Top 50 Houston Astros
The Houston Astros debuted in 1962 but not as the Astros, but as the Houston Colt .45’s. The Colt .45’s were short-lived as with the advent of the space program in Houston and the first domed stadium, in 1965, the Houston Astros were officially born.The Astros may not have been the most successful on the field, but the dome (rather domes) and color schemes they used on their uniforms have made them a recognizable team throughout their existence.
Houston would win the National League Pennant in 2005 but would lose to the Chicago White Sox. They moved to the American League in 2014 and became a power, finally winning it all in 2017. They returned to the World Series in 2019 and 2021 but lost to the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves repsectively. In 2022, they won their second Championship.
Note: Baseball lists are based on an amalgamation of tenure, traditional statistics, advanced statistics, playoff statistics, and post-season accolades.
This list is up to the end of the 2024 Season.
From Melville, Saskatchewan, Terry Puhl became a cornerstone of the Houston outfield for over a decade, carving out a career defined by defensive brilliance and high-speed efficiency. Signing with the Astros as an undrafted free agent, the Canadian-born standout became a fixture during the franchise’s first real era of contention. During his first full season in 1978, at just 21 years old, he secured an All-Star selection by batting .289 and showcasing a disciplined approach that belied his age. This initial splash signaled his transition into a premier table-setter for a club that prioritized speed and contact. He swiped 32…
Don Wilson first made his mark in Houston as a fireballing right-hander who defined the early power-pitching identity of the franchise. After signing with the organization in 1964 and quickly climbing the minor league ladder, he joined the big league roster for good in 1967. Wilson’s impact in a Houston uniform reached a historic peak early in his journey. In 1967, as a 22-year-old rookie, he secured a place in franchise lore by tossing the first no-hitter ever recorded in a domed stadium, striking out 15 Atlanta Braves. This performance signaled a transition from a young prospect to a premier…
Bill Doran emerged from the Houston farm system to stabilize second base for nearly a decade, providing a high-speed, disciplined presence that defined the team's style during the 1980s. After being drafted in 1979 and debuting in late 1982, he quickly secured a permanent spot in the lineup, becoming a foundational piece of the squad that captured the 1986 division title. Doran’s impact in a Houston uniform reached a rapid peak during the mid-eighties. In 1985 and 1986, he showcased a focused intensity, surpassing 150 hits in consecutive years while maintaining an on-base percentage consistently above .350. This performance signaled…
Kyle Tucker first made his mark in Houston as a highly touted fifth-overall pick, though his initial taste of the big leagues in 2018 was a difficult stretch where he struggled to find his rhythm. After a more promising 2019 cameo, he secured his place in the lineup for good during the shortened 2020 campaign. For seven seasons, he patrolled right field with a specialized, smooth left-handed swing and a deceptive speed that made him one of the most efficient all-around threats in the American League. Tucker’s emergence in Houston reached a historic breakout during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.…
Bob Watson achieved greater heights as an executive with the New York Yankees, but he was still quite the player who played at his peak with the Houston Astros. A two-time All-Star, Watson would exceed 150 hits six years in a row and had four campaigns where he batted over .300. Watson's defensive skills were not the best, which hurts him on this list, but in the 14 years he played in Houston, he would collect 1,448 Hits, with 139 Home Runs with a .297 Batting Average. The Astros inducted Watson into their Hall of Fame in 2020.
A dominating reliever in his day, Billy Wagner would make three of his seven All0Star Games as an Astro, the team he began his career. Wagner would accumulate 225 Saves with 1.039 WHIP and would finish 4th in Cy Young Voting in 1999, which would be the year he won his lone Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year Award.
Shane Reynolds played eleven years for Houston and was a solid starting pitcher for most of it. Known for his control, Reynolds would lead the National League in BB/9 (1.4) in 1999 and would also win the SO/BB (5.32) title. The following season, Reynolds would make his first and only All-Star Game appearance. The hurler had a 103-86 record with 1,309 Strikeouts.
