Astros in the Sky
by Darrell Pittman

Last updated: October 8, 2009

Houston's baseball club is, by MLB standards, a very young one: the 2009 season was only its 48th. Still, over the years, the franchise has lost a number of players, including the tragic deaths of Jim Umbricht in 1963 of cancer, and Don Wilson in 1975 of carbon monoxide poisoning. Both were active players at the time of their deaths, and their numbers were later retired by the club.

This page is dedicated to the memory of all former Colt .45s and Astros players who have since passed on. For obituaries on former Astros managers, visit the All-Time Managers page.

You can view the player details in the chronological order of their passing, or select alphabetically from the following:

A-C

Tommie Agee, John Anderson, Rafael Batista, John Bateman, Jim Beauchamp, Bo Belinsky, Curt Blefary, Walt Bond, Pidge Browne, George Brunet, Jim Busby, John Buzhardt, Ken Caminiti, Andujar Cedeño, Al Cicotte, Willie Crawford,

D-L

Jay Dahl, Ron Davis, Dick Drott, Arnold Earley, Dick "Turk" Farrell, Nellie Fox, Gary Geiger, Billy Goodman, Howie Goss, Julio Gotay, Al Heist, Joe Hoerner, John Hoffman, Gordon Jones, Darryl Kile, Jack Lamabe, Norm Larker, Aurelio Lopez

M-R

Marty Martinez, Eddie Mathews, Lee Maye, Don McMahon, Aurelio Monteagudo, Ivan Murrell, Joe Niekro, Don Nottebart, Jim Pendleton, Brian Powell, Howie Reed, Dave A. Roberts, Vern Ruhle, Pete Runnels

S-Z

Carroll Sembera, Larry Sherry, Dave Smith, Johnny Temple, Bobby Tiefenauer, Jim Umbricht, Cecil Upshaw, Jose Uribe, Glenn Vaughan, Johnny Weekly, George Williams, Ron Willis, Don Wilson, Hal Woodeshick, Chris Zachary


(c) Houston Astros
Jim Umbricht
Full name: James Umbricht
Nickname: "Big Jim"
Born: 9/17/30, Chicago, IL
Died: 4/8/64, Houston, TX; cancer
Career: PIT (1959-61), HOU (1962-63)
Jersey retired: #32, 4/12/65
Notes:
  • First jersey number to be retired by Houston
  • His ashes were spread over the Astrodome construction site by his brother Ed from a private airplane as his parents and teammates looked on.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Jay Dahl
    Full name: Jay Steven Dahl
    Born: 12/6/45, San Bernadino, CA
    Died: 6/20/65, Salisbury, NC; auto accident
    Career: HOU (1963)
    Notes:
  • Starting pitcher for Colt .45s "All-Rookie Team" against the Mets, 9/27/63.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    Walt Bond
    Full name: Walter Franklin Bond
    Born: 10/19/37, Denmark, TN
    Died: 9/14/67, Houston, TX; leukemia
    Career: CLE (1960-62), HOU (1964-65), MIN (1967)
    Notes:
  • One of the last alums of the Negro Leagues' Kansas City Monarchs.
  • His 85 RBIs in 1964 were most of any Colt .45 in one season.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Johnny Weekly
    Full name: Johnny Weekly
    Born: 6/14/37, Waterproof, LA
    Died: 11/24/74, Walnut Creek, CA; auto accident
    Career: HOU (1962-64)


