Cecil Cooper timeline

Born: December 20, 1949
1968: Drafted by Boston Red Sox
1968-71: Minor Leagues
Debut: September 8, 1971 (Red Sox)
1975: Red Sox win Pennant
1976: Traded to Milwaukee Brewers
1980: .352, 25 HR, 122 RBI, 96 Runs, 219 Hits, .387 OBP, .539 SLG, .926 OPS, 335 TB
1981: Brewers win AL East
1982: Brewers win Pennant
1982: Pennant winning walk off vs Angels
1983: Roberto Clemente Award
1993: Dropped off Hall of Fame Ballot (0% of vote)
2002: Brewers Walk of Fame
2002: Brewers bench coach
2003-4: Minor League Manager
2005-7: Astros Bench Coach
2007-09: Astros Manager (171-170)

Accomplishments:
5x All Star
2x Gold Glove
3x Silver Slugger
1983 Roberto Clemente Award
4x Player of the Month
5x Player of the Week
.298
241 HR
1125 RBI
1012 Runs
2192 Hits
415 Doubles
89 SB
.803 OPS
Led league in doubles: 2x
Led league in RBI: 2x
Led league in TB (335): 1980
100+ Runs: 2x
200+ Hits: 3x
30+ Doubles: 7x
20+ HR: 5x
30+ HR: 2x
100+ RBI: 4x
.300: 7x
.352 (1980)
.500 SLG: 5x
.926 OPS (1980)
300+ TB: 4x
Postseason: .211, 1 HR, 15 RBI, .523 OPS (5 Series)
As a Manager: 171-170 (.501)

Jose Cruz timeline

Born: August 8, 1947
1966: Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals
1966-70: Minor Leagues
Debut: September 19, 1970 (Cards)
1974: Purchased by Houston Astros
1980: Astros win NL West
1981: Astros win NL West
1983: .318, 14 HR, 92 RBI, 85 Runs, 189 Hits, 30 SB, .848 OPS, 275 TB
1984: .312, 12 HR, 95 RBI, 96 Runs, 187 Hits, 13 Triples, 22 SB, 73 walks-68 Strikeouts, .842 OPS, 10 SF, 277 TB
1986: Astros win NL West
1988: Signed by New York Yankees
1988: Last career home run was a pinch hit grand slam
1992: Astros retired #25
1994: Dropped off Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot (0.4% of vote)
2003: Texas Baseball Hall of Fame

Accomplishments
2x All Star
2x Silver Slugger
July 1984 Player of the Month
3x Player of the Week
.284
165 HR
1077 RBI
1036 Runs
2251 Hits
.774 OPS
3325 TB
30+ Doubles: 4x
10+ Triples: 2x
20+ SB: 8x
30+ SB: 5x
44 SB (1977)
.300: 6x
Led league in Hits (189): 1983
Led league in SF: 2x
Postseason: .279, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .725 OPS (3 Series)

Joe Niekro timeline

Born: November 7, 1944
1966: Drafted by Cleveland Indians, but did not sign
1966: Drafted by Chicago Cubs
Debut: April 16, 1967 (Cubs)
1969: Traded to the San Diego Padres
1969: Traded to the Detroit Tigers
1972: Tigers win AL East
1973: Signed by Atlanta Braves
1973-5: Learned knuckleball from brother Phil
1975: Purchased by Houston Astros
1976: Homered off Phil
1979: Made All Star team
1979: TSN Pitcher of the Year
1979: Tied for MLB lead in wins with brother
1979: 21-11, 3.00, 263.2 IP, 11 CG, 5 SHO, 119 Strikeouts
1980: Won playoff game to clinch NL West
1980: Astros clinch NL West
1981: Astros win NL West
1985: Traded to the New York Yankees
1987: Traded to the Minnesota Twins
1987: Suspended for having an emory board
1987: Twins win World Series
1994: Dropped off Hall of Fame ballot (1.3% of vote)
2006: Died

Accomplishments:
1987 World Champion
1979 All Star
1979 TSN Pitcher of the Year
Combined for 539 wins with his brother (most ever)
May 1979 Pitcher of the Month
221-204
3.59
702 games-500 starts
107 CG
29 SHO
16 Saves
3584.1 IP
1747 Strikeouts
1.319 WHIP
15+ Wins: 5x
20+ Wins: 2x
Sub 3.00 ERA: 2x
10+ CG: 4x
16 CG (1982)
200+ IP: 10x
250+ IP: 5x
21 Wins (1979): Led league
Led league in GS: 2x
Led league in SHO (5): 1979
Led league in WP: 4x
Postseason: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 Games, 2 GS, 20 IP, 7 Strikeouts, 0.950 WHIP

