The 1979 Houston Astros season was the 18th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 15th as the Astros, 18th in the National League (NL), 11th in the NL West division, and 15th at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season having completed a 74–88 record for fifth place and 21 games behind the division-champion and NL pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers.
On Opening Day, April 6, J. R. Richard made his fourth Opening Day start for Houston, who hosted the Atlanta Braves and won, 2–1. On April 7, Ken Forsch tossed a no-hitter versus Atlanta, the sixth no-hitter in Astros history, and 6–0 Astros win. On May 16, the National League approved the sale of the Astros to John McMullen. During the amateur draft, Houston's first round selection was catcher John Mizerock at eighth overall. In the sixth round, they chose second baseman Bill Doran.
For the first time, Houston sent as many as four representatives for the National League in the MLB All-Star Game, including shortstop Craig Reynolds, his second selection, and pitchers Joe Niekro (first), Joaquín Andújar (second), and Joe Sambito (first).
The season after becoming the first right-hander in National League history to convert 300 strikeouts, Richard improved on the category, leading the NL for a second successive season (313). He also become the first Astro to garner the earned run average (ERA) title (2.71), while Niekro became the first Astro to lead the league in wins (21). Moreover, Niekro became the first Astro to be recognized for a full-season pitching award, by The Sporting News as the NL Pitcher of the Year. Another Sporting News award went to outfielder Jeffrey Leonard, as the NL Rookie Player of the Year and selection to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team. The 1979 Astros also were the final National League franchise of the 20th century to hit more triples (52) than home runs (49).
The Astros concluded the season with an 89–73 record, in second place and 1½ games behind the first-place Cincinnati Reds. At the time, this represented the most wins in club history along with the closest to first place ever finished, supplanting the records of the 1972 club. The following year, the Astros exceeded this new club record for wins while winning their first division title.
Offseason December 8, 1978: Floyd Bannister was traded by the Astros to the Seattle Mariners for Craig Reynolds.
Regular season Summary Opening Day + Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 21 Terry Puhl Right fielder 12 Craig Reynolds Shortstop 28 César Cedeño Center fielder 25 José Cruz Left fielder 23 Enos Cabell Third baseman 27 Bob Watson First baseman 18 Art Howe Second baseman 14 Alan Ashby Catcher 50 J. R. Richard Pitcher Venue: Astrodome • Final: Houston 2, Atlanta 1 Sources:
For Opening Day, April 6, the Astros hosted and defeated the Atlanta Braves, 2–1. Starter J. R. Richard tossed one-run ball over frames, earning the victory. During the bottom of the first inning, Enos Cabell punched a run batted in-single that plated Terry Puhl and José Cruz for all the support Richard would require. Joaquín Andújar took over for the final frames to earn the save. Richard's Opening Day start was his fourth, tying him with Larry Dierker for most by an Astros hurler.
Ken Forsch's no-hitter On April 7, Ken Forsch tossed a no-hitter of the Braves to lead a 6–0 win at the Astrodome. From the second until the eighth inning, the Astros hurler retired 20 batters consecutively. Catcher Alan Ashby, who tripled in two runs in the seventh to chase Braves' starter Larry McWilliams, drove in three overall. Forsch earned a game score of 88.
In the eighth inning, shortstop Craig Reynolds made a key play, stabbing a line shot to his left barreled off the bat of Dale Murphy. Reynolds fielded the scorcher on one-hop, and fired to first for the out.
During the ninth, Forsch secured a ground ball out from pinch-hitter Rowland Office. Next, Jerry Royster battled, with a ball, a strike, then another ball, before pegging a vicious liner eight feet foul down the third-base line. Royster ended the at bat with a meek grounder to Reynolds. One pitch later, Glenn Hubbard lightly tapped a slow roller to Reynolds, who threw to first for the final out of the masterpiece.
The sixth no-hitter in club history, Forsch's was the first for the Astros since Larry Dierker no-hit the Montreal Expos on July 9, 1976. The subsequent achievement by a Houston Astro was by Nolan Ryan, who srymied the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 26, 1981.
The April 7 date was the earliest in the calendar year for a no-hitter until Hideo Nomo accomplished the feat on April 6, 2001. Sixty-two years earlier, on April 14, 1917, Ed Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox had hurled the previous earliest calendar-date no-hitter by leading a blanking over the St. Louis Browns.
Forsch's batterymate, Ashby, who caught the no-hitter, did so for the first of three for Houston.
Though Forsch had been mainstay on the Astros' pitching staff throughout the entire decade since picking up his first major league win in 1970, he had authored a 23–28 record over the next three seasons. Hence, Forsch was moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen. He did gain an All-Star selection in 1976 while recording 19 saves. In 1979, Forsch was reinstated into the rotation. Meanwhile, his older brother, Bob, had also pitched a no-hitter as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals nearly one year prior on April 16, 1978, a 5–0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Hence, the Forsches become the first set of brothers to have pitched a no-hitter in the major leagues..
Forsch was recognized with the NL Player of the Week Award for April 8.