    (c) Topps Baseball
    Don Wilson
    Full name: Donald Edward Wilson
    Born: 2/12/45, Monroe, LA
    Died: 1/5/75, Houston, TX; carbon monoxide poisoning
    Career: HOU (1966-74)
    All-Star: 1971
    Jersey retired: #40, 4/13/75
    Notes:
  • On 6/18/67, pitched a 2-0 no-hitter over the Braves in Houston.
  • On 5/1/69, pitched a 4-0 no-hitter over the Reds in Cincinnati.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Nellie Fox
    Full name: Jacob Nelson Fox
    Nickname: "Mighty Mite", "Little Nel"
    Born: 12/25/27, St. Thomas, PA
    Died: 12/1/75, Baltimore, MD; skin cancer
    Career: PHI-A (1947-49), CHW (1950-63), HOU (1964-65)
    All-Star: 1951-61, 1963
    Hall of Fame: Inducted 1997, Veterans Committee
    Notes:
  • Brought to Houston to mentor second-baseman Joe Morgan. Stayed on as a coach, 1965-67.
  • Got the game-winning hit in the first game at the Astrodome, 4/9/65.
  • 1959 World Series MVP for "Go-Go" Chicago White Sox.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    Dick Farrell
    Full name: Richard Joseph Farrell
    Nickname: "Turk"
    Born: 4/8/34, Boston, MA
    Died: 6/10/77, Great Yarmouth, England; auto accident
    Career: PHI (1956-61), LAD (1961), HOU (1962-67), PHI (1967-69)
    All-Star: 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965
    Notes:
  • Houston's first All Star.
  • Famous for his practical jokes. Once sneaked a baby alligator into the whirlpool in the Colt .45s' clubhouse.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    Ron Willis
    Full name: Ronald Earl Willis
    Born: 7/12/43, Willisville, TN
    Died: 11/21/77, Memphis, TN; brain tumor
    Career: STL (1966-69), HOU (1969), SD (1970)


    (c) Houston Astros
    Al Cicotte
    Full name: Alva Warren Cicotte
    Nicknames: "Bozo", because of the brand of ice cream he favored.
    "Count Dracula", because he favored black suits, often with a cape.
    Born: 12/23/29, Melvindale, MI
    Died: 11/29/82, Westland, MI; cause not reported
    Career: NYY (1957), WAS (1958), DET (1958), CLE (1959), STL (1961), HOU (1962)
    Notes:
  • Great-nephew of Eddie Cicotte, who was banned from baseball in the 1919 "Black Sox" scandal.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    Billy Goodman
    Full name: William Dale Goodman
    Born: 3/22/26, Concord, NC
    Died: 10/1/84, Sarasota, FL; cancer
    Career: BOS (1947-57), BAL (1957), CHW (1958-61), HOU (1962)
    All-Star: 1949, 1953
    Notes:
  • 1950 AL batting champion.
  • Played five games in the World Series for the 1959 Chicago White Sox against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    Howie Reed
    Full name: Howard Dean Reed
    Nickname: "Diz"
    Born: 12/21/36, Dallas, TX
    Died: 12/7/84, Corpus Christi, TX; cause not reported
    Career: KC (1958-60), LA (1964-66), CAL (1966), HOU (1967), MON (1969-71)
    Notes:
  • Member of 1965 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Dick Drott
    Full name: Richard Fred Drott
    Nickname: "Hummer"
    Born: 7/1/36, Cincinnati, OH
    Died: 8/16/85, Glendale Heights, IL; stomach cancer
    Career: CHC (1957-61), HOU (1962-63)
    Notes:
  • Lost a 1-0 no-hitter to Juan Marichal on June 15, 1963 despite tossing a three-hitter himself.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Don McMahon
    Full name: Donald John McMahon
    Born: 1/4/30, Brooklyn, NY
    Died: 7/22/87, Los Angeles, CA; heart attack
    Career: MIL-N (1957-62), HOU (1962-64), CLE (1964-66), BOS (1966-67), CHW (1967-68), DET (1968-69), SF (1969-74)
    All-Star: 1958