Joe Morgan: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1990

Born: September 19, 1943
1962: Signed by Houston Astros
Debut: September 21, 1963 (Reds)
1971: Traded to Cincinnati Reds
1972: ASG MVP
1972: Reds win Pennant
1973: Reds win NL West
1975-6: Reds win World Series
1975: MVP (.327, 17 HR, 94 RBI, 107 Runs, 132 walks, .466 OBP, .508 SLG, .974 OPS)
1975: Drove in winning run Game 7 WS
1976: MVP (.320, 27 HR, 111 RBI, 113 Runs, 30 Doubles, .444 OBP, .576 SLG, 1.020 OPS)
1979: Reds win NL West
1980: Signed by Astros
1980: Astros win NL West
1981: Signed by San Francisco Giants
1982: Traded to Philadelphia Phillies
1983: Phillies win Pennant
1983: Signed by Oakland A's
1985-present: Broadcaster
1990: Elected to Hall of Fame (82% of vote)
1991: Won civil rights case against LAPD
2010-present: Special Adviser to the Reds

Accomplishments:
2x World Champion
2x MVP
10x All Star
5x Gold Glove
1982 Silver Slugger
1972 ASG MVP
3x Player of the Month
2x Player of the Week
.271
268 HR
1133 RBI
1650 Runs
2517 Hits
449 Doubles
1865 Walks-1015 Strikeouts
.392 OBP
.427 SLG
.819 OPS
3962 TB
100+ Runs: 8x
30+ Doubles: 3x
10+ Triples: 3x
20+ HR: 4x
111 RBI (1976)
100+ Walks: 8x
.300+: 2x
.400 OBP: 8x
.500 SLG: 2x
1.020 SLG (led league): 1976
20+ SB: 14x
30+ SB: 9x
40+ SB: 9x
50+ SB: 5x
60+ SB: 3x
Led league in runs (122): 1972
Led league in triples (11): 1971
Led league in Walks: 4x
Led league in OBP: 4x
Led league in SLG (.576): 1976
Led league in OPS: 2x
Led league in IBB (12): 1976

Rusty Staub timeline

Born: April 1, 1944
1961: Drafted by Houston Colt 45s
1961-2: Minor Leagues
Debut: April 9, 1963 (Colt 45s)
1963: Second teenager to play 150 games
1969: Traded to Montreal Expos
1969: .302, 29 HR, 79 RBI, .952 OPS
1972: Traded to New York Mets
1973: Mets win Pennant
1975: Traded to Detroit Tigers
1978: .273, 24 HR, 121 RBI, .782
1978: DH of the Year
1979: Traded to Expos
1980: Traded to Texas Rangers
1980: Signed by Mets
1983: 8 straight pinch hits and record 25 PH RBI
1986: Mets Hall of Fame
1997: Dropped off Hall of Fame Ballot (3.8%)
2012: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Accomplishments
6x All Star
1978 DH of the Year
1983: June 19 Player of the Week
500 hits with 4 teams (record)
.279
292 HR
1466 RBI
1255 Walks-888 Strikeouts
.793 OPS
4185 TB
30+ Doubles: 7x
44 Doubles (Led League): 1967
20+ HR: 4x
30 HR (1970)
100+ RBI: 3x
100+ Walks: 2x
.300 Average: 3x
.526 SLG (1969)
Led league in Games: 2x
Postseason: .341, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 1.096 OPS (2 Series)

Mike Scott timeline

Born: April 26, 1955
1976: Drafted by New York Mets
1976-8: Minor Leagues
Debut: April 18, 1979 (Mets)
1982: Traded to Houston Astros
1985: Learned split fingered fastball
1986: No Hit the Giants
1986: NL Cy Young (18-10, 2.22, 306 Strikeouts)
1986: TSN Pitcher of the Year
1986: NLCS MVP
1986: Astros win NL West
1997: Dropped off Hall of Fame Ballot (0.4% of vote)

Accomplishments:
1986 Cy Young
1986 NLCS MVP
3x All Star   
No Hitter
1989: June Pitcher of the Month
3x Player of the Week
Postseason: 2-0, 0.50 ERA, 2 CG, 19 Strikeouts (1986 NLCS)
124-108
3.54
2068.2 IP
347 games-319 Starts
45 CG
22 SHO
1469 Strikeouts
1.201 WHIP
15+ Wins: 4x
20 wins (led league): 1989
Sub 3.00 ERA: 2x
2.22 ERA (1986): Led League
200+ IP: 6x
275.1 IP (1986): Led League
200+ Strikeouts: 2x
Sub 1.000 ERA: 2x
306 Strikeouts (1986): led league
Led league GS (36): 1987
Led league WHIP (0.923): 1986

