1982 Houston Astros season

1982 Houston Astros
1982 Houston Astros
League	National League
Division	West
Ballpark	Astrodome
City	Houston, Texas
Record	77–85 (.475)
Divisional place	5th
Owners	John McMullen
General managers	Al Rosen
Managers	Bill Virdon (49–62); Bob Lillis (28–23)
Television	KRIV
Radio	KENR; (Gene Elston, Dewayne Staats, Larry Dierker)
	Seasons

The 1982 Houston Astros season was the 21st season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 18th as the Astros, 21st in the National League (NL), 14th in the NL West division, and 18th at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season with an overall record of 61–49 for third-best in the division. As a response to the players' strike, they qualified for the second-half division title after a one-time format with a split regular season and modified playoffs was introduced. In the National League Division Series (NLDS), Houston faced the first-half division-champion Los Angeles Dodgers, but were defeated prior to the Dodgers winning the World Series.

On April 6, Nolan Ryan made his first Opening Day start for Houston, who hosted the St. Louis Cardinals but were defeated, 14–3. On July 7, Don Sutton earned his 250th career victory.

First baseman Ray Knight represented the Astros at the MLB All-Star Game and played for the National League, his second career selection.

The Astros concluded the season with a 77–85 record, in fifth place and 12 games behind the division-champion Atlanta Braves.

Offseason

Summary

Former Colt .45s infielder Pete Runnels, a native of Lufkin, Texas, was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1982. Runnels played in Houston during the 1963 and 1964 campaigns.^[1]

Transctions

October 23, 1981: Pete Ladd was traded by the Astros to the Milwaukee Brewers for Rickey Keeton.^[2]
December 18, 1981: César Cedeño was traded by the Astros to the Cincinnati Reds for Ray Knight.^[3]

Regular season

Summary

April

Opening Day starting lineup^[4]^[5]

21	Terry Puhl	RF
30	Tony Scott	CF
3	Phil Garner	2B
25	José Cruz	LF
14	Alan Ashby	C
22	Ray Knight	3B
18	Art Howe	1B
12	Craig Reynolds	SS
34	Nolan Ryan	P
Venue:	Astrodome • STL 14,	HOU 3

José Cruz smashed his 100th career home run on April 26, a two-run shot off John Martin of the St. Louis Cardinals.^[6] Ray Knight slugged a home run of his own, collected three runs batted in (RBI) and was 3-for-4 as Houston triumphed, 6–2. Nolan Ryan (1–4) went the distance, struck out five, and earned his first win of the season ^[7]

Don Sutton's 250th career win

During his brief stay as an Astro, right-hander Don Sutton earned his 250th career victory on July 7, 1982, via a 5–1 tally versus the Chicago Cubs. It was his ninth win of the campaign. In support, Phil Garner slugged a two-run home run, and José Cruz drove in two others.^[8]

September

On September 27, switch-hitting catcher Alan Ashby became the 12th National League player—on the 17th occasion—and first Houston Astro to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game.^[9] However, it was Ashby's single to right in the top of the eighth which plated José Cruz for the go-ahead tally at 4–3 over the San Diego Padres. Two innings earlier, Ashby had homered from the left side off Padres starter John Montefusco to tie it 3-all. In the top of the ninth, from the right side, Ashby took lefty Chris Welsh deep for a three-run bomb for the 7–3 score. Houston batters aggregated 15 hits, led by Ashby and Cruz with three each. Meanwhile, Vern Ruhle (9–13) posted scoreless ball over the final five innings in relief, with four strikeouts to pick up the victory.^[10]

Performance overview

The Astros concluded the 1982 season with an 77–85 (.475) record, for fifth place and 12 games behind the NL West division-champion Atlanta Braves.^[11] Hence, the Astros missed the playoffs for the first time since 1979 after having qualified for the first two times in franchise history. It was the just third time since 1969 that Houston had finished more than four games under .500.^[a]^[12]

Dickie Thon collected 10 triples to lead the National League. Thon was the fourth Astros hitter to lead the league in triples, succeeding teammate Craig Reynolds from the year prior.^[13]

Nolan Ryan led the major leagues in fewest hits per nine innings surrendered (7.047), the seventh time in club history for an Astros pitcher. Having the led the league the year prior, Ryan joined J. R. Richard as the second Astros pitcher to lead the league in the category multiple times.^[14]

However, Ryan also led the major leagues in most walks issued (109) to extend his major-league record for leading the league to an eighth season, and for the second time in the National League.^[15] Ryan already held the American League record with six, as a member of the California Angels. This was his second time as member of the Astros.^[16]

Season standings

NL West
Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Atlanta Braves	89	73	.549	—	42‍–‍39	47‍–‍34
Los Angeles Dodgers	88	74	.543	1	43‍–‍38	45‍–‍36
San Francisco Giants	87	75	.537	2	45‍–‍36	42‍–‍39
San Diego Padres	81	81	.500	8	43‍–‍38	38‍–‍43
Houston Astros	77	85	.475	12	43‍–‍38	34‍–‍47
Cincinnati Reds	61	101	.377	28	33‍–‍48	28‍–‍53

Record vs. opponents

1982 National League record Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Team	ATL	CHC	CIN	HOU	LAD	MON	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL
Atlanta	—	8–4	14–4	10–8	7–11	5–7	9–3	6–6	4–8	11–7	8–10	7–5
Chicago	4–8	—	6–6	9–3	5–7	6–12	9–9	9–9	9–9	4–8	6–6	6–12
Cincinnati	4–14	6–6	—	7–11	7–11	4–8	7–5	5–7	4–8	6–12	6–12	5–7
Houston	8–10	3–9	11–7	—	7–11	4–8	8–4	7–5	9–3	9–9	5–13	6–6
Los Angeles	11–7	7–5	11–7	11–7	—	8–4	6–6	4–8	5–7	9–9	9–9	7–5
Montreal	7–5	12–6	8–4	8–4	4–8	—	11–7	8–10	7–11	7–5	4–8	10–8
New York	3–9	9–9	5–7	4–8	6–6	7–11	—	7–11	8–10	6–6	4–8	6–12
Philadelphia	6-6	9–9	7–5	5–7	8–4	10–8	11–7	—	9–9	7–5	10–2	7–11
Pittsburgh	8–4	9–9	8–4	3–9	7–5	11–7	10–8	9–9	—	6–6	6–6	7–11
San Diego	7–11	8–4	12–6	9–9	9–9	5–7	6–6	5–7	6–6	—	10–8	4–8
San Francisco	10–8	6–6	12–6	13–5	9–9	8–4	8–4	2–10	6–6	8–10	—	5–7
St. Louis	5–7	12–6	7–5	6–6	5–7	8–10	12–6	11–7	11–7	8–4	7–5	—

Notable transactions

June 8, 1982: Joe Pittman was traded by the Astros to the San Diego Padres for Danny Boone.^[17]
August 30, 1982: Don Sutton was traded by the Astros to the Milwaukee Brewers for players to be named later and cash.^[18]
September 3, 1982: The Brewers completed their August 30 trade with the Astros, sending Kevin Bass, Frank DiPino, and Mike Madden to the Astros.^[19]

Roster

1982 Houston Astros

Roster

Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

15 Mike Ivie

Manager

5 Bob Lillis
7 Bill Virdon

Coaches

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	Alan Ashby	100	339	87	.257	12	49
1B	Ray Knight	158	609	161	.274	6	70
2B	Phil Garner	155	588	161	.274	13	83
SS	Dickie Thon	136	496	137	.276	3	36
3B	Art Howe	110	365	87	.238	5	38
LF	José Cruz	155	570	157	.275	9	68
CF	Tony Scott	132	460	110	.239	1	29
RF	Terry Puhl	145	507	133	.262	8	50

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Danny Heep	85	198	47	.237	4	22
Luis Pujols	65	176	35	.199	4	15
Denny Walling	85	146	30	.205	1	14
Alan Knicely	59	133	25	.188	2	12
Craig Reynolds	54	118	30	.254	1	7
Bill Doran	26	97	27	.278	0	6
Kiko Garcia	34	76	16	.211	1	5
Harry Spilman	38	61	17	.279	3	11
Scott Loucks	44	49	11	.224	0	3
Tim Tolman	15	26	5	.192	1	3
Kevin Bass	12	24	1	.042	0	1
Joe Pittman	15	10	2	.200	0	0
Larry Ray	5	6	1	.167	0	1
Mike Ivie	7	6	2	.333	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Joe Niekro	35	270.0	17	12	2.47	130
Nolan Ryan	35	250.1	16	12	3.16	245
Don Sutton	27	195.0	13	8	3.00	139
Bob Knepper	33	180.0	5	15	4.45	108
Vern Ruhle	31	149.0	9	13	3.93	56
Frank DiPino	6	28.1	2	2	6.04	25

Other pitchers