    (c) Houston Astros
    Aurelio Monteagudo
    Full name: Aurelio Faustino (Cintra) Monteagudo
    Nickname: "Monty"
    Born: 11/19/43, Caribarien, Cuba
    Died: 11/10/90, Saltillo, Mexico; auto accident
    Career: KC (1963-66), HOU (1966), CHW (1967), KC (1970), CAL (1973)
    Notes:
  • Son of major-leaguer Rene Monteagudo.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Pete Runnels
    Full name: James Edward Runnels (b. James Edward Runnells)
    Born: 1/28/28, Lufkin, TX
    Died: 5/20/91, Pasadena, TX; stroke
    Career: WAS (1951-57), BOS (1958-62), HOU (1963-64)
    All-Star: 1959, 1960, 1962
    Notes:
  • Texas Sports Hall of Fame, 1982.
  • Two-time AL Batting Champion: 1960 (.320), and 1962 (.326)

  • (c) Houston Astros
    George Brunet
    Full name: George Stuart Brunet
    Nickname: "Lefty"
    Born: 6/8/35, Houghton, MI
    Died: 10/25/91, Poza Rica, Mexico; heart attack
    Career: KC (1956-60), MIL-N (1960-61), HOU (1962-63), BAL (1963), CAL (1965-69), SEA (1969), WAS (1970), PIT (1970), STL (1971)
    Notes:
  • Played minor league ball in the Mexican League into his fifties.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    Ron Davis
    Full name: Ronald Everette Davis
    Born: 10/21/41, Roanoke Rapids, NC
    Died: 9/5/92, Houston, TX; cause not reported
    Career: HOU (1962, 1966-68), STL (1968), PIT (1969)
    Notes:
  • Appeared in two games for Cardinals in 1968 World Series.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Aurelio Lopez
    Full name: Aurelio Alejandro (Rios) Lopez
    Nickname: Señor Smoke
    Born: 9/21/48, Tecamachalco, Mexico
    Died: 9/22/92, Matehuala, Mexico; auto accident
    Career: KC (1974), STL (1978), DET (1979-85), HOU (1986-87)
    All-Star: 1974, 1983
    Notes:
  • Member of 1986 NL West Division champs.
  • Member of 1984 World Champion Detroit Tigers.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Johnny Temple
    Full name: John Ellis Temple
    Born: 8/8/27, Lexington, NC
    Died: 1/9/94, Anderson, SC; pancreatitis
    Career: CIN (1952-59), CLE (1960-61), BAL (1962), HOU (1962-63), CIN (1964)
    All-Star: 1956, 1957, 1959, 1961
    Notes:
  • Part of baseball's first inter-league trade (in 1960 from Cincinnati to Cleveland for Billy Martin and Cal McLish).
  • Sports anchor for KHOU-TV in Houston after his retirement.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Gordon Jones
    Full name: Gordon Bassett Jones
    Born:4/2/30, Portland, OR
    Died: 4/25/94, Lodi, CA; cause not reported
    Career: STL (1954-56), NYG/SF (1957-59), BAL (1960-61), KC (1962), HOU (1964-65)
    Notes:
  • Astros pitching coach, 1966-67.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Cecil Upshaw
    Full name: Cecil Lee Upshaw
    Born: 10/22/42, Spearnsville, LA
    Died: 2/7/95, Lawrenceville, GA; heart attack
    Career: ATL (1966-73), HOU (1973), CLE (1974), NYY (1974), CHW (1975)
    Notes:
  • Pitched three games in 1969 NLCS.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Jim Pendleton
    Full name: James Edward Pendleton
    Nickname: "The Guv'nor"
    Born: 1/7/24, St. Charles, MO
    Died: 3/20/96, Houston, TX; heart attack
    Career: MIL-N (1953-56); PIT (1957-58); CIN (1959); HOU (1962)
    Notes:
  • Starting left fielder in Houston franchise's first game, going 1-for-4 with an RBI.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Gary Geiger
    Full name: Gary Merle Geiger
    Born: 4/4/37, Sand Ridge, IL
    Died: 4/24/96, Murphysboro, IL; liver failure
    Career: CLE (1958), BOS (1959-65), ATL (1966-67), HOU (1969-70)


