Shortstop Roger Metzger came to Houston from the Cubs after the 1970 season in a straight-up trade for Hector Torres. Houston got the better end of that deal. The epitome of the no-hit, all-glove shortstop of his era, Metzger flashed his leather as Houston's everyday shortstop for over seven years. In 1973 he became the only Astro shortstop to earn a Gold Glove.

He didn't have any real power, but Metzger did have a talent for legging out triples. As the team's leadoff hitter in 1973, he led the league with a club-record 14 triples and was named the team's Most Valuable Player at the end of the season. In 1978, Metzger was dealt to the Giants but still holds the franchise record with 1007 games played at shortstop.