Yogi Berra: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1972

Born: May 12, 1925

1942: Cardinals choose Joe Garagiola over Berra

1943: Signed by New York Yankees

1944-45: World War II service

1944: Fought at Normandy

1945-6: Minor Leagues

Debut: September 22, 1946 (Yankees)

1947: Hit first pinch hit home run in World Series history

1947: Yankees win World Series

1949-53: Yankees win World Series

1951: Caught two Allie Reynolds’ no-hitters

1951: AL MVP

1954: AL MVP

1955: AL MVP

1955: Yankees win Pennant

1956: Caught Don Larsen’s perfect game

1956: Yankees win World Series

1957: Yankees win Pennant

1958: Yankees win World Series

1960: Yankees win Pennant

1961-62: Yankees win World Series

1962: Caught 22 innings against Detroit

1963: Retired

1963: Yankees win Pennant

1964: Managed Yankees (99-63)

1964: Yankees win Pennant

1965: Signed by New York Mets

1965: Returned for four games with Mets

1965-71: Mets coach

1969: Mets win World Series

1972-75: Managed Mets (292-296)

1972: Elected to Hall of Fame

1972: Yankees retired his #8 along with Bill Dickey’s #8

1973: Mets win Pennant

1976-83: Yankees coach

1976: Yankees win Pennant

1977-8: Yankees win World Series

1981: Yankees win Pennant

1984-85: Managed Yankees (93-85)

1985: Fired by George Steinbrenner; Berra refused to speak to Steinbrenner or return to Yankee Stadium for over a decade

1986-89: Astros coach

1986: Astros win NL West

1998: Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center opens

1988: Received plaque at Monument Park

1999: Buried the hatchet with Steinbrenner; Yankees hold Yogi Berra Day

1999: Elected to All Century Team

2000: Yogi returned to the Yankee family to mentor Jorge Posada

Accomplishments:

13x World Champion (10 as a player)

18x All Star

3x AL MVP

Caught 3 No-hitters including Don Larsen’s Perfect Game

.285 average

1175 Runs

2150 Hits

321 doubles

358 Home Runs

1430 RBI

704 walks-414 strikeouts

.830 OPS

116 runs (1950)

30 doubles (1952)

10 Triples (1948)

20+ HR: 11x

30+ HR: 2x

100+ RBI: 5x

Hit .300: 3x

.500 slugging: 3x

.900 OPS: 2x

318 TB (1950)

Postseason: .274, 12 HR, 39 RBI, .811 OPS (14 World Series)

Aurelio Lopez: 1984 Detroit Tigers timeline

Born: September 21, 1948

1967: Began pro career in Mexican League

1967-77: Played in Mexican League with brief MLB stints mixed in

1974: Purchased by Kansas City Royals

Debut: September 1, 1974 (Royals)

1975: Purchased by Mexico City Reds

1977: Purchased by St. Louis Cardinals

1978: Traded to Detroit Tigers

1984: 10-1 record, 2.94 ERA, 1.169 WHIP, 14 saves

1984: Won Game 5 of the 1984 World Series

1984: Tigers win World Series

1986: Signed with Astros

1986: Lost the Epic Game 6 of the NLCS against the Mets

1987: Released by Astros

1990: Elected major of Mexican town

Died: September 22, 1992 (Car accident)

2005: Detroit band The Electric Six named their album, Senior Smoke, after Lopez

Accomplishments:

1984 World Champion

1977 Mexican League MVP

1983 All Star

62-36 Record

3.56 ERA

1.266 WHIP

459 games (9 starts)

93 Saves

910 IP

785 Hits

635 Strikeouts

367 Walks

Won 10+ Games: 3x

20+ saves: 2x

100+ IP: 4x

106 Strikeouts (1979)

Postseason: 2-1, 2.89 ERA, 9.1 IP, 12 Hits, 6 BB, 9 strikeouts, 1.929 WHIP (3 Series)

Brad Lidge timeline

Born: December 23, 1976

Attended Notre Dame University

1995: Drafted by Giants, but did not sign

1998: Drafted by Astros

Debut: April 26, 2002 (Astros)

2003: Received win in 6-pitcher no-hitter

2003: Astros Rookie of the Year

2004: Set NL reliever strikeout record (157)