    (c) Houston Astros
    Jim Busby
    Full name: James Franklin Busby
    Born: 1/8/27, Kennedy, TX
    Died: 7/8/96, Augusta, GA; heart attack
    Career: CHW (1950-52), WAS (1952-55), CHW (1955), CLE (1956-57), BAL (1957-58), BOS (1959-60), BAL (1960-61), HOU (1962)
    All-Star: 1951
    Notes:
  • Astros coach, 1962-67. Was player/coach in franchise's first season.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Howie Goss
    Full name: Howard Wayne Goss
    Born: 11/1/34, Wewoka, OK
    Died: 7/31/96, Reno, NV; cause not reported
    Career: PIT (1962), HOU (1963)
    Notes:
  • Struck out 128 times in just 442 plate appearances during his only season with the Colts .45s.
  • First Houston player reported to be a health food enthusiast.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    Joe Hoerner
    Full name: Joseph Walter Hoerner
    Born: 11/12/36, Dubuque, IA
    Died: 10/4/96, Hermann, MO; farming accident
    Career: HOU (1963-64), STL (1966-69), PHI (1970-72), ATL (1972-73), KC (1973-74), PHI (1975), TEX (1976), CIN (1977)
    All-Star: 1970
    Notes:
  • Member of 1967 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    John Bateman
    Full name: John Alvin Bateman
    Born: 7/21/40, Killeen, TX
    Died: 12/3/96, Sand Spring, TX; cause not reported
    Career: HOU (1963-68), MON (1969-72), PHI (1972)
    Notes:
  • As a rookie, led Colt .45s in home runs (10) and RBIs (59), 1963.
  • Caught Don Nottebart's no-hitter, 5/17/63.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Pidge Browne
    Full name: Prentice Almont Browne
    Nickname: "Pidge"
    Born: 3/21/29, Peekskill, NY
    Died: 6/3/97, Houston, TX; cause not reported
    Career: HOU (1962)
    Notes:
  • 1955 Texas League MVP for Shreveport Sports.
  • Member of Houston Buffaloes' back-to-back Dixie Series Champions, 1956-57.
  • Only player to play for both the Houston Buffs and Colt .45s.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    John Anderson
    Full name: John Charles Anderson
    Born:11/23/32, St. Paul, MN
    Died: 12/20/98, Houston, TX; cause not reported
    Career: PHI (1958), BAL (1960), STL (1962), HOU (1962)


    (c) Mike Bartlett
    Arnold Earley
    Full name: Arnold Carl Earley
    Born: 6/4/33, Lincoln Park, MI
    Died: 9/29/99, Flint, MI; cause not reported
    Career: BOS (1960-65), CHC (1966), HOU (1967)


