Jesus Alou - Timeline

Astros Trades & Transactions
Jan 22 1969 - traded Rusty Staub(OF) to Mon-N for Jesus Alou(OF) and Donn Clendenon(IF). Clendenon refused to report, and Houston was sent Alou, Jack Billingham(P), Skip Guinn(P) and $100,000 on Apr 8 1969

Jul 31 1973 - sent Jesus Alou(OF) to Oak-A for cash

Nov 25 1977 - signed Jesus Alou(OF) as free agent

Nov 1 1979 - granted free agency to Jesus Alou(OF).

This Date in Astros History
Mar 24 1942 - Jesus Alou is born in Haina, DR. The youngest of three Alou brothers who would share the same San Francisco outfield in 1963, Jesus would hit .282 during two stints with the Astros.

Jan 22 1969 - Star outfielder Rusty Staub is traded to Montreal for outfielder Jesus Alou and first baseman Donn Clendenon. This trade would become controversial when Clendenon refuses to report and the Astros are forced to take other compensation while Staub goes on to become the Expos' first marquee player.

Apr 03 1969 - The Rusty Staub trade with Montreal is finally settled when the Astros accept pitchers Skip Guinn and Jack Billingham, along with $100,000, instead of first baseman Donn Clendenon. Jesus Alou was to accompany Clendenon to Houston and he remains part of the deal.

May 08 1969 - Houston storms back from a 6-1 deficit with three runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth to upend the Phillies, 7-6, at Connie Mack Stadium. Jesus Alou has a big night, driving in two runs with a double then producing an RBI single in the two rallies. Johnny Edwards' two-run single is the game-winner. Fred Gladding quells a Philadelphia threat to save the game for Jack Billingham.

Jul 18 1969 - Back for the first time in over a month after an on-field collision with teammate Hector Torres put him in a hospital, Jesus Alou starts a four-run ninth-inning rally that topples the Reds, 7-4. Alou scores the tying run on a double by Sandy Valdespino then Joe Morgan plates Johnny Edwards with a squueze bunt for the game-winner.

Aug 22 1969 - Every player in the lineup gets a hit for the Astros in an 8-2 victory in Chicago. Houston worked eight walks to go with 14 hits - all singles. Doug Rader gets three base hits. Jesus Alou drives in three. Larry Dierker tosses a four-hit complete game for his 16th win.

Sep 02 1969 - Amazing. It's September and the Astros are actually in a pennant race. They rally to drop the Cardinals in eleven, 7-6, when Jesus Alou's base hit plates Johnny Edwards. Joe Morgan and Doug Rader play long ball to overcome a 6-1 deficit. Houston sits in fifth place but just five games behind the front-running Giants and six games over the .500 mark.

May 24 1970 - Astros erupt for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to surprise the Reds, 10-7. Denis Menke has two hits in the inning and four in the game. Jesus Alou drives in three. Jack DiLauro saves it for Fred Gladding.

Jun 01 1971 - Jesus Alou and Cesar Cedeno smash four hits apiece and drive in three runs each to spark a 7-6 win in Atlanta. Fred Gladding takes the save after the Braves rally for the final four runs.

Aug 02 1971 - Don Wilson fires a two-hitter to outduel Ferguson Jenkins and Chicago, 2-1. Denis Menke doubles home Doug Rader then scores on a single by Jesus Alou. Houston fans boo Joe Pepitone in each of four hitless trips to the plate.

Sep 24 1971 - Gary Ross of the Padres balks home Jesus Alou in the 21st inning as Houston outlasts San Diego, 2-1. But wait. That's just the opener of the scheduled twinbill. After the 5-1/2-hour first game, the California fog rolls in before the second game ends. The Padres win the "nightcap", 5-4 in the ninth when Ollie Brown, batting after a 14-minute fog delay, sends a shot to right that Jim Wynn can't find in the mist.

Aug 08 1972 - Eddie Mathews gets his first managerial win, 8-4, over Houston behind the pitching of Denny McLain. It's Harry Walker, however, that acts like a rookie manager, listing Johnny Edwards twice in the batting order and leaving out Jesus Alou.

Nov 25 1977 - Outfielder Jesus Alou is signed as a free agent. It is his second stint as an Astro. Out of the majors the past two years, the 36-year-old Dominican bats .308 over the next two seasons, primarily in pinch-hit duties.

Jun 12 1978 - Despite committing a team-record seven errors, Houston explodes for six runs in the eighth inning to upend the Pirates, 6-5. Jesus Alou begins the frame with a double, his fourth hit of the night. Cesar Cedeno completes the rally with a bases-loaded single. Rick Williams gets the win in his major league debut.

Jul 14 1978 - Ken Forsch wins a pair of extra-inning contests against the Expos. Jose Cruz singles home the winning run in the 13th for a 4-3 victory in the opener after Reggie Baldwin tied it with a two-out single in the ninth. In the nightcap, Jesus Alou draws a bases-loaded walk for the game-winner in a 5-4, ten-inning triumph.