The Houston Astros! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Colt .45s

They were the Houston Colt .45s for their first three seasons before taking on the Astros name in 1965. Harry Craft lasted for three seasons before manager Lum Harris took over. Almost like the dismal New York Mets, the .45s/Astros lost 90+ games in each of their first seven seasons. The Mets lost 100+ in five of their first six seasons.

Answer: 1998

Under manager Larry Dierker, the Astros went 102-60 to win their division in 1998, but lost the NLDS to the Padres, who went on to the World Series and lost to the Yankees.

Answer: 2005

In 2005, Phil Garner, managing his first full season with the Astros, won the NLDS against Braves, NLCS against the Cardinals, then lost to the White Sox four games to none in the promised land.

Answer: Don Nottebart

Other than Ryan, the others never pitched for Houston, but Nolan didn't begin his career until 1966 and didn't pitch for Houston until 1980. On May 17, 1963, Nottebart and Houston no-hit the Phillies 4-1 for the club's first. Other Houston pitchers to throw no-hitters were Ken Johnson (1964), Don Wilson (1967 and 1969), Larry Dierker (1976), Ken Forsch (1979), Nolan Ryan (1981), Mike Scott (1986), and Darryl Kile (1993).

Answer: Colt Stadium

Their first three seasons were at Colt Stadium until after the 1964 season when they moved into the Astrodome. The Astros played in the Astrodome until 1999, then moved into Enron Field in 2000.

Answer: Larry Dierker

The others never won 20 games in a season for Houston. Dierker went 20-13 very quietly while the New York 'Amazing' Mets were the scream of the season. Mike Scott was also a 20-game winner for Houston in 1989, and Jose Lima won 21 in 1999. In 2004 and 2005, Roy Oswalt won 20 games for the Astros also.

Answer: Rusty Staub

The other three were Houston's 1962 first baseman, second baseman, and shortstop. They all played with the Dodgers in 1961. Staub was a rookie in 1963, and played his first six seasons with Houston. His nickname was 'Le Grand Orange', for his red hair.

Answer: Nobody did

The others were never Astros. A team milestone for sure to hit 50 home runs in a season, but nobody came that close for them. Jeff Bagwell hit 47 in 2000. Richard Hidalgo also hit 44 for the Astros in 2000. Moises Alou topped out at 38 in 1998 for Houston, and Doug Rader hit only 25 in 1970.

Answer: Mike Scott

Nolan Ryan, although not being an answer option, never won either award in his career, and Schmidt was a career Phillie along with Kaline being a career Tiger. Scott won the NL Cy Young in 1986 for his stellar season of going 18-10 with an ERA of 2.22 and 306 strikeouts.

In 1989, Mike went 20-10 for the Astros and was runner-up for the Cy, losing to Mark Davis of the San Diego Padres. Jeff Bagwell won Houston's first MVP award in 1994.

Answer: Bob Lillis

The others all died long before Houston ever became a franchise in Major League Baseball. The team has had many former players become Astro managers in the names of Phil Garner, Larry Dierker, and others, but Lillis was the first. He played for Houston in their inception in 1962, then retired as an Astro in 1967.

He took over the reins in 1982 and managed them until 1985. He never took the Astros to a better than second place finish. Lillis was replaced by Hal Lanier.