    (c) Houston Astros
    Bobby Tiefenauer
    Full name: Bobby Gene Tiefenauer
    Born: 12/10/29, Desloge, MO
    Died: 6/13/00, Desloge, MO; cause not reported
    Career: STL-N (1952, 55), CLE (1960), STL-N (1961), HOU (1962), MIL-N (1963-65), NYM (1965), CLE (1965, 67), CHC (1968)
    Notes:
  • Knuckleball pitcher. As a Colt .45, his catcher once used the hurler's glove to make a tag at home plate on a throw from the outfield.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Andujar Cedeño
    Full name: Andujar Cedeño Donastorg
    Born: 8/21/69, La Romana, D.R.
    Died: 10/28/00, Santo Domingo, D.R.; auto accident
    Career: HOU (1990-94), SD (1995-96), DET (1996), HOU (1996)
    Notes:
  • Hit for the cycle against the Cardinals, 8/25/92.
  • Brother of Domingo Cedeño.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Tommie Agee
    Full name: Tommie Lee Agee
    Born:8/9/42, Magnolia, AL
    Died: 1/22/01, New York, NY; heart attack
    Career: CLE (1962-65), CHW (1965-67), NYM (1968-72), HOU (1973), STL (1973)
    All-Star: 1966, 1967
    Honors: 1966 AL Rookie of the Year
    Notes:
  • Hero of the 1969 "Miracle Mets" for his homer in Game 3 of the World Series off Jim Palmer, and two great catches in the outfield.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Curt Blefary
    Full name: Curtis LeRoy Blefary
    Nickname: "Clank", because of his poor fielding.
    Born: 7/5/43, Brooklyn, NY
    Died: 1/28/01, Pompano Beach, FL; pancreatitis
    Career: BAL (1965-68), HOU (1969), NYY (1970-71), OAK (1971-72), SD (1972)
    Honors: 1965 AL Rookie of the Year
    Notes:
  • Member of 1966 World Champion Baltimore Orioles.
  • Caught Tom Phoebus' 4/27/68 no-hitter for Orioles.
  • Set record getting putout in seven double plays, 5/4/69.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Eddie Mathews
    Full name: Edwin Lee Mathews, Jr.
    Born: 10/13/31, Texarkana, TX
    Died: 2/18/01, La Jolla, CA; pneumonia
    Career: BOS-N (1952), MIL-N (1953-65), ATL (1966), HOU (1967), DET (1967-68)
    All-Star: 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962
    Hall of Fame: Inducted 1978
    Notes:
  • Only player to play for Braves in all three cities: Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta.
  • Hit 500th career homer while a member of the Astros, 7/14/67.
  • Member of World Champion 1957 Milwaukee Braves and 1968 Detroit Tigers.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Bo Belinsky
    Full name: Robert Belinsky
    Nickname: "Bo"
    Born: 12/7/36, New York, NY
    Died: 11/23/01, Las Vegas, NV; heart attack
    Career: LAA (1962-65), PHI (1965-66), HOU (1967), PIT (1969), CIN (1970)
    Notes:
  • Tossed a no-hitter for the Los Angeles Angels against Baltimore, the first no-hitter on the West Coast in MLB history, 5/5/62.
  • Married and divorced Playboy Playmate of the Year Jo Collins then married paper heiress Jane Weyerhauser.
  • Astros paired him with Mormon catcher Ron Brand on road trips to try to curtail his nightlife.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    John Hoffman
    Full name: John Edward Hoffman
    Nickname: "Pork Chop"
    Born: 10/31/43, Aberdeen, SD
    Died: 12/27/01, Seattle, WA; cause not reported
    Career: HOU (1964-65)
    Notes:
  • Backup catcher appeared in eight games with Houston, going 3-for-21 for his career.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Darryl Kile
    Full name: Darryl Andrew Kile
    Nickname: "DK"
    Born: 12/2/68, Garden Grove, CA
    Died: 6/22/02, Chicago, IL; coronary artery blockage due to athereosclerosis
    Career:  HOU (1991-97), COL (1998-99), STL (2000-02)
    All-Star: 1993, 1997, 2000
    Notes:
  • Pitched no-hitter against Mets, 9/8/93.
  • Went 19-7 with 2.57 ERA for 1997 Astros.
  • Died four days after death of Cardinals' announcer Jack Buck.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Lee Maye
    Full name: Arthur Lee Maye
    Born: 12/11/34, Tuscaloosa, AL
    Died: 7/17/02, Riverside, CA; complications from liver cancer
    Career: MIL-N (1959-65), HOU (1965-66), CLE (1967-69), WAS (1969-70), CHW (1970-71)
