Ron Brand - Timeline

Astros Trades & Transactions

Dec 1, 1964: Drafted Ron Brand(C) from Pit-N for $25,000 in 1964 Rule 5 Draft

Oct 14, 1968: Lost Ron Brand(C) to Mon-N (29th selection) in 1968 Expansion Draft

This Date in Astros History

Jan 3, 1940: Ron Brand is born in Los Angeles, CA. The catcher plays for Houston for four seasons (1965-1968) and was the only Houston catcher to bat leadoff before Craig Biggio arrived twenty years later.

Apr 9, 1965: Houston's "Eighth Wonder Of The World" opens its doors for the first indoor baseball game, an exhibition against the New York Yankees. Dick Farrell tosses the first pitch . Ron Brand triples for Houston's first hit. The legendary Mickey Mantle homers to center field for the game's first run but the newly-named Astros prevail, 2-1 in twelve innings, on a single by player-coach Nellie Fox .

Apr 14, 1965: Houston gets their first regulation win as the Astros, an eleven-inning 7-6 triumph over the Mets. Al Spangler stole home for the eventual winning run. Ron Brand has a two-run bunt single that refused to roll foul.

Jun 4, 1965: Ron Brand drives a three-run shot into the left field seats off Bob Gibson in the ninth to shock St. Louis, 5-2. Walt Bond homers for the other two runs. Elsewhere, first baseman Jim Gentile is acquired from the Kansas City A's for two players and cash.

Jun 2, 1966: Houston produces nine hits, including eight consecutive singles, in the 12th inning to subdue the Reds, 11-4. The inning starts as a 3-3 tie when Bob Aspromonte singles off Jack Baldschun. Base knocks by Rusty Staub, Ron Brand, Jim Gentile, Joe Morgan, Sonny Jackson, Jim Wynn and Dave Nicholson follow. Staub later doubles in the frame. Claude Raymond survives a bases-loaded scare for the victory.

Nov 28, 1966: Astros draft pitcher Bo Belinsky from the Phillies organization in the winter supplemental draft and pitcher Pat House from the Braves. Belinsky is soon regaling the Houston press with tales of his vaunted night life. The Astros will assign catcher Ron Brand, a Mormon, to be his roommate on the road.

Jun 7, 1967: Bob Aspromonte smacks five hits in a 17-1 thrashing at St. Louis, the biggest winning margin in club history. Houston pounds 23 hits, four by catcher Ron Brand. Julio Gotay adds three hits. Bo Belinsky and Claude Raymond combine to shut down the Redbirds, with reliever Raymond chipping in with a run-scoring double.

Sep 11, 1967: Jim Wynn cracks his 37th homer of the season in an 11-10 squeaker over the Cubs. The home run mark would stand for 27 years. Houston uses nine pitchers in the victory, including catcher Ron Brand in the eighth when it looked like the Astros had control.

Jul 14, 1968: Don Wilson whiffs Johnny Bench for his 18th strikeout to tie, what was then, the major-league record held by Bob Feller and Sandy Koufax . It is part of a rain-soaked 6-1 nightcap that completes a doubleheader sweep in Cincinnati. Ron Brand scored Denis Menke for a 5-4, ten-inning victory in the opener.

Oct 14, 1968: Astros lose five players in the second National League expansion draft. The event is in Montreal which, along with San Diego, are the two new franchises. Back in 1961, Houston could only choose players off the 40-man rosters with other clubs protecting their best 25. Now, Houston can only protect 15 players and their farm system is fully exposed. The Astros surrender catchers John Bateman and Ron Brand to Montreal while San Diego tabs infielder Nate Colbert, outfielder Ivan Murrell and pitcher Tom Dukes.

Dec 1, 1964:	Drafted Ron Brand(C) from Pit-N for $25,000 in 1964 Rule 5 Draft
Oct 14, 1968:	Lost Ron Brand(C) to Mon-N (29th selection) in 1968 Expansion Draft

Jan 3, 1940:	Ron Brand is born in Los Angeles, CA. The catcher plays for Houston for four seasons (1965-1968) and was the only Houston catcher to bat leadoff before Craig Biggio arrived twenty years later.
Apr 9, 1965:	Houston's "Eighth Wonder Of The World" opens its doors for the first indoor baseball game, an exhibition against the New York Yankees. Dick Farrell tosses the first pitch . Ron Brand triples for Houston's first hit. The legendary Mickey Mantle homers to center field for the game's first run but the newly-named Astros prevail, 2-1 in twelve innings, on a single by player-coach Nellie Fox .
Apr 14, 1965:	Houston gets their first regulation win as the Astros, an eleven-inning 7-6 triumph over the Mets. Al Spangler stole home for the eventual winning run. Ron Brand has a two-run bunt single that refused to roll foul.
Jun 4, 1965:	Ron Brand drives a three-run shot into the left field seats off Bob Gibson in the ninth to shock St. Louis, 5-2. Walt Bond homers for the other two runs. Elsewhere, first baseman Jim Gentile is acquired from the Kansas City A's for two players and cash.
Jun 2, 1966:	Houston produces nine hits, including eight consecutive singles, in the 12th inning to subdue the Reds, 11-4. The inning starts as a 3-3 tie when Bob Aspromonte singles off Jack Baldschun. Base knocks by Rusty Staub, Ron Brand, Jim Gentile, Joe Morgan, Sonny Jackson, Jim Wynn and Dave Nicholson follow. Staub later doubles in the frame. Claude Raymond survives a bases-loaded scare for the victory.
Nov 28, 1966:	Astros draft pitcher Bo Belinsky from the Phillies organization in the winter supplemental draft and pitcher Pat House from the Braves. Belinsky is soon regaling the Houston press with tales of his vaunted night life. The Astros will assign catcher Ron Brand, a Mormon, to be his roommate on the road.
Jun 7, 1967:	Bob Aspromonte smacks five hits in a 17-1 thrashing at St. Louis, the biggest winning margin in club history. Houston pounds 23 hits, four by catcher Ron Brand. Julio Gotay adds three hits. Bo Belinsky and Claude Raymond combine to shut down the Redbirds, with reliever Raymond chipping in with a run-scoring double.
Sep 11, 1967:	Jim Wynn cracks his 37th homer of the season in an 11-10 squeaker over the Cubs. The home run mark would stand for 27 years. Houston uses nine pitchers in the victory, including catcher Ron Brand in the eighth when it looked like the Astros had control.
Jul 14, 1968:	Don Wilson whiffs Johnny Bench for his 18th strikeout to tie, what was then, the major-league record held by Bob Feller and Sandy Koufax . It is part of a rain-soaked 6-1 nightcap that completes a doubleheader sweep in Cincinnati. Ron Brand scored Denis Menke for a 5-4, ten-inning victory in the opener.
Oct 14, 1968:	Astros lose five players in the second National League expansion draft. The event is in Montreal which, along with San Diego, are the two new franchises. Back in 1961, Houston could only choose players off the 40-man rosters with other clubs protecting their best 25. Now, Houston can only protect 15 players and their farm system is fully exposed. The Astros surrender catchers John Bateman and Ron Brand to Montreal while San Diego tabs infielder Nate Colbert, outfielder Ivan Murrell and pitcher Tom Dukes.