only choice who ever played outfield for St Louis, and the only Hall of Fame member.

Julian Javier was an infielder with St Louis in 1962 who started the same game at second base.

Jim Wynn was an outfielder for Houston from 1963 through 1973. Wynn, known as The Toy Cannon, played for 15 years, including a World Series with the Dodgers.

Rusty Staub was an outfielder and first baseman for Houston from 1963 through 1968. Staub played for 23 years with teams including the Expos, Mets, Tigers and Rangers.

Answer: Colt Stadium

Colt Stadium was the original home of Major League Baseball in Houston. The 33,000 seat stadium was used until 1965 when the Astrodome was opened. Colt Stadium was eventually moved to Mexico where it became home to a Mexican League baseball team. Part of the stadium was located on ground now occupied by NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans NFL franchise. The team name was changed to the Astros with their move into the new stadium which was dubbed The Eighth Wonder of the World at the time.

The Astros left the Astrodome to move into Enron Field in 2000. That stadium renamed Minute Maid Park in 2002.

Buffalo Stadium was a minor league stadium for the Houston Buffalos, and the Houston Buffs from 1928 through 1959, as well as a home for the University of Houston Cougars in the 1940s.

Answer: Bob Aspromonte

Bob Aspromonte was selected by Houston in the 1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft. Aspromonte hit eleven home runs in 1962 and hit a career high twelve in 1964 when he was selected the team MVP. He played for Houston from 1962 through 1968 and later spent time with Atlanta and the New York Mets. Aspromote is the only choice who ever played professional baseball in Houston.

Mike Schmidt played third base for Philadelphia from 1972 through 1989 and was inducted to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995.

Ron Santo played third base for the Chicago Cubs from 1960 through 1973 and the Chicago White Sox in 1974. He was a nine time All Star and five time Gold Glove winner.

From 1987 through 2003 Matt Williams played third base for San Francisco, Cleveland and Arizona. He was a five time All Star and won four Gold Gloves.

Answer: Bob Lillis

Bob Lillis, nicknamed The Flea, was a shortstop for Los Angeles and St Louis from 1958 through 1961. He was selected by Houston during the 1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft. He played for Houston from 1962 through 1968. Lillis was named manager of the Houston Astros in 1982. Through the 1985 season he led the team to a record of 276 wins and 261 losses. Lillis is the only choice who played for Houston in 1962.

Julio Gotay was the starting shortstop for St Louis on the day I saw my first Major League Baseball game. He later played for the Houston Astros from 1966 through 1969.

Larry Dierker was a starting pitcher for Houston from 1964 through 1976. He won 137 games for Houston including 20 during an excellent 1969 season. After one season playing for St Louis Dierker took a job with the Astros in the sales department, then entertained fans for eighteen years as an Astros radio and television broadcaster before being named manager in 1997. The Astros made four playoff appearances in five years with Dierker as manager.

Phil Garner was a third baseman for Houston from 1981 through 1987. When Jimy Williams was fired as Astros manager in the middle of the 2004 season Garner selected as the replacement. He was the Astros manager when Houston appeared in the World Series in 2005.

Answer: Roman Mejias

Roman Mejias played in the Pittsburgh organization from 1955 through 1961. He spent only the 1962 season with Houston. During that season he hit 24 home runs with a .286 batting average. Mejia is the only choice who played for Houston in 1962.

Bob Watson played first base and outfield for Houston from 1966 through 1979. He later spent time with Boston, Atlanta and the New York Yankees. Watson was the first player to hit for the cycle in both the National and the American League. He spent time as the General Manager with both the Astros and the Yankees. Watson also spent time working for Major League Baseball in the Commissioner's Office.

Terry Puhl was an outfielder for Houston from 1977 through 1990. In fourteen seasons Puhl appeared in 1,516 games as an Astro.

Roberto Clemente played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 through 1972. He was a twelve time All Star, twelve time Gold Glove winner and the National League MVP in 1966. He won four National League batting titles, and was the 1971 World Series MVP. Clemente died in 1972 in an airplane accident while attempting to deliver aid to Nicaraguan earthquake victims. He was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973.

Answer: Curt Flood

Curt Flood was a centerfielder from 1956 through 1971 for the Cincinnati Redlegs, St Louis Cardinals and Washington Senators. He was a three time All Star and won seven consecutive Gold Gloves. However, he is best known for his refusal to accept a trade from St Louis to Philadelphia in 1969. His case was taken all the way to the US Supreme Court. Although he lost the case his actions ultimately led to significant changes in Major League Baseball and the birth of free agency.

Lou Brock was an outfielder for the Chicago Cubs and St Louis Cardinals from 1961 through 1979. But he didn't join the Cardinals until 1964. Brock was a six time All Star and inducted to the Major League Hall of Fame in 1985.

Al Spangler was an outfielder for Houston from 1961 through 1965 who started in left field for the Colt 45s on July 20th, 1962.

Kenny Lofton was a rookie centerfielder for Houston in 1991. However he was traded to Cleveland during the off-season. He went on to be a six time All Star during his seventeen year career.

Answer: Red Schoendienst

Red Schoendienst started and ended his 19 year career as a Major League Baseball player with the St Louis Cardinals. He also played for the New York Giants and Milwaukee Brewers. A ten time All Star with five World Series championships he was inducted to the baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. He managed the Cardinals from 1965 through 1976 and was twice voted the National League Manager of the Year.

Tony La Russa was also a former major league player but is much better known for his accomplishments as a manager. He managed the White Sox, Athletics, and Cardinals from 1979 through 2011. He won three World Series championships and was voted Manager of the Year four times.

Johnny Keane was the Cardinals manager who preceded Schoendienst, and their manager on the day I saw my first Major League Baseball game. Keane tendered his resignation immediately after winning the World Series in 1964. He went on to manage the New York Yankees the following two seasons.

Harry Craft was the first manager of Houston's new baseball franchise. Craft was a centerfielder for Cincinnati from 1937 through 1942. He was a manager for the Kansas City Athletics, Chicago Cubs and Houston Colt 45s. Under the leadership of Craft Houston won 191 games and lost 280 in their first three seasons.

Answer: Minnie Minoso

Minnie Minoso effectively ended his Major League Baseball career after the 1964 season. But he remained active in Mexican leagues. In 1976 he made an appearance in three games with the White Sox. That appearance allowed him to become only the third player to have a hit after their 50th birthday. In 1980, at the age of 55, he appeared in two more games for the White Sox.

Cesar Cedeno was an outfielder for the Houston Astros from 1970 through 1981. Over the next five years he also played for Cincinnati, St Louis and Los Angeles. Cedeno was a four time All Star and won five Gold Gloves with Houston.

Jose Cruz started his career with St Louis in 1970. He played for Houston from 1975 through 1987. Cruz was a two time All Star with Houston.

Ivan De Jesus was a major league infielder from 1974 through 1988 with Los Angeles, the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia, St Louis, the New York Yankees, San Francisco, and Detroit.