    Notes:
  • Died on the 43rd anniversary of his MLB debut with the Milwaukee Braves (7/17/59).
  • AstrosDaily interview, 7/16/01.
  • Had a successful R&B recording/singing career, leading "Arthur Lee Maye and the Crowns" and used to sing at the "Dome Shadows" nightclub across the street from the Astrodome.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Chris Zachary
    Full name: William Christopher Zachary
    Born: 2/19/44, Knoxville, TN
    Died: 4/19/03, Knoxville, TN; bone marrow cancer
    Career: HOU (1963-67), KC (1969), STL (1971), DET (1972), PIT (1973)
    Notes:
  • Once described himself as "a pretty decent 10th-man on a 10-man staff."
  • Inducted into Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Willie Crawford
    Full name: Willie Murphy Crawford
    Born: 9/7/46, Los Angeles, CA
    Died: 8/27/04, Knoxville, TN; kidney disease
    Career: LAD (1964-75), STL (1976), HOU (1977), OAK (1977)
    Notes:
  • Made his major league debut nine days after his 18th birthday, 9/16/64.
  • Member of 1965 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Ken Caminiti
    Full name: Kenneth Gene Caminiti
    Born: 4/21/63, Hanford, CA
    Died: 10/11/04, Bronx, NY; heart attack
    Career: HOU (1987-94), SD (1995-98), HOU (1999-2000), TEX (2001), ATL (2001)
    All-Star: 1994, 1996, 1997
    Honors: 1996 National League Most Valuable Player
    Notes:
  • Slugged three homers in 1999 NLDS.
  • Struggled with alcohol and drug addiction; admitted to using steroids during his MVP season with the Padres.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Glenn Vaughan
    Full name: Glenn Edward Vaughan
    Nickname: "Sparky"
    Born: 2/16/44, Compton, CA
    Died: 12/18/04, Houston, TX; natural causes
    Career: HOU (1963)
    Notes:
  • Starting third baseman in the All-Rookie Game, 9/27/63.
  • Nephew of Hall-of-Famer Arky Vaughan.
  • Ran a successful insurance business in Houston following his retirement from baseball.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    Carroll Sembera
    Full name: Carroll William Sembera
    Nicknames: "Pencil", "The Hat"
    Born: 7/26/41, Shiner, TX
    Died: 6/15/05, Shiner, TX; cause not reported
    Career: HOU (1965-67), MON (1969-70)
    Notes:
  • Served as a scout for the Seattle Mariners.
  • Pitched exactly 100 innings as an Astro, with a 3-9 record.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Al Heist
    Full name: Alfred Michael Heist
    Born: 10/5/27, Brooklyn, NY
    Died: 10/2/06, Tahlequah, OK; cause not reported
    Career: CHC (1960-61) HOU (1962)
    Notes:
  • Acquired by Houston in the National League expansion draft after the 1961 season.
  • Appeared in 27 games for the Colt .45s, batting .222 as an outfielder.
  • Coached in the Astros organization in 1966 and 1967. Later coached in the Padres organization.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Ivan Murrell
    Full name: Ivan Augustus (Peters) Murrell
    Nicknames: "Banana Man", "El Toro", "Bull", "Ivan the Terrible"
    Born: 9/28/43, Almirante, Panama
    Died: 10/8/06, Stuart, FL; cause not reported
    Career: HOU (1963-64, 1967-68), SD (1969-73), ATL (1974)
    Notes:
  • Played in Mexican League until 1984.
  • In 1989, played for the St. Lucie Legends of the Senior Professional Baseball Association, hitting .272 with 5 HR over 47 games.
  • Astros Daily interview, 2002.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    Joe Niekro
    Full name: Joseph Franklin Niekro
    Nickname: "Knucksie"
    Born: 11/7/44, Martins Ferry, OH
    Died: 10/27/06, Tampa, FL; brain aneurysm
    Career: CHC (1967-69), SD (1969), DET (1970-72), ATL (1973-74), HOU (1975-85), NYY (1985-87), MIN (1987-88)
    All-Star: 1979
    Notes:
  • Houston's first back-to-back 20-game winner (1979-80).
  • Winning pitcher of one-game playoff against the Dodgers to give Astros first division title, 10/06/80.
  • Younger brother of Hall-of-Famer Phil Niekro.
  • Father of major leaguer Lance Niekro.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Jose Uribe
    Full name: Jose Altagracia Gonzalez Uribe
