Oct 31 1951 - Frank LaCorte is born in San Jose, CA. The righthanded reliever compiles an even 18-18 mark with 32 saves during his five seasons in Houston and has his career year in the title-winning 1980 campaign with eight wins, eleven saves and a 2.82 ERA.
Jul 25 1980 - Astros shock Montreal with seven runs in the ninth inning for a 9-8 triumph. Terry Puhl starts the rally with a blast off Steve Rogers then Jose Cruz, Enos Cabell and Alan Ashby each deliver two-run hits to complete the comeback.
Ashby's double is his third hit. Frank LaCorte is the surprise winner.
Aug 29 1980 - A head-first slide by Enos Cabell into first beats the throw of Ivan DeJesus allowing Rafael Landestoy to score the game-winner in a 6-5 triumph over the Cubs. Frank LaCorte comes in to fan Dave Kingman and nail down the save. Cesar Cedeno has two hits and two RBIs to pace the Houston attack.
Oct 05 1980 - Ron Cey belts a two-run homer off Frank LaCorte to give the Dodgers a 4-3 decision in Los Angeles. Houston needed just one win in the three-games series to claim their first division crown but are swept. The loss means the Astros must win a one-game playoff in Los Angeles the next day.
Oct 08 1980 - Houston tastes their first post-season win. It's a 7-4 ten-inning victory in Philadelphia to even the N.L.C.S. at 1-1. Frank LaCorte pitches out of a jam to send the game into extras at 3-3. Jose Cruz and Cesar Cedeno drive in runs in the tenth before Dave Bergman lashes a two-run triple to put the game out of reach.
Jun 10 1981 - Pete Rose of Philadelphia singles against Nolan Ryan to tie Stan Musial for the most hits in league history (3,630). Ryan would fan Rose in his final three at-bats before a two-month strike begins the next day. The strike is one day too late for Frank LaCorte who blows a 4-0 lead in a 5-4 Phillies verdict.
May 26 1982 - After Don Sutton and Charlie Lea complete nine innings of shutout baseball, Frank LaCorte walks the bases full before being lifted in a 4-0 loss to Montreal. In the Astro clubhouse afterwards, LaCorte sets fire to his "31" jersey. Haunted by three-and-one counts, LaCorte insists on a new uniform and is given number "27".