Vern Ruhle - Timeline

Astros Trades & Transactions
Mar 28 1978 - signed Vern Ruhle(P) as free agent

Nov 8 1984 - granted free agency to Vern Ruhle(P). Ruhle signed with Cle-A on Dec 22

This Date in Astros History
Jan 25 1951 - Vern Ruhle is born in Midland, MI. Ruhle spends seven seasons as an Astro pitcher, best known for taking over a spot in the starting rotation in 1980 when J.R. Richard suffered a stroke and helping Houston win their first division crown. Later, he is a successful pitching coach in Houston under manager Larry Dierker.

May 03 1980 - Bill Virdon picks up his 356th win as a Houston manager, setting a team record, as the Astros edge St. Louis, 4-2. Vern Ruhle is the hero, going 8-2/3rds innings for the win, producing two hits and driving in a run. Terry Puhl and Jose Cruz supply two hits apiece. Joe Sambito nails the final out for the save.

Sep 06 1980 - Art Howe ties a club record with his eighth consecutive hit, a two-run single that paces a 9-5 win over St. Louis. A grand slam by Jose Cruz highlights the 6-4 nightcap for a twinbill sweep, drawing the Astros to within one game of the Dodgers for the N.L. West lead. Vern Ruhle goes the distance in the second game. Ruhle's performance while replacing J.R. Richard after his stroke keeps the Astros in the pennant race.

Sep 21 1980 - Vern Ruhle hurls 7-2/3rds innings of no-hit ball and claims a 5-1 win in San Francisco that retakes the division lead from Los Angeles. Jim Wohlford breaks up the bid and Ruhle finishes with a three-hitter. Art Howe homers and Gary Woods drives in a pair.

Sep 26 1980 - Vern Ruhle tosses a four-hitter to blank Cincinnati, 2-0. Houston moves two games ahead of Los Angeles in the tight pennant race. The Astros manage just three hits themselves but an RBI single by Jose Cruz and a sacrifice fly by Craig Reynolds are enough.

Oct 01 1980 - A bases-loaded double by Terry Puhl keys a 5-2 victory over Atlanta. Vern Ruhle fires his third straight complete game to increase his record to 12-4. Houston leads the Dodgers by two games with four to play.

Oct 11 1980 - In a game of bizarre moments, Philadelphia beats Houston, 5-3 in ten innings, to even the N.L.C.S. at 2-2. Pete Rose crashes into Bruce Bochy at home plate to score the winning run. The game features a fourth-inning triple play by Houston that was reduced to two outs after pitcher Vern Ruhle grabs a soft liner by Garry Maddox and tosses to first. Houston also loses a run when Gary Woods is called out for leaving third base early on a sixth-inning fly ball by Luis Pujols. In addition, an Astro outfield assist is ruled to occur just after Rose crosses the plate, allowing his run to count.

Aug 26 1981 - Art Howe drives in five to pace a 9-3 win over the Mets. A sacrifice fly and a pair of doubles turn the trick. Don Sutton, with help from Vern Ruhle and Dave Smith, notches the win.

Oct 10 1981 - Fernando Valenzuela outpitches Vern Ruhle in a 2-1 decision in Los Angeles. Only eight hits are registered, four by each side, but a homer by Pedro Guerrero and an RBI single by Bill Russell trump last-inning heroics by Terry Puhl and Tony Scott. The series is knotted at two games apiece.

Feb 13 1997 - Houston wins and loses their arbitration case with Darryl Kile. The inconsistent pitcher asks for a salary $1.27 million dollars more than what the Astros offer. The club prevails but, under the instruction of new Astro manager Larry Dierker and pitching coach Vern Ruhle, Kile goes on to have an outstanding year only to shun Houston and leave as a free agent after the season.

Nov 04 1999 - Astros hold a fashion show. Larry Dierker, Vern Ruhle, Shane Reynolds, Billy Wagner and Jeff Bagwell debut the new uniforms that will be worn at Enron Field. Gone are blue and gold in favor of black, brick and sand. The logo has also been modified, eliminating the slant to the star and making it thicker.