    Born: 1/21/59, San Cristobal, DR
    Died: 12/8/06, Juan Baron, DR; auto accident
    Career: STL (1984), SF (1985-92), HOU (1993)
    All-Star: 1987, 1989
    Notes:
  • Fans would chant "OOH-ree-bay" when he would make a good play.
  • Second cousin of Juan Uribe.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Larry Sherry
    Full name: Lawrence Sherry
    Born: 7/25/35, Los Angeles, CA
    Died: 12/17/06, Mission Viejo, CA; cancer
    Career: LAD (1958-63), DET (1964-67), HOU (1967), CAL (1968)
    All-Star: 1959
    Notes:
  • MVP of 1959 World Series as member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • Led Astros in saves in 1967 despite a mid-season trade.
  • Brother of catcher Norm Sherry who was his Dodger teammate, 1959-62.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    Vern Ruhle
    Full name: Vernon Gerald Ruhle
    Born: 1/25/51, Coleman, MI
    Died: 1/20/07, Houston, TX; complications from stem cell transplant
    Career: DET (1974-77), HOU (1978-84), CLE (1985), CAL (1986)
    Notes:
  • Took the place of J.R. Richard in Astros' rotation after Richard's stroke and was 7-2, helping them to the 1980 NL West Division title.
  • Astros pitching coach, 1997-2000.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    Marty Martinez
    Full name: Orlando (Oliva) Martinez
    Nickname: "Marty"
    Born: 8/23/41, Havana, Cuba
    Died: 3/8/07, Santo Domingo, D.R.; cause not reported
    Career: MIN (1962), ATL (1967-68), HOU (1969-71), STL (1972), OAK (1972), TEX (1972)
    Notes:
  • Versatile reserve who played seven different positions while with Houston, including pitcher and catcher.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Norm Larker
    Full name: Norman Howard John Larker
    Nickname: "Dumbo", due to his large ears.
    Born: 12/27/30, Beaver Meadows, PA
    Died: 3/12/07, Long Beach, CA; cancer
    Career: LAD (1958-61), HOU (1962), MIL-N (1963), SF (1963)
    All-Star: 1960
    Notes:
  • Starting first baseman in Houston franchise's first game, going 1-for-4 with an RBI.
  • Member of 1959 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • Batted .323 in 1960, second-best in NL.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Don Nottebart
    Full name: Donald Edward Nottebart
    Nickname: "Notty"
    Born: 1/23/36, West Newton, MA
    Died: 10/4/07, Cypress, TX; complications from a stroke
    Career: MIL-N (1960-62), HOU (1963-65), CIN (1966-67), NYY (1969), CHC (1969)
    Notes:
  • Pitched Houston's first major league no-hitter, a 4-1 win over the Phillies, 5/17/63.
  • Recommended to Houston General Manager Paul Richards by former Milwaukee teammate, Don McMahon.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Jack Lamabe
    Full name: John Alexander Lamabe
    Born: 10/3/36, Farmingdale, NY
    Died: 12/21/07, Baton Rouge, LA; cause not reported
    Career: PIT (1962), BOS (1963-1965) HOU (1965), CHW (1966-67), NYM (1967), STL (1967), CHC (1968)
    Notes:
  • Dealt to Houston from the Red Sox 9/65 and traded to the White Sox 12/65.
  • Appeared in three games for the 1965 Astros, losing two of them.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Jim Beauchamp
    Full name: James Edward Beauchamp
    Born: 8/21/39, Vinita, OK
    Died: 12/25/07, Atlanta, GA; acute myelogenous leukemia
    Career: STL (1963), HOU (1964-65), MIL-N (1965), ATL (1967), CIN (1968-69), HOU (1970), STL (1970-71), NYM (1972-73)
    Notes:
  • Starting left fielder in first National League game at the Astrodome, 4/12/65.
  • Only player to wear an Atlanta uniform at Ponce de Leon Ballpark (as an Atlanta Cracker), Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, and Turner Field.
  • Astros Daily interview, 9/7/01.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    John Buzhardt
    Full name: John William Buzhardt
    Born: 8/17/36, Prosperity, SC
    Died: 6/15/08, Prosperity, SC; complications from a stroke
    Career: CHC (1958-59), PHI (1960-61), CHW (1962-67), BAL (1967), HOU (1967-68)
    Notes:
  • Earned 4-4 record with 5 saves with Astros in 1968.

