Houston Astros Tickets

Houston Astros Tickets

Houston Astros From Then To Now

Beginning as the minor league team for the Cardinals of St. Louis, the Houston Buffalos (now the Houston Astros) came to the majors in 1962. Four men, two who wanted to buy the Cardinals in 1952 (Kirksey and Cullinan); one with the money (Smith); and one with the legal and political ties (Hofheinz) formed the Houston Sports Association (HSA).

The current Major League wasn't looking to expand. Therefore, the HSA proposed to start the Continental League. The Major League, to secure the hold on the sport and the possible new markets, decided to expand both the American and National leagues from eight to ten teams each. The team joined the National league in 1962.

In a local contest to name the new entity, it was named after the "gun that won the west" the Colt 45. Navy and orange were selected as team colors, and players were picked from an expansion draft in 1961. Playing in Colt Stadium until an indoor stadium could be built; the Sports Association started constructing a team.

In honor of the space program the new stadium was named the Astrodome and the team took the name, Astros. The team's best showing in 2005 brought them in as wild cards and they made it to the World Series. Unfortunately, they were swept by the White Sox. Throughout the history, this team has won seven division titles and one league title.

The new millennium brought the Astros to a new stadium to the downtown area. Built on the old site of the Union Station, the building was originally called Enron Field, and The Ballpark at Union Station, it is currently known as the Minute Maid Park. The dome was gone and the first retractable roofed stadium in the city was here.

The change in venue also brought a change in uniforms. Traditional pinstripes with brick red, sand, and black became the new colors and the shooting star logo was updated. Throughout the Astros 49 seasons, the team has averaged a . 498 win/lose percentage. With just over half of the 2011 season completed, the average is .330.

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