1980 Houston Astros: Riding the Express

1980 Houston Astros: Riding the Express

[paypal_donation_button]1980 Houston Astros: Riding the Express

Wearing bright rainbow-like striped jerseys in 1980, the Houston Astros embarked on what would turn out to be a generally successful journey through the 1980’s as a baseball organization. Though they had never gone deep into postseason play in years past, there was clearly a different feeling in Houston, and a couple of free agent signings helped create that different feeling. On November 19, 1979 the Astros signed one of the best flamethrowers in all of baseball, which was starting pitcher Nolan Ryan. Nicknamed the “Ryan Express”, Ryan would prove to be one of the best free agent signings in Houston Astros history.

The other significant free agent signing was the act of bringing a long time fan favorite back home as the Astros signed second baseman Joe Morgan to a 1-year contract. Morgan got his start in Major League Baseball with the Astros when they were still called the Houston Colt .45s, and he would play for Houston from 1963 to 1971. Morgan then had an amazing run with the Cincinnati Reds as an integral part of the Big Red Machine from 1972 to 1979.

The Astros went 92-70 in 1980, winning the National League West for the first time in franchise history by just 1 game over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Astros needed every win they could get against the Dodgers even though they 9-10 against the Dodgers in head-to-head play. The Astros went 55-26 at home but only 38-44 on the road. Except for May and July, the Astros played good months of baseball as they went 13-5 in April, 18-9 in June, 18-12 in August, 16-11 in September and and even 3-3 in October.

Center fielder Cesar Cedeno batted .309 with 10 home runs and 73 RBI’s off 154 hits, 32 doubles, 8 triples and 48 stolen bases. Left fielder Jose Cruz batted .302 with 11 home runs and 91 RBI’s off 185 hits, 29 doubles, 7 triples and 36 stolen bases. Reserve first baseman Danny Walling batted .299 with 85 hits, 6 doubles and 5 triples in 100 games. First baseman Art Howe batted .283 with 10 home runs, 91 hits, 12 doubles and 5 triples in 110 games.

Right fielder Terry Puhl batted .282 with 13 home runs, 151 hits, 24 doubles, 5 triples and 27 stolen bases. Third baseman Enos Cabell batted .276 with 167 hits, 23 doubles, 8 triples and 21 stolen bases. Middle infielder Rafael Landestoy had 97 hits, 13 doubles, 8 triples and 23 stolen bases. Joe Morgan had 11 home runs, 112 hits, 17 doubles, 5 triples and 24 stolen bases. Shortstop Craig Reynolds had 86 hits, 9 doubles and 6 triples.

Starting pitcher Joe Niekro specialized in throwing the knuckleball, a pitch that dances over the plate more than a normal breaking pitch. Niekro went 20-12 with 127 strikeouts and a 3.55 ERA, recording 11 complete games and 2 shutouts. Nolan Ryan went 11-10 with 200 strikeouts and a 3.35 ERA, recording 4 complete games and 2 shutouts. On July 4 against the Cincinnati Reds Ryan recorded his 3,000th strikeout, and center fielder Cesar Geronimo would be that strikeout victim. Despite going 12-13 Ken Forsch recorded a 3.20 ERA, 6 complete games and 3 shutouts. Vern Ruhle went 12-4 with a 2.37 ERA, recording 6 complete games and 2 shutouts.

James Rodney Richard, who went by his initials J.R., went 10-4 with 119 strikeouts and a 1.90 ERA, recording 4 complete games and 4 shutouts. Unfortunately Richard would play his last Major League game on July 14. On July 30 while playing a game of catch with teammates before an Astros game Richard suffered a stroke, and it turned out that he had a blood clot in his neck, which would be successfully removed in the hospital. Because of this stroke Richard would never be able to return to his past dominant form.

Closer Joe Sambito went 8-4 with 17 saves and a 2.19 ERA. Relief pitcher Frank LaCorte went 8-5 with 11 saves and a 2.82 ERA. Dave Smith went 7-5 with 10 saves and a 1.93 ERA. Joaquin Andujar had 2 saves.

The National League Championship Series was uncharted territory for the Houston Astros, and unfortunately they would fall to the eventual World Series Champions of 1980, the Philadelphia Phillies, 3 games to 2, but this series showed glimpses of what Houston baseball fans would prepare to see throughout the 1980’s. The Astros did have a 2 games to 1 series lead before letting that lead slip away.

In Game 2 on October 8 at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium, the Astros won 7-4. In the top of the 3rd inning Terry Puhl had an RBI single. In the bottom of the 4th left fielder Greg Luzinski had an RBI double, and center fielder Garry Maddox followed with an RBI single. In the top of the 7th Puhl had an RBI double, and in the top of the 8th Jose Cruz had an RBI single. Garry Maddox came back for the Phillies in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game with an RBI single. The Astros claimed the game in the top of the 10th with an RBI single by Cruz, a fielder’s choice by Cesar Cedeno which scored Puhl, and a 2-run triple by pinch hitting first baseman and outfielder Dave Bergman. First baseman Pete Rose’s RBI forceout at second base to score shortstop Larry Bowa wasn’t enough to keep the game going.

In Game 3 on October 10 at the Astrodome, the Astros blanked the Phillies 1-0. Larry Christenson of the Phillies did pitch well as he went 6 innings and gave up 3 hits, 4 walks but recorded 2 strikeouts. However, Joe Niekro bested Christenson by lasting 4 more innings. Niekro pitched 10 innings, giving up 6 hits and 1 walk while recording 2 strikeouts. Neither team would score in the regular 9 innings of play, but Danny Walling’s walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th inning did the job, scoring Rafael Landestoy.

The Astros would only need to wait 6 years to get another shot at the National League pennant in the National League Championship Series. The Astros would be riding the Ryan Express throughout this period of time.