  • (c) Topps Baseball
    Julio Gotay
    Full name: Julio Enrique (Sanchez) Gotay
    Born: 6/9/39, Fajardo, PR
    Died: 7/4/08, Ponce, PR; respiratory failure
    Career: STL (1960-62), PIT (1963-64), CAL (1965), HOU (1966-69)
    Notes:
  • Hit .264 with three homers as utility infielder for Astros.
  • Accused by teammates of practising voodoo.
  • Roommate of Hall-of-Famer Roberto Clemente on road trips until Clemente pleaded with the Pirates to switch.
  • Once broke up a double play when a sandwich he kept in his back pocket fell out as he was sliding, causing the opposing shortstop to slip on it.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Rafael Batista
    Full name: Rafael (Sanchez) Batista
    Nickname: "El Gallo"
    Born: 10/20/47, San Pedro de Macoris, DR
    Died: 10/25/08, Santo Domingo, DR; thrombosis
    Career: HOU (1973, 1975)
    Notes:
  • As a reserve first baseman, hit .280 in two short stints with Houston.
  • Also played for Lotte Orions (Japan) and Cafetoros de Cordoba (Mexico).

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Dave Smith
    Full name: David Stanley Smith
    Nickname: "Smitty"
    Born: 1/21/55, Richmond, CA
    Died: 12/17/08, Carmel Valley, CA; heart attack
    Career: HOU (1980-90), CHC (1991-92)
    All-Star: 1986, 1990
    Notes:
  • Held franchise record for saves (199) until broken by Billy Wagner in 2003.
  • Member of 1980 and 1986 NL West Division Champions.
  • Allowed walk-off homer in Game 3 of the 1986 NLCS.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Dave A. Roberts
    Full name: David Arthur Roberts
    Born: 9/11/44, Gallipolis, OH
    Died: 1/9/09, Morgantown, WV; lung cancer
    Career: SD (1969-71), HOU (1972-75), DET (1976-77), CHC (1977-78), SF (1979), PIT (1979-80), SEA (1980), NYM (1981)
    Notes:
  • Finished second in NL in ERA in 1971 (2.10).
  • Tossed 11 shutouts in his four years with the Astros.
  • Hurled one-hitter over the Phillies in the fastest game in franchise history (1 hr. 26 mins), 8/24/74.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    George Williams
    Full name: George Williams
    Born: 10/23/39, Detroit, MI
    Died: 5/14/09, unreported; lung cancer
    Career: PHI (1961), HOU (1962), KC-A (1964)
    Notes:
  • As a reserve second baseman, appeared in five games for expansion Colt .45s.
  • Was acquired in the 1961 expansion draft from Philadelphia.

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Hal Woodeshick
    Full name: Harold Joseph Woodeshick
    Nickname: "Woody"
    Born: 8/24/32, Wilkes-Barre, PA
    Died: 6/14/09, Houston, TX; cause not reported
    Career: DET (1956), CLE (1958), WSH (1959-61), DET (1961), HOU (1962-65), STL (1965-67)
    All-Star: 1963
    Notes:
  • Member of the 1961 expansion Washington Senators and the 1962 expansion Houston Colt .45s.
  • Led National League in saves in 1964 with 23.
  • Pitched one inning of 1967 World Series as member of the St. Louis Cardinals.
  • AstrosDaily.com article: The colorful Hal Woodeshick

  • (c) Houston Astros
    Brian Powell
    Full name: Brian Powell
    Born: 10/13/73, Bainbridge, GA
    Died: 10/5/09, Tallahassee, FL; suicide
    Career: DET (1998), HOU (2000-01), DET (2002), SF (2003), PHI (2004)
    Notes:
  • Member of 2001 National League Central Champion Houston Astros.
  • Sported 7-18 career record but 2-2 while with Houston.
  • Was quarterback of his high school football team.
  • Sources: