1962 Houston Colt .45s season

1962 Houston Colt .45s
LeagueNational League
BallparkColt Stadium
CityHouston, Texas
Record64–96–2 (.401)
League place8th
OwnersCraig F. Cullinan Jr., Roy Hofheinz
General managersPaul Richards
ManagersHarry Craft
TelevisionKTRK
(Al Helfer, Gene Elston, Guy Savage)
RadioKPRC (AM)
(Al Helfer, Gene Elston, Loel Passe)

The 1962 Houston Colt .45s season was the inaugural season for the expansion team in Major League Baseball (MLB) located in Houston, Texas, which were established as a member of the National League (NL), and based at Colt Stadium.

The first manager named for the Colt .45s was Harry Craft, having previously guided the Triple-A Houston Buffaloes in the same post through the 1961 season. Introduced along with the New York Mets, the Colt .45s formed their major league roster through the 1961 expansion draft, and their first pick was shortstop Ed Bressoud.

The first game in franchise history took place on April 10, 1962, at Colt Stadium hosting the Chicago Cubs, which Houston won, 11–2. Opening Day starting pitcher Bobby Shantz threw the first pitch in club history, while Bob Aspromonte delivered the first hit. Shantz tossed a complete game and Román Mejías connected for the first home run and a total of two on the day. This was the first MLB game played in the state of Texas. Through the first three months of the season, the Colt .45s played to a 32–41 record. However, they struggled to a 5–24 record in the month of July.

Pitcher Turk Farrell represented the Colt .45s for both MLB All-Star Games that year, his second and third career selections.[a] In September, Houston secured the first winning month in club history, at 15–12.

The Colt .45s concluded the season with a 64–96–2 record, in eighth place among 10 NL clubs, and 36+1⁄2 games behind the NL pennant-winning San Francisco Giants. Houston would lose 96 games each of their first three seasons, representing the original club record until 1965, when they lost 97. The 36+1⁄2 games behind established another club record that remained until 1975, when they placed 43+1⁄2 games behind the NL West division-champion Cincinnati Reds.

Shantz, a stellar defender off the mound throughout his career, was recognized with the sixth of eight career Gold Glove Awards following the season.[b]

Offseason

Summary

On January 3, 1962, a groundbreaking ceremony was showcased to establish the construction of the Astrodome. The ceremony included the firing of pistols into the earth by team, city, and county officials.[1]

Transactions

Expansion draft

Main article: 1961 MLB expansion draft

The Colt .45s were one of two teams added to the National League before the 1962 season, the other being the New York Mets. This brought the number of teams in the NL to ten, matching the 1961 expansion of the American League.

Regular phase

$75,000 per player

Premium phase

$125,000 per player

1961 minor league affiliates

The Colt .45s and Mets were established on October 17, 1960, giving them time to acquire professional minor-league players, sign amateur free agents (there was no MLB first-year player draft until 1965) and enter into working agreements with minor league affiliates during the 1961 season. Houston had formal working agreements with two minor league baseball teams in 1961 (see table below). In addition, the roster of the 1961 Houston Buffs of the Triple-A American Association, officially a minor-league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, would include a handful of players signed by the Colt .45s. The most prominent of these was Dave Giusti, then 21, who went on to a 15-year MLB career.

Level Team League Manager
A Jacksonville Jets Sally League Tom Saffell and Dixie Howell
D Salisbury Braves Western Carolinas League Alex Cosmidis

Regular season

Summary

The inaugural series

Inaugural game
April 10, Colt Stadium, Houston, Texas
Opening Day linescore[9]
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Chicago 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 5 0
Houston 1 0 4 0 0 0 3 3 × 11 13 2
W: Shantz (1–0)  •  L: Cardwell (0–1)
HRs: Mejias 2 (2), Smith (1), Banks (1)

Opening Day starting lineup [10][11]

14 Bob Aspromonte    3B
21 Al Spangler CF
25 Román Mejías RF
10 Norm Larker 1B
23 Jim Pendleton LF
 8 Hal Smith  C
11 Joey Amalfitano 2B
18 Don Buddin SS
42 Bobby Shantz  P
Venue: Colt Stadium • HOU 11, CHC 2

The Colt .45s started their inaugural season on April 10, 1962, with an 11–2 win against the Chicago Cubs, highlighted by a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning with no outs by Román Mejías, the first home run in franchise history. Mejías became Houston's breakout offensive star for that game, going 3-for-5 with six runs batted in (RBI). Catcher Hal Smith followed Mejías' home run in the third inning with his first of the season just two outs later. Al Spangler was 2-for-3 with two bases on balls and connected for the first triple in franchise history.[10] Bob Aspromonte delivered the first hit and scored the first run. Mejías connected for a second home run in the eighth inning, and Shantz threw a complete game to earn the win.[12]

By virtue of driving in 6 runs in the Colt .45s' inaugural game, Mejías established the single-game franchise RBI record, which stood until August 29, 1989, when Rafael Ramírez produced 7 RBI, also against the Chicago Cubs.[1] Mejías continued the momentum of his brilliant start, establishing another Colt .45s record with an eight-game hitting streak to open the 1962 campaign,[13] and followed that up by starting another hitting streak the following month.