2005: Surrendered dramatic home run to Albert Pujols in NLCS

2005: Astros win pennant

2006: Pitched in World Baseball Classic

2007: Struggles all season

2007: Traded to Philadelphia

2008: Perfect in save opportunities

2008: Phillies win World Series

2008: Comeback Player of the Year

2008: Deliveryman of the Year

2008: Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Athlete of the Year

2009: Injuries made him a gas can

2009: Phillies lose World Series

2010: Elbow surgery

2011: Spent much of the season on the DL

2012: Signed with Nationals

2012: Retired

Accomplishments:

2008 World Champion

2x All Star

2008 Relief Man of the Year

2008 Comeback Player of the Year

Highest Strikeout per Nine Innings rate in history (12.2/9)

Participated in No-Hitter (2003)

NL Strikeout record for relievers: 157 (2004)

26-32 record

225 Saves

3.54 ERA

Sub 2 ERA: 2x

Sub 3 ERA: 4x

603 Games

20+ saves: 6x

30+ saves: 4x

40+ saves: 2x

80+ IP: 2x

94.2 IP (2004)

799 Strikeouts

100+ strikeouts: 3x

0.919 WHIP (2004)

Postseason: 2-4, 18 Saves, 2.18 ERA, 1.125 WHIP (14 series)

Bob Forsch timeline

Born: January 13, 1950

1968: Drafted by Cardinals

1970: Converted from third base to pitcher while in minors

Debut: July 7, 1974 (Cardinals)

1974: Threw a shutout in second ML start.

1977: 20-7

1978: No-hit the Phillies

1979: His brother, Ken, no-hit the Braves, making the Forsch brothers the only brothers to throw no-hitters

1982: Cards win World Series

1983: No-hit the Expos

1984: Major back surgery

1985: Pitched division clincher

1985: Cards win Pennant (Lose World Series to Royals)

1987: Forsch plunks Jeff Leonard for being an ass in the NLCS causing a controversy

1987: Cards win Pennant (Lose World Series to Twins)

1988: Traded to Astros

1989: Retired

1995: Received 0.4% of the HOF vote and taken off ballot for 1996

He wrote a book in retirement and served as a minor league pitching coach (2009-2011)

Died: November 3, 2011

Accomplishments:
1982 World Champion

Two no-hitters

Part of only brother combo to throw no-hitters in the majors

2x Silver Slugger

168-136 record

3.76 ERA

67 CG

19 shutouts

10+ wins: 11x

15+ wins: 3x

20-7 (1977)

Sub 3 ERA: 2.86 (1975)

200+ IP: 7x

Postseason (6 series): 3-4 record, 5.79 ERA (3 NLCS: 2-1, 3.52 ERA, 0.848 WHIP)

Houston Astros Top 10 Moments

The Astrodome Opens (April 9, 1965): Not sure if indoor baseball on Astroturf qualifies as a great moment, but it is noteworthy. The Astrodome was the world’s first domed sports facility. The idea originated in the early fifties, but it took Houston’s brutal climate to motivate someone to build it. The first ballgame was an exhibition between Houston and the New York Yankees. Mickey Mantle hit the first homer in the dome’s history. The first regular season game occurred three days later with the Phillies beating Houston 2-0 behind Dick Allen’s home run.


Houston: 1 Philadelphia: 0 (October 10, 1980 Game 3 NLCS): The Astros took a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five NLCS with an 11 inning win over Tug McGraw and the Phillies. They won the game in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly by Denny Walling. The Astros failed in their two attempts to close out the series. Four of the five games went into extra innings with Philadelphia winning the last two for the pennant.

Nolan Ryan’s 5th No-Hitter (September 26, 1981): Nolan Ryan passed Sandy Koufax for most career no-hitters in 1981. By this point in his career, it seemed unlikely that Ryan would be able to toss another no-no. He beat the Dodgers 5-0. Later in his career, he’d throw two more no-hitters.

Mike Scott’s no-hitter wins NL West (September 25, 1986): Almost five years to the day that Nolan Ryan tossed his gem, Mike Scott equaled the feat. In this case, Scott victimized San Francisco and clinched the NL West with the win. Scott struck out 13 in the 2-0 win. It remains the only no-hitter to clinch a postseason berth.

Scott k’s 14 Mets (October 8, 1986 Game 1 NLCS): Mike Scott capped off his Cy Young campaign with a 1-0 victory in Game 1 of the 1986 NLCS. He bested Dwight Gooden and the Mets by scattering five meaningless hits and striking out 14. He returned to even the series at 2 with a Game 4 win. Luckily for the Mets, they managed to win the series in six. Mets players admit they had no chance against Scott in a Game 7.