Rest of April During his second start of the season on April 10, Richard set the modern-day record for wild pitches uncorked in one game, with 6. In spite of notable lack of control including four bases on balls issued, Richard fired a six-hit complete game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with just one run surrendered, struck out 13, and obtained a game score of 80 for his second win of the season. Houston won by a margin of 2–1, propelled by two doubles courtesy of César Cedeño, another by José Cruz, and a run batted in (RBI) single by Enos Cabell.
Three Astros authored concurrent hitting streaks, with the first starting April 17, and lasting exactly 15 games each. All overlapped from April 26 through May 5. On April 17, Craig Reynolds, began his and maintained until May 5, batting .386. José Cruz produced his from April 21–May 9, hitting .393. Finally, Enos Cabell followed suit, going from April 26 to May 11, batting .320.
Cruz' hitting streak represented his best while in an Astros' uniform until he hit in 19 straight from August 23—September 12, 1983. Cabell's and Reynolds' represented career-highs while with Houston.
For the month of April, Forsch was recognized with the National League (NL) Pitcher of the Month Award. In 5 games, all starts, he went 3–0 with a 2.39 earned run average (ERA) over innings pitched, and 1.017 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP).
May On May 9, to protest the calls of substitute umpire Dave Pallone, the Cardinals bench threw helmets and bats onto the field, which led to the ejection of the Cardinals' entire coaching staff. Pallone, who previously had worked in the minor leagues, was appointed to officiate the game due to the umpires strike.
The sale of the Astros was announced on May 10 from the Ford Motor Credit Company to Dr John McMullen, formerly a partner of George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees. Quipped McMullen, "There is nothing in life quite so limited as being a limited partner of George Steinbrenner." Six days later, the National League approved for McMullen, a businessman and former Naval architect, to acquire the franchise for a reported figure of $19 million. McMullen had previously owned the Astros and also later became owner of the NHL's New Jersey Devils. This date corresponded to the announcement of another sale of the team which took place in 2011.
The Astros posted a season-high 11 runs scored on May 12 during the premier contest of a doubleheader versus the Chicago Cubs. Cruz, Reynolds, and Terry Puhl each had three hits and at least two runs batted in (RBI), while Bob Watson, Julio González, and Alan Ashby each collected two hits. The Astros totaled 16 hits and 5 bases on balls. Meanwhile, Forsch went the distance, allowed just 2 earned runs to pick up his fourth win, and registered a game score of 64.
During the month of May, Joe Niekro made 7 starts and registered a perfect 6–0 record with 1.70 ERA over frames, four complete games, two shutouts, and 1.029 WHIP. Hence, Niekro was recognized as NL Pitcher of the Month, succeeding Forsch in a consecutive month.
June During the month of June, Joaquín Andújar made six starts, while registering a 5–1 record with 1.59 ERA over 51 frames, five complete games, and 1.020 WHIP. Hence, Andújar was recognized as NL Pitcher of the Month, succeeding Forsch and Niekro for a third consecutive month. This was the first time that Houston presented three awardees during a single season.
July Since the inception of the Colt .4s/Astros franchise, Houston had not yet seen a playoff push. Their closest prior to 1979 had been 1972—also the team's first winning season—with an 84–69 record and second-place finish, trailing first place by games. Yet, as of July 4, they posted a winning percentage upward of .600 and held a -game lead in the NL West.
MLB All-Star Game For the first time, four Astros represented the club at the MLB All-Star Game, including shortstop Craig Reynolds, his second selection, and pitchers Joe Niekro (first), Joaquín Andújar (second), and Joe Sambito (first). Prior to this, three were appointed for the 1967 Classic. This record was tied at the 1986 Game, and maintained as the most Astros All-Stars until five were chosen for the 1994 contest.
After Garry Templeton declined his invitation to the All-Star Game, NL manager Tommy Lasorda added Reynolds to the NL roster. A member of the Seattle Mariners the year before, Reynolds was also chosen for the American League in that year's All-Star Game.
Later July Struggling through a mid-season slump, on July 22, Houston rallied for a 7–6 victory at Busch Memorial Stadium. In the top of the ninth inning, José Cruz singled home Julio González for the game-winning run batted in (RBI). Terry Puhl cranked a home run and Enos Cabell and Jeffrey Leonard collected three hits apiece to add to the momentum. Joe Sambito hurled two scoreless innings in relief to preserve the win over St. Louis. Just their second win over their previous 14 contests, Houston's ten-game division lead from two weeks earlier had shrunk to just four games.
On July 29, César Cedeño connected for the third walk-off triple in club history. This scored starting pitcher J. R. Richard during the bottom of the ninth for 4–3 victory over Los Angeles. Hence, Richard (9–11), who bookended the contest by also delivering the first pitch, went the distance.
August On August 3, J. R. Richard turned in the second 15-strikeout outing of his career and first since his MLB debut on September 5, 1971. The Astros hosted Atlanta, and at the start of play, owned a -game lead in the NL West. In the top of the first, Jerry Royster struck out, then Richard induced a fly out by Gary Matthews, and finished off the frame with a whiff of Rowland Office.