In the second game on April 11, Hal Woodeshick and Dick "Turk" Farrell combined to produce Houston's first shutout victory, 2-0 . Hal Smith stroked a two-run single in the first inning to accounted for the all of the game's scoring. Moreover, this contest actualized the franchise's first-ever rain delay, spanning one hour and seven minutes. During the Opening Series finale on April 12, Dean Stone tossed the first complete-game shutout in Colts franchise history, a three-hitter that led a 3–0 win. Stone's effort also capped a three-game sweep of the Cubs in Houston's first-ever series in their first homestand. With a 3–0 record, the Colt .45s retained a share of the National League lead with the San Francisco Giants.[1]

Rest of April—May

Houston, as the major league club, hosted the St. Louis Cardinals for the first time on April 24, 1962. Prior to joining the National League, Houston's Buffaloes had served as one of Cardinals' minor league affiliates over a span of four decades, where which many future Cardinals stars made their way to the major leagues.[1] Don Taussig, a Colt .45s expansion draftee from the Cardinals,[7] hit the go-ahead home run off Larry Jackson in the sixth inning that set a 4–3 Colts victory. Hal Woodeshick navigated five errors to earn the victory.[1] This was Taussig's only home run for Houston, and the final of his major league career.[7]

The team finished April with a 7–8 record, 4 games in front of fellow-expansion club the New York Mets and only 5 games behind the National League-leading Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates.

On May 10, Mejías connected for the first-ever inside-the-park home run at Colt Stadium,[14] a fly ball to center field during the bottom of the first inning off Don Drysdale of the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, in the top of the fourth, Larry Burright connected for a three-run jack off Bob Bruce, his first in the major leagues. Los Angeles never looked back, winning 6–2, while handing Bruce his first loss of the season.[15]

Beginning May 25, Mejías initiated another hitting streak for 16 games to establish one of Houston's earliest club records, during which he carried a .368 batting average. This hitting streak lasted until June 10, and stood as the record stood until Rusty Staub hit in 20 consecutively from June 30 to July 21, 1967.[16]

A new idea was presented to Harris County commissioners on May 31 by Weldon Appelt to build a stadium using arches to facilitate construction, leading to a proposing for a domed stadium. Meanwhile, the Colt .45s defeated the Chicago Cubs, 10–6, after erupting for five runs ninth inning.[17]

June

By June 2, with the second loss to the Pirates in Pittsburgh, the Colt .45s had fallen to 16 games behind the eventual NL champion Giants, a deficit that no pre-Wild Card era team had ever recovered from to make the post season.[18]

During a doubleheader on June 10 hosting the Dodgers, 78 fans and umpire Jocko Conlan suffered heat stroke. Though the Dodgers swept the doubleheader, many of their players complained about the excess heat. Colts shortstop Don Buddin hit a grand slam during the second game, the first-ever in franchise history,[19] also the first-ever hit at Colt Stadium.[14] Not only was the heat too much, but the Dodgers proved too much for the Colt .45s, sweeping the set by scores of 9–3 and 9–7.[20] However, Buddin's eventful slam came ignited a later-inning rally during the second game, as he golfed a Joe Moeller pitch to left in the bottom of the sixth with Los Angeles leading, 9–1. In the bottom of the ninth, Houston loaded the bases again with none out during a succession of the first five batters to reach base, including on an error and fielder's choice. Two runs scored; however, Aspromonte was retired on a groundout for the final out of the contest.[21]

August

With an August 21 loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies,[22] the Houston Colt .45s were mathematically eliminated from the postseason with a 37-game deficit to the Dodgers with 37 games remaining.

Performance overview

The Houston Colt .45s concluded their inaugural season with a record of 64–96–2 (.401), for eighth place of ten clubs in the National League, trailing the NL pennant-winning San Francisco Giants by 36+1⁄2 games.[23] During each of their first three seasons, Houston lost 96 games to tie the default record set in 1962, until they set a new club record with 97 defeats in 1965. Houston would lose 90 or more contests in each of their first seven seasons until producing their first .500 season in 1969, and in 1972, realized their first-ever winning season, at 84–69 (.549). The Colt .45s hosted 924,456 fans during their inaugural season, which remained the most over their first three seasons, all at Colt Stadium, until 1965, when they drew over 2 million for the first time during their inaugural season at the Astrodome.[24]

To get an idea of how the first season was for Houston, look at the team's best pitcher, Richard "Turk" Farrell. A starter for the Colt .45s, he was primarily a relief pitcher when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. Turk lost 20 games in 1962, but had an earned run average (ERA) of 3.02. Turk was selected to both All-Star games that year.

