Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.  Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives.  As such, it is news to us that the Houston Astros have announced two new members, Terry Puhl and Tal Smith will enter their franchise Hall of Fame.

The two will be inducted on August 13, during their home game against Oakland.

Playing 14 of his 15 seasons in baseball with the Astros, Canadian born outfielder, Terry Puhl was an All-Star in his first full season in 1978.  Puhl would not repeat an appearance to the mid-season classic, but he would have two more seasons tabulating over 150 hits and would steal 20 or more bases six times.  The Canadian would accumulate 1,357 Hits for the Astros.

Smith was with the Astros from day one, serving in various capacities before ascending to the role of General Manager in 1975.  Names The Sporting News Executive of the Year in 1980, Smith entered the private sector afterward, but returned to the Astros as the Director of Operations in 1994, and stayed until 2011.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Terry Puhl and Tal Smith for their impending induction. 

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 bases that summer and proved he could be a foundational piece for a team on the verge of its first postseason appearance.

The bulk of his Houston years were characterized by consistent, all-around production during a decade of elite defensive play. Between 1979 and 1984, Puhl was a statistical force of reliability, recording six seasons with at least 20 stolen bases and twice surpassing the 150-hit plateau. He reached a career peak for high-stakes performance during the 1980 National League Championship Series, where he set a then-record with ten hits in a five-game series. Despite a lack of traditional power, he contributed with a career batting average of .280 in a Houston uniform and provided the leadership required of a veteran.

Everything culminated in a fourteen-year run that saw him amass 1,357 hits and 226 stolen bases for the organization. He eventually finished his professional journey with a brief stint in Kansas City in 1991, but his identity remained firmly rooted in the Bayou City. In 2022, the Astros inducted him into their Hall of Fame.