One of the Astros better power hitters, Glenn Davis showcased six consecutive seasons where he cracked over 20 home runs. Davis would have his best season in 1986 where he finished second in NL MVP voting and won the Silver Slugger Award. He would have two other seasons where he finished in the top ten in MVP voting. Davis left the Astros for Baltimore in 1991 via, and he would overall have 166 Home Runs for the Astros.
In 2015, Dallas Keuchel won the Cy Young Award, cementing himself as a certified ace in Major League Baseball who shot up this list astronomically from that 2015 campaign. Keuchel did not repeat that season’s accomplishments with the Astros, but he was an All-Star for the second time in 2017, where he had a 14-5 record and a 2.90 ERA. His run with the Astros ended when he signed with the Atlants Braves as a Free Agent. With Houston, Keuchel would have a 76-63 record with 945 Strikeouts.
Used both as a starter and a reliever during his decade in Houston, Ken Forsch was adept at both roles. As an Astro, Forsch put together a record of 78 and 81 with 50 Saves. He was named an All-Star in 1976 and in 1979 would lead the National League in WHIP.
Roger Clemens was only a Houston Astro for three years, but when he arrived at age 41, he showed everyone that he was far from done yet. Clemens made an immediate statement in 2004 when he went 18 and 4 and become one of only a handful of pitchers to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues. Clemens would finish 3rd in Cy Young voting in his second season winning the ERA and FIP title. His tenure was brief, but his stats were phenomenal. With Houston, "the Rocket" went 38-18 with 505 Strikeouts and a 2.40 ERA.
Framber Valdez signed with the Houston Astros as an International Free Agent in 2015, and three years later he debuted for the club, which seems like the correct progression, but his initial signing at the age of 21 is older than normal than his Dominican counterparts. Valdez needed time to find his confidence, and in the COVID-shortened 2020 year, he went 5-3 and was 11th in Cy Young voting. He continued to grow his game in 2021 (11-6), but truly broke out in 2022, earning his first All-Star, with a 17-6 record, 2.82 ERA and was the league-leader in Innings…
An excellent selection from the Expansion Draft, Turk Farrell was converted to a Starting Pitcher and was an All-Star in his debut season for Houston. Farrell would make two more All-Star appearances, and while he has a losing record as an Astro, it was not like he had a lot of help around him.
Doug Rader was known for his defense and he was a five-time Gold Glove winner at third base. Playing his first nine seasons in Houston, Rader did not always hit for the best batting average or on base percentage, but he did hit over 100 home runs as an Astro and 1,060 Hits.
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Mike Hampton might be best known for his overpriced contract with the Colorado Rockies but the Houston Astros, he is known for his Cy Young runner up season in 199 when he went 22 and 4 with a 2.90 ERA. Hampton never had a losing record for the Astros (in his first run anyway) and had a respectable 76 and 50 with Houston.
Twice an All-Star as an Astro, Dave Smith was Houston’s closer for years, saving 20 games in six consecutive seasons. He would record six seasons with a WHIP under 1.100 and would finish on the top five in Saves three times.
It is when we have a player like Gerrit Cole on a list like this where we have to exercise our caveat that we place an equal premium on single-season greatness that we do on longevity. This is how Gerrit Cole is ranked this high on a list like this.
An All-Star in 1986, Kevin Bass put together three consecutive offensive seasons (1985-87) of note where he had over 140 Hits, 15 Home Runs, and 15 Stolen Bases. ’86 was of course his best campaign where he batted .311 and finished 7th in National League MVP voting. In the two runs that Bass played in Houston (1982-89) & (1993-94), he would accumulate 990 Hits with a Batting Average of .278.
The Venezuelan Outfielder, Richard Hidalgo, had his best years in Major League Baseball playing for the Houston Astros. Hidalgo had a major season in 2000 when he smacked 46 Home Runs with a Slash Line of .314/.391/.636, but knee injuries prevented him from getting anywhere near that again.