A late-blooming outfielder emerged as a bright spot for the .Colt 45s line up in 1962. Román Mejías, acquired from the Pirates during the expansion draft, was named the Colt .45s starting right fielder and emerged as a breakout performer during his age-36 season. Prior to coming to Houston, he had appeared in 308 games over six seasons with Pittsburgh, batting .245 with 17 home runs and 83 RBI. In Houston, Mejías played the best baseball of his major league career, simultaneously establishing career highs in virtually every offensive category,[25] while leading the team in numerous categories,[26] which introduced many of the original single-season franchise offensive records. While he played better the first half of the season, an injury slowed him the second half of the season. However, he still finished with a .286 batting average, 24 home runs, and 76 RBI. His modesty and his hard play made him a fan favorite that year. Despite his excellent performance, Mejías was traded to the Boston Red Sox in the fall of 1962.[27]

Season standings

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
San Francisco Giants 103 62 .624 — 61‍–‍21 42‍–‍41
Los Angeles Dodgers 102 63 .618 1 54‍–‍29 48‍–‍34
Cincinnati Reds 98 64 .605 3½ 58‍–‍23 40‍–‍41
Pittsburgh Pirates 93 68 .578 8 51‍–‍30 42‍–‍38
Milwaukee Braves 86 76 .531 15½ 49‍–‍32 37‍–‍44
St. Louis Cardinals 84 78 .519 17½ 44‍–‍37 40‍–‍41
Philadelphia Phillies 81 80 .503 20 46‍–‍34 35‍–‍46
Houston Colt .45s 64 96 .400 36½ 32‍–‍48 32‍–‍48
Chicago Cubs 59 103 .364 42½ 32‍–‍49 27‍–‍54
New York Mets 40 120 .250 60½ 22‍–‍58 18‍–‍62

Record vs. opponents

1962 National League record

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
Team CHC CIN HOU LAD MIL NYM PHI PIT SF STL
Chicago — 4–14 7–11 4–14 8–10 9–9 10–8 4–14 6–12 7–11
Cincinnati 14–4 — 13–5 9–9 13–5 13–5 8–10 13–5 7–11 8–10
Houston 11–7 5–13 — 6–12 7–11 13–3–1 1–17 5–13 7–11 9–9–1
Los Angeles 14–4 9–9 12–6 — 10–8 16–2 14–4 10–8 10–11 7–11
Milwaukee 10–8 5–13 11–7 8–10 — 12–6 11–7 10–8 7–11 12–6
New York 9–9 5–13 3–13–1 2–16 6–12 — 4–14 2–16 4–14 5–13
Philadelphia 8–10 10–8 17–1 4–14 7–11 14–4 — 7–10 5–13 9–9
Pittsburgh 14–4 5–13 13–5 8–10 8–10 16–2 10–7 — 7–11 12–6
San Francisco 12–6 11–7 11–7 11–10 11–7 14–4 13–5 11–7 — 9–9
St. Louis 11–7 10–8 9–9–1 11–7 6–12 13–5 9–9 6–12 9–9 —


Notable transactions

Roster

1962 Houston Colt .45s
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Game log

Houston Colt .45s 1962 Regular Season Game Log
April 1962 (7–8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 10 Cubs 11–2 Shantz (1–0) Cardwell (0–1) – 25,271 1–0
2 April 11 Cubs 2–0 Woodeshick (1–0) Hobbie (0–1) Farrell (1) 20,336 2–0
3 April 12 Cubs 2–0 Stone (1–0) Curtis (0–1) – 7,838 3–0
4 April 13 @ Phillies 2–3 Hamilton (1–0) Farrell (0–1) – 12,633 3–1
5 April 14 @ Phillies 0–3 Mahaffey (2–0) Johnson (0–1) – 2,732 3–2
6 April 17 @ Mets 5–2 (11) Golden (1–0) Moford (0–1) Tiefenauer (1) 3,191 4–2
7 April 18 @ Cubs 2–3 (10) Ellsworth (1–0) Farrell (0–2) – 3,318 4–3
8 April 19 @ Cubs 6–0 Stone (2–0) Cardwell (0–3) – 3,835 5–3
9 April 21 Phillies 1–3 McLish (1–0) Johnson (0–2) Baldschun (1) 21,841 5–4
10 April 22 Phillies 3–4 Owens (1–1) Giusti (0–1) Baldschun (2) 13,130 5–5
11 April 24 Cardinals 4–3 Woodeshick (2–0) Jackson (2–1) – 19,335 6–5
12 April 25 Cardinals 5–5 (17) – – – 17,265 6–5
13 April 26 Cardinals 2–3 Gibson (1–1) Johnson (0–3) – 15,129 6–6
14 April 27 Braves 1–2 Shaw (2–1) Shantz (1–1) – 16,160 6–7
15 April 28 Braves 3–9 Butler (1–0) Giusti (0–2) – 22,501 6–8
16 April 29 Braves 3–2 Farrell (1–2) McMahon (0–1) – 21,050 7–8
May 1962 (12–19)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
17 May 1 @ Cardinals 4–6 Washburn (2–0) Stone (2–1) Bauta (1) 4,924 7–9
18 May 2 @ Cardinals 1–4 Gibson (2–1) Johnson (0–4) – 7,880 7–10
19 May 3 @ Cardinals 0–4 Simmons (4–0) Giusti (0–3) – 6,436 7–11
20 May 4 @ Braves 7–4 Bruce (1–0) Hendley (2–2) Farrell (2) 7,811 8–11
21 May 5 @ Braves 5–6 (12) Curtis (1–2) Woodeschick (2–1) – 4,920 8–12
22 May 6 @ Braves 2–3 Spahn (3–3) Golden (1–1) – 12,635 8–13
23 May 6 @ Braves 9–1 Farrell (2–2) Willey (0–2) – 12,635 9–13
24 May 7 Dodgers 9–6 Tiefenauer (1–0) Richert (1–1) – 19,170 10–13
25 May 8 Dodgers 6–9 (10) Perranoski (2–0) Tiefenauer (1–1) Roebuck (1) 17,483 10–14
26 May 9 Dodgers 2–9 Podres (2–2) Richert (1–1) – 12,684 10–15
27 May 10 Dodgers 2–6 Drysdale (5–1) Bruce (1–1) – 15,076 10–16
28 May 11 Giants 7–0 Farrell (3–2) Perry (2–1) – 19,003 11–16
29 May 12 Giants 0–11 Marichal (6–2) Woodeshick (2–2) – 26,311 11–17
30 May 13 Giants 2–7 Sanford (4–2) Johnson (0–5) – 19,879 11–18
31 May 15 @ Dodgers 7–10 Perranoski (3–0) Tiefenauer (1–2) – 18,675 11–19
32 May 16 @ Dodgers 2–5 Moeller (2–3) Farrell (3–3) Roebuck (3) 16,075 11–20
33 May 17 @ Dodgers 4–2 (10) Roebuck (2–0) Tiefenauer (1–2) – 17,639 11–21
34 May 18 @ Giants 3–2 (10) Johnson (1–5) Sanford (4–3) – 18,544 12–21
35 May 19 @ Giants 2–10 McCormick (1–1) Witt (0–1) Larson (3) 16,701 12–22
36 May 20 @ Giants 6–5 Bruce (2–1) Marichal (7–3) Farrell (3) 40,932 13–22
37 May 20 @ Giants 4–7 Pierce (6–0) Woodeshick (2–3) – 40,932 13–23
38 May 21 Mets 3–2 Golden (2–1) Mizell (1–2) – 16,317 14–23
39 May 22 Mets 3–2 Farrell (4–3) Hook (3–3) – 11,980 15–23
40 May 23 Reds 2–0 Johnson (2–5) Purkey (7–1) – 9,266 16–23
41 May 24 Reds 0–5 Jay (6–4) Witt (0–2) – 8,570 16–24
42 May 25 Pirates 3–4 (13) Face (2–1) Tiefenauer (1–4) Sturdivant (1) 11,350 16–25
43 May 26 Pirates 2–0 Golden (3–1) Friend (4–6) – 13,909 17–25
44 May 27 Pirates 2–7 Law (2–1) Johnson (2–6) – 11,793 17–26
45 May 28 @ Reds 6–9 Jay (7–4) Farrell (4–4) – 8,979 17–27
46 May 30 @ Cubs 8–6 (14) Giusti (1–3) Schultz (3–2) – 17,842 18–27
47 May 30 @ Cubs 10–6 McMahon (1–1) Elston (2–2) – 3,722 19–27
June 1962 (13–14)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
48 June 1 @ Pirates 4–8 Face (3–1) Golden (3–2) – 14,961 19–28
49 June 2 @ Pirates 2–9 Law (3–1) Farrell (4–5) – 11,703 19–29
50 June 3 @ Pirates 10–6 Tiefenauer (2–4) Sturdivant (3–3) McMahon (1) 24,282 20–29
51 June 3 @ Pirates 10–3 Johnson (3–6) McBean (5–2) – 24,282 21–29
52 June 5 Braves 7–1 Bruce (3–1) Piche (3–1) – 11,593 22–29
53 June 6 Braves 3–6 Burdette (3–4) Golden (3–3) – 11,569 22–30
54 June 7 Braves 3–2 McMahon (2–1) Spahn (6–6) – 14,818 23–30
55 June 8 Dodgers 3–4 (13) L. Sherry (4–2) McMahon (2–2) – 15,877 23–31
56 June 9 Dodgers 13–1 Bruce (4–1) Williams (6–2) – 11,908 24–31
57 June 10 Dodgers 3–9 Drysdale (10–3) Golden (3–4) – 30,027 24–32
58 June 10 Dodgers 7–9 Moeller (5–4) Woodeshick (2–4) Perranoski (7) 30,027 24–33
59 June 11 Mets 1–3 Jackson (3–7) Farrell (4–6) – 8,920 24–34
60 June 12 Mets 3–2 Johnson (4–6) Anderson (3–6) – 7,344 25–34
61 June 14 Mets 10–2 Bruce (5–1) Hook (4–7) – 10,761 26–34
62 June 15 @ Dodgers 2–0 Golden (4–4) Drysdale (10–4) – 22,709 27–34
63 June 16 @ Dodgers 4–1 Farrell (5–6) Podres (3–6) – 51,530 28–34
64 June 17 @ Dodgers 2–6 Roebuck (4–0) Johnson (4–7) L. Sherry (5) 47,397 28–35
65 June 19 @ Giants 6–4 Giusti (2–3) O'Dell (7–6) Farrell (4) 18,749 29–35
66 June 20 @ Giants 9–5 Stone (3–2) Miller (3–2) McMahon (2) 10,430 30–35
67 June 22 @ Mets 0–2 Jackson (4–8) Farrell (5–7) – 11,484 30–36
68 June 22 @ Mets 16–3 Golden (5–4) B. Miller (0–5) – 11,484 31–36
69 June 23 @ Mets 2–13 Hook (5–8) Johnson (4–8) – 6,425 31–37
70 June 25 @ Phillies 3–4 Green (2–2) Woodeshick (2–5) – 8,087 31–38
71 June 26 @ Phillies 0–2 Hamilton (5–5) Farrell (5–8) – 18,707 31–39
72 June 26 @ Phillies 4–6 Mahaffey (9–8) Golden (5–5) – 18,707 31–40
73 June 29 Reds 0–4 O'Toole (6–9) Johnson (4–9) – 7,612 31–41
74 June 30 Reds 7–3 (7) Bruce (6–1) Maloney (2–3) – 9,758 32–41
July 1962 (5–24)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
75 July 1 Reds 1–6 Jay (11–7) Golden (5–6) – 6,666 32–42
76 July 2 Pirates 2–4 Friend (8–8) Woodeshick (2–6) Face (14) 11,760 32–43
77 July 3 Pirates 2–5 Haddix (7–3) Johnson (4–10) Face (15) 10,729 32–44
78 July 4 Pirates 0–7 Law (7–3) Bruce (6–2) – 20,005 32–45
79 July 4 Pirates 3–4 Francis (5–5) Golden (5–7) Face (16) 20,005 32–46
80 July 6 @ Reds 2–0 Woodeshick (3–6) Jay (11–8) – 15,871 33–46
81 July 7 @ Reds 1–10 Purkey (14–2) Johnson (4–11) – 6,936 33–47
82 July 8 @ Reds 8–12 Maloney (4–3) Farrell (5–9) – 18,332 33–48
83 July 8 @ Reds 11–12 (13) O'Toole (8–9) Farrell (5–10) – 18,332 33–49
84 July 11 @ Phillies 1–6 Mahaffey (11–9) Woodeshick (3–7) – 3,441 33–50
85 July 12 @ Pirates 4–6 McBean (9–5) Golden (5–8) – 14,784 33–51
86 July 13 @ Pirates 0–4 Friend (9–9) Farrell (5–11) – 15,376 33–52
87 July 14 @ Pirates 2–4 Law (8–4) Bruce (6–3) - 7,343 33–53
88 July 15 Cubs 5–4 Woodeshick (4–7) Buhl (6–7) McMahon (3) 6,907 34–53
89 July 15 Cubs 1–4 Ellsworth (5–13) Johnson (4–12) – 6,907 34–54
90 July 17 Phillies 0–3 Hamilton (6–7) Kemmerer (0–1) Baldschun (9) 8,115 34–55
91 July 17 Phillies 2–8 McLish (6–2) Farrell (5–12) Bennett (1) 8,115 34–56
92 July 18 Phillies 2–6 Green (3–2) Bruce (6–4) – 5,140 34–57
93 July 19 Phillies 2–6 Short (5–6) Woodeshick (4–8) Baldschun (10) 5,017 34–58
94 July 20 Cardinals 4–3 Farrell (6–12) McDaniel (2–5) – 15,422 35–58
95 July 21 Cardinals 0–7 Jackson (9–8) Kemmerer (0–2) – 17,742 35–59
96 July 21 Cardinals 7–3 Johnson (5–12) Simmons (8–6) Golden (1) 17,742 36–59
97 July 22 Cardinals 1–3 Gibson (13–6) Bruce (6–5) McDaniel (11) 8,685 36–60
98 July 23 Giants 1–5 Bolin (6–0) Woodeshick (4–9) – 12,096 36–61
99 July 24 Giants 1–3 Sanford (13–6) Farrell (6–13) Larsen (6) 11,289 36–62
100 July 25 Giants 2–3 O'Dell (12–8) Golden (5–9) Miller (14) 12,344 36–63
101 July 27 @ Cubs 1–5 Ellsworth (6–14) Woodeshick (4–10) – 6,111 36–64
102 July 29 @ Cubs 2–4 Koonce (9–3) Golden (5–10) Cardwell (2) 10,334 36–65
103 July 29 @ Cubs 3–1 Farrell (7–13) Hobbie (3–10) – 10,334 37–65
August 1962 (12–19)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
104 August 1 @ Braves 0–3 Shaw (12–8) Woodeshick (4–11) – 10,829 37–66
105 August 2 @ Braves 3–0 Farrell (8–13) Burdette (8–7) – 8.338 38–66
106 August 3 @ Cardinals 8–3 Johnson (6–12) Gibson (13–8) McMahon (4) 11,853 39–66
107 August 4 @ Cardinals 0–2 Washburn (10–5) Bruce (6–6) – 9,390 39–67
108 August 5 @ Cardinals 7–4 Kemmerer (1–2) McDaniel (2–6) McMahon (5) 14,954 40–67
109 August 5 @ Cardinals 4–7 Toth (1–0) Woodeshick (4–12) – 14,954 40–68
110 August 6 Reds 0–1 (13) Klippstein (4–2) McMahon (2–3) – 8,507 40–69
111 August 7 Reds 0–3 Jay (17–9) Johnson (6–13) – 6,523 40–70
112 August 8 Reds 0–4 Nuxhall (2–0) Bruce (6–7) Brosnan (8) 7,350 40–71
113 August 9 Reds 3–7 O'Toole (12–12) Woodeshick (4–13) – 5,196 40–72
114 August 10 Braves 6–7 Spahn (12–11) Brunet (0–1) Raymond (5) 7,047 40–73
115 August 11 Braves 1–3 Shaw (14–8) Farrell (8–14) Raymond (6) 14,630 40–74
116 August 12 Braves 8–5 Bruce (7–7) Burdette (9–8) Kemmerer (1) 4,902 41–74
117 August 14 Cardinals 4–3 (10) McMahon (3–3) Gibson (14–9) – 9,604 42–74
118 August 15 Cardinals 3–1 Woodeshick (5–13) Washburn (10–6) Kemmerer (2) 8,843 43–74
119 August 16 Cardinals 1–3 Jackson (10–10) Farrell (8–15) – 9,159 43–75
120 August 17 Cubs 3–2 Kemmerer (2–2) Anderson (2–6) – 6,539 44–75
121 August 18 Cubs 2–1 Brunet (1–1) Koonce (9–6) – 12,243 45–75
122 August 18 Cubs 5–6 Elston (4–7) McMahon (3–4) Cardwell (4) 12,243 45–76
123 August 19 Cubs 3–4 Buhl (9–9) Woodeshick (5–14) Anderson (4) 4,543 45–77
124 August 20 @ Phillies 1–7 Green (6–5) Farrell (8–16) – 14,601 45–78
125 August 21 @ Phillies 3–5 Mahaffey (17–10) Bruce (7–8) – 5,489 45–79
126 August 21 @ Phillies 4–7 Hamilton (7–11) Golden (5–11) – 5,489 45–80
127 August 22 @ Pirates 0–3 Sturdivant (6–3) Brunet (1–2) – 10,553 45–81
128 August 23 @ Pirates 0–4 Law (10–6) Johnson (6–14) – 10,742 45–82
129 August 24 @ Reds 2–4 Purkey (20–4) Woodeshick (5–15) – 18,879 45–83
130 August 25 @ Reds 6–7 Jay (20–10) Farrell (8–17) Brosnan (10) 12,680 45–84
131 August 26 @ Reds 2–1 Brunet (2–2) Maloney (8–5) – 25,808 46–84
132 August 26 @ Reds 6–4 McMahon (4–4) Wills (0–2) Umbricht (1) 25,808 47–84
133 August 28 @ Cardinals 4–2 Bruce (8–8) Broglio (10–7) McMahon (6) 9,510 48–84
134 August 29 @ Cardinals 3–2 Farrell (9–17) Gibson (15–10) – 8,295 49–84
September 1962 (15–12)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
135 September 1 @ Cubs 3–4 Ellsworth (8–17) McMahon (4–5) Schultz (3) 9,887 49–85
136 September 2 @ Cubs 3–1 McMahon (5–5) Buhl (10–10) – 13,088 50–85
137 September 3 Phillies 2–3 Mahaffey (18–11) Farrell (9–18) – 17,302 50–86
138 September 3 Phillies 3–5 Hamilton (8–11) Woodeshick (5–16) Bennett (3) 17,302 50–87
139 September 4 Phillies 4–1 Bruce (9–8) McLish (9–5) – 4,537 51–87
140 September 5 Pirates 5–3 Umbricht (1–0) Law (10–7) McMahon (7) 4,593 52–87
141 September 6 Pirates 4–3 Kemmerer (3–2) Face (8–7) – 5,196 53–87
142 September 7 Pirates 4–2 Golden (6–11) Jackson (8–18) McMahon (8) 6,208 54–87
143 September 8 Mets 4–3 Kemmerer (4–2) Anderson (3–17) – 1,638 55–87
144 September 8 Mets 6–5 (10) Umbricht (2–0) Craig (7–23) – 6,568 56–87
145 September 9 Mets 7–7 (8) – – – 3,630 56–87
146 September 12 Dodgers 0–1 Roebuck (10–0) Johnson (6–15) Perranoski (19) 28,669 56–88
147 September 14 @ Braves 1–3 Hendley (11–12) Farrell (9–19) – 5,505 56–89
148 September 15 @ Braves 8–9 Nottebart (2–2) Kemmerer (4–3) – 6,872 56–90
149 September 16 @ Braves 4–5 Burdette (10–9) McMahon (5–6) – 5,477 56–91
150 September 18 @ Mets 6–2 Johnson (7–15) Jackson (8–19) – 3,670 57–91
151 September 18 @ Mets 8–6 Drott (1–0) Foss (0–1) Umbricht (2) 3,670 58–91
152 September 20 @ Mets 7–2 Golden (7–11) Hook (8–18) Kemmerer (3) 1,481 59–91
153 September 20 @ Mets 5–4 (12) Kemmerer (5–3) Daviault (1–5) – 1,481 60–91
154 September 21 Giants 5–11 Perry (3–1) Brunet (2–3) Miller (18) 12,180 60–92
155 September 22 Giants 6–5 Umbricht (3–0) Miller (4–8) – 17,125 61–92
156 September 23 Giants 3–10 O'Dell (19–13) Bruce (9–9) – 9,623 61–93
157 September 25 @ Dodgers 3–2 (10) Farrell (10–19) Roebuck (10–1) – 25,036 62–93
158 September 26 @ Dodgers 1–13 Podres (15–12) Brunet (2–4) L. Sherry (11) 25,813 62–94
159 September 27 @ Dodgers 8–6 Umbricht (4–0) Perranoski (6–5) – 29,855 63–94
160 September 29 @ Giants 5–11 Sanford (24–7) Johnson (7–16) Miller (19) 26,268 63–95
161 September 29 @ Giants 4–2 Bruce (10–9) Marichal (18–11) – 26,268 64–95
162 September 30 @ Giants 1–2 Miller (5–8) Farrell (10–20) – 41,327 64–96

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases
Positional abbreviations: C = Catcher; 1B = First base; 2B = Second base; 3B = Third base; SS = Shortstop; LF = Left field; CF = Center field; RF = Right field

Pos Player G AB R H 2B 3B Avg. HR RBI SB
C Hal Smith 109 345 32 81 14 0 .235 12 35 0
1B Norm Larker 147 506 58 133 19 5 .263 9 63 1
2B Joey Amalfitano 117 380 44 90 12 5 .237 1 27 4
3B Bob Aspromonte 149 534 59 142 18 4 .266 11 59 4
SS Bob Lillis 129 457 38 114 12 4 .249 1 30 7
LF Al Spangler 129 418 51 119 10 9 .285 5 35 7
CF Carl Warwick 130 477 63 124 17 1 .260 16 60 2
RF Román Mejías 146 566 82 162 12 3 .286 24 76 12

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

Player G AB R H 2B 3B Avg. HR RBI SB
Jim Pendleton 117 321 30 79 12 2 .246 8 36 0
Merritt Ranew 71 218 26 51 6 8 .234 4 24 2
Billy Goodman 82 161 12 41 4 1 .255 0 10 0
J. C. Hartman 51 148 11 33 5 0 .223 0 5 1
Pidge Browne 65 100 8 21 4 2 .210 1 10 0
Johnny Temple 31 95 14 25 4 0 .263 0 12 1
Jim Campbell 27 86 6 19 4 0 .221 3 6 0
Don Buddin 40 80 10 13 4 1 .163 2 10 0
Al Heist 27 72 4 16 1 0 .222 0 3 0
Dave Roberts 16 53 3 13 3 0 .245 1 10 0
Bob Cerv 19 31 2 7 0 0 .226 2 3 0
Johnny Weekly 13 26 3 5 1 0 .192 2 2 0
Don Taussig 16 25 1 5 0 0 .200 1 1 0
Dick Gernert 10 24 1 5 0 0 .208 0 1 0
Ron Davis 6 14 1 3 0 0 .214 0 1 1
Ernie Fazio 12 12 3 1 0 0 .083 0 1 0
Jim Busby 15 11 2 2 0 0 .182 0 1 0
George Williams 5 8 1 3 1 0 .375 0 2 0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Player G GS IP W L ERA R ER BB K
Turk Farrell 43 29 241.2 10 20 3.02 91 81 55 203
Ken Johnson 33 31 197.0 7 16 3.03 100 84 46 178
Bob Bruce 32 27 175.0 10 9 4.06 92 79 82 135
Hal Woodeshick 31 26 139.1 5 16 4.39 84 68 54 82
Bobby Shantz 3 3 20.2 1 1 1.31 4 3 5 14

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Player G GS IP W L SV ERA R ER BB K
Jim Golden 37 18 152.2 7 11 1 4.07 84 69 50 88
Dave Giusti 22 5 73.2 2 3 0 5.62 49 46 30 43
George Brunet 17 11 54.0 2 4 0 4.50 31 27 21 36
Dean Stone 15 7 52.1 3 2 0 4.47 31 26 20 31
Red Witt 8 2 15.1 0 2 0 7.04 14 12 9 10
Dick Drott 6 1 13.0 1 0 0 7.62 12 11 9 10

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L SV ERA R ER BB K
Don McMahon 51 76.2 5 5 8 1.53 14 13 33 69
Bobby Tiefenauer 43 85.0 2 4 1 4.34 42 41 21 60
Russ Kemmerer 36 68.0 5 3 3 4.10 34 31 15 23
Jim Umbricht 34 67.0 4 0 2 2.01 19 15 17 55
John Anderson 10 17.2 0 0 0 5.09 12 10 3 6
Al Cicotte 5 4.2 0 0 0 3.86 4 2 1 4

Awards and achievements

Grand slams

No. Date Astros batter Venue Inning Pitcher Opposing team Box
1 June 10 Don Buddin Colt Stadium 6 Joe Moeller Los Angeles Dodgers [21]

Awards

League leaders

National League pitching leaders[32]

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

1962 minor league affiliates

Level Team League Manager
AAA Oklahoma City 89ers American Association Connie Ryan
B Durham Bulls Carolina League Lou Fitzgerald
C Modesto Colts California League Fred Hatfield
D Moultrie Colt .22s Georgia–Florida League Jim Walton

References

Footnotes
  1. ^ a b Major League Baseball held two All-Star Games each year from 1959 to 1962.
  2. ^ a b Based on performance with both the Colt .45s and St. Louis Cardinals as Shantz was acquired from Houston on May 7, 1962.
  3. ^ Also MLB leader.
Sources
  1. ^ a b c d e Hulsey, Bob. "This date in Astros history". Astros Daily. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  2. ^ "Rusty Staub stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  3. ^ "Al Cicotte stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Dave Philley stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  5. ^ "J. C. Hartman stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  6. ^ Merritt Ranew at Baseball Reference
  7. ^ a b c "Don Taussig stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  8. ^ Norm Larker at Baseball Reference
  9. ^ "Chicago Cubs at Houston Colt .45s box score". Baseball-Reference.com. April 10, 1962.
  10. ^ a b "Houston Colt .45s 11, Chicago Cubs 2 box score". Retrosheet. April 10, 1962. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
  11. ^ "1962 Houston Colt .45s uniform numbers". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  12. ^ "Highlights from Houston's first major league baseball game". KTNV-TV ABC-13. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  13. ^ Nowlin, Bill; Briley, Ron; Costello, Rory (March 9, 2023). "Román Mejías biography". Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Colt Stadium firsts". Retrosheet. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  15. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers (6) vs Houston Astros (2) box score". Baseball-Reference.com. May 10, 1962. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  16. ^ Smith, David. "Houston Astros hitting streaks". Astros Daily. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Retrosheet.
  17. ^ Schwartzberg, Seth (May 31, 2025). "Today in Astros history - May 31". The Crawfish Boxes. SB Nation. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  18. ^ Vass, George (2005). "The greatest pennant-chase comebacks in baseball history: here are 14 teams that trailed by 10 or more games near the season's midpoint and went on to win division or league titles". Baseball Digest.
  19. ^ Schwartzberg, Seth (June 10, 2025). "Today in Astros history - June 10". The Crawfish Boxes. SB Nation. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  20. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers (9) vs Houston Astros (3) box score—Game 1". Baseball-Reference.com. June 10, 1962. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  21. ^ a b "Los Angeles Dodgers (9) vs Houston Astros (7) box score—Game 2". Baseball-Reference.com. June 10, 1962. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  22. ^ "Philadelphia Phillies 5, Houston Colt .45s 3 (1) box score". Retrosheet. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
  23. ^ "1962 National League team statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  24. ^ "Houston Astros team history & encyclopedia". Baaseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  25. ^ "Román Mejías stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  26. ^ "1962 Houston Colt .45s statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  27. ^ Briley, Ron (June 10, 2003). "ROMAN MEJIAS – BRIEF BIOGRAPHY". McFarland & co. Archived from the original on June 16, 2009. Retrieved October 2, 2008.
  28. ^ a b "John Anderson stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  29. ^ a b "Bob Cerv stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  30. ^ McTaggart, Brian (December 21, 2009). "Bourn highlights Astros' awards season". MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  31. ^ "Gold Glove pitchers". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  32. ^ "1962 National League pitching leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
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