The 22 inning game: Astros: 5 Dodgers: 4 (June 3, 1989): It took 7 hours and 14 minutes, but the Astros outlasted the Dodgers. Jim Clancy beat reserve infielder Jeff Hamilton. The Dodgers ran out of pitchers, so Tommy Lasorda used Hamilton in the 21st inning. The Astros won on a walk off single by Rafael Ramirez which scored Bill Doran. The following day, Houston beat Los Angeles in 13 innings. The two teams combined for 35 innings and 11 hours and 31 minutes of baseball over two days.

Chris Burke’s 18th inning home run (October 9, 2005 Game 4 NLDS): The Astros have a history of extra inning playoff games. From a Houston perspective, the Braves and Astros NLDS game is perhaps the best of the lot. The game lasted nearly 6 hours and Houston ran out of pitchers. Roger Clemens was forced to pitch three innings in relief before Burke ended the series with a dramatic home run off Joey Devine.

Clemens in Relief (October 9, 2005 Game 4 NLDS): It’s rare that the same game will score two appearances on a best of list, but that NLDS game has to be considered one of the greatest ever played. Roger Clemens lost three days earlier to John Smoltz. He wanted a measure of revenge and was given the opportunity. He pitched three lockdown innings to win the game and save Houston’s bacon.

Astros in pennant in 6 games (2005): Houston lost a hard fought series to St Louis in 2004. They avenged that loss and advanced to their first, and only, World Series with a six game NLCS victory over the Cardinals. Roy Oswalt earned MVP honors and a tractor from Houston’s owner. The ‘stros went on to lose the World Series to the White Sox.

Craig Biggio gets 3000 hits (June 28, 2007): Craig Biggio scored five hits, including his 3000th, in Houston’s victory over Colorado. Carlos Lee won the game in the 11th with a slam, but Biggio was the story. He needed three hits to reach the magic number and he managed five safeties to finish the game with 3002. He finished his career with 3060 hits and is the only Astros player to ever reach the 3000 hit plateau.

Greatest Baseball Games by Decade

I picked one game per decade.

Merkle’s Boner (1908): The Giants beat the Cubs…or did they? Rookie Fred Merkle forgot to touch second base on the game winning hit. Cub Johnny Evers saw Merkle’s mistake, got the ball, and touched the bag for a force out. The game ended in a tie and had to be replayed. The Cubs won the replayed game and the pennant by one game over New York and Pittsburgh. Nice going Merkle!

Game 8 1912 World Series: Game 2 ended in a tie, so it forced an extra game. In Game 8, the Giants and Red Sox went overtime at Fenway. New York scored in the top of the 10th. Boston scored twice to win the World Series. The Giants suffered from mental and physical errors in the 10th and choked the game away with Christy Mathewson on the mound.

Game 7 1924 World Series: Walter Johnson got shelled in this series. He went from goat to hero in Game 7. The Senators trailed 3-1 in the eighth and destiny took over. Bucky Harris hit a ball that struck a pebble and bounced over Giant third baseman Fred Lidstrom. Two scored to tie the game. Johnson came in the game to pitch in the 9th and got the win when the Senators scored the winning run on a bad hop over Lidstrom in the twelfth.

Johnny Vander Meer throws second no-hitter (1938): On June 11, 1938, Vander Meer no hit the Braves. Four days later, he no-hit the Dodgers. No one else has tossed two no-hitters in a row.

1941 All Star Game: The American League trailed 5-4 with two out in the ninth. Ted Williams hit a three-run home run into Tiger Stadium’s upper deck to win the game 7-5.

1951 Pennant Playoff: The Giants win the Pennant! The Giants win the Pennant!

Game 7 World Series (1960): The Pirates won 10-9. Hal Smith hit a big homer for the Bucs and Bill Mazeroski hit the first World Series walk-off homer. As a side note, the game lasted 2 hours and 36 minutes.

Game 6 1975 World Series: Bernie Carbo, high on everything, hit a 2-out three run shot in the 8th. Dwight Evans made a great play in right field and doubled a runner off first. Oh yeah, Carlton Fisk hit that home run. Red Sox win.

Game 6 1986 NLCS: Mets beat the Astros in 16 innings at the Astrodome. Houston led 3-0 early. The Mets scored 3 in the 9th to tie. New York scored in the 14th. Billy Hatcher homered to tie the game. In the 16th, New York scored 3. Houston responded with two. Kevin Bass struck out to end the game.

Game 7 1991 World Series: Jack Morris pitched a 10 inning 1-0 shutout in Game 7 of the World Series. We will not see that again.

Game 4 2005 NLDS : Astros beat the Braves 7-6 in 18 innings. It was the longest game in postseason history. Roger Clemens pitched three innings in relief, Brad Ausmus hit a game tying homer in the 9th, Chris Burke ended the game with a walk-off homer in the 18th.