Apologies to Bryan Adams and his salute to more than the warm season of 1969. But the recent crash and burn of the Astros here in 2024 has resulted in multiple references to a worse start to an Astros season in a galaxy far, far away.
The 1969 season was a different time by far than 2024. The expansion Colt .45s had morphed into the Astros in 1965 but had not really improved much over their first seven seasons. While they never suffered a year like the Amazin’ Mets (40-120 in 1962), and had not even lost 100 games in a season, they were consistently not very good. Heading into 1969, they were coming off a 72-90 record in 1968, which sadly had tied for the franchise’s best year. Harry “The Hat” Walker had taken over the team 61 games into 1968, and the team was a lot closer to .500 with him.
So, the fans, whose expectations were not normally high, were feeling pretty good at the start of 1969. The team had slugger CF Jimmy Wynn, a keystone duo of SS Denis Menke and 2B Joe Morgan, and stalwarts like C Johnny Edwards and 3B Doug Rader in the lineup. The four-man starting rotation was pretty solid even after having traded P Mike Cuellar for C/1B/OF Curt Blefary with Larry Dierker, Don Wilson, Denny LeMaster, and Tom Griffin. The bullpen was a bit shakier, led by closer Fred Gladding and swingman Jim Ray.
The fans were a little stunned when the team lost their first five games but felt better when they won the next three. The warm feeling went quickly away as the team went 1-15 and ended the month at 4-20. In a season when the NL was averaging an identical 4.05 runs scored per game and 4.05 runs allowed per game, the Astros ended April scoring less than 3 runs per game and giving up 5.6 runs per outing.
The month ended about as shamefully as it could, as the Reds annihilated the Astros 10-0 and Jim Maloney no-hit the visiting Astros. It looked like the 1969 Astros, already 12.5 games back of the Giants in the NL West, were going meekly into that bad night.
But they had a fierce competitor who was extremely angry headed into the first game of May: Don Wilson. Wilson was hacked off that his team was being treated like a punching bag by everyone, including the Reds. He was also a bit humiliated because a little more than a week previously, he was on the wrong end of a 14-0 shellacking by the Reds, giving up 7 runs in 5 innings.
Wilson started the May 1st game in Cincinnati, and nine innings later, he walked off the mound, giving up 6 walks, but no hits in a 4-0 turnaround from the humiliation of the day before.
The no-hitter was the spark the team needed as they went 20-6 in May, nearly reaching what seemed like a bridge too far at the beginning of the month – the .500 mark.
The team slowly improved over the next few months until they pulled within 2 games of first place at 65-58 on August 22. It was a strange season, as the Astros were still only in fifth place as the Dodgers and Giants were tied for first place on that date, and the Braves and Reds were tied only a half-game back.
The team fell during the rest of the season, ending up 12 back of the division-winning Braves. But it was their first taste of a .500 season as they finished at 81-81.
The Astros sadly had to watch their expansion mates, the Mets, win their division and the whole enchilada in their eighth season of existence. The Astro fans had no idea that they would have to wait 48 more seasons before seeing their team win it all.
But back in the Summer of ’69, we saw that a team could truly turn things around. Does this edition of the Astros have that kind of moxie? Time will tell.
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
28 responses to “The Astros and the Summer of ‘69”
Ah, 1969. I remember listening to a doubleheader on the radio in July vs the hated Mets. Astros swept the twinbill in magnificent fashion. First game included 2 grandslams in one inning. In the nightcap the Astros romped again, with some help from a HR by Larry Dierker against Mr. N. Ryan
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I remember that doubleheader very well RT – I sure would have liked to see Rusty Staub and Cuellar on that team.
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I know Dan. So much talent in that organization in the mid-60s to early 70s. If only management could have tended the garden better…
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Test
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I thought Cabbage would be at first if he was going to be put in the line up. Dumb me.
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I sure hope “The Committee” is not helping with line ups.
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I had no ideal Ronel Blanco is 6’3″ and weighs in at 265. Can he really be the real deal at the age of 30?
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I don’t think anyone has ever watched him pitch and said he doesn’t have major league stuff. You can go back even on our little home here and find spots where multiple people loved the stuff. It’s always just been consistency in the zone. I am not saying he has found it, even in Mexico he threw something like 15 uncompetitive pitches that even a high schooler wouldn’t swing at, but he is throwing more strikes and really mastered that change up, so the stuff is shining through early.
Undoubtedly some frustrating starts are coming, where he walks 6 guys in 2 innings and is out by the 4th, but so far so good.
265 doesn’t surprise me, he was on the mound the last game I was at live, and I had tickets on the third row up right behind 1st base, I could tell he was a haus. 6’3″ does surprise me though, I would have guessed around 6’0″.
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He appears to be so thus far.
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Why was Cabbage removed so early. Thought he had a very good AB
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Looking at the situation – the Rockies brought in a lefty – the Astros only up 4-2 but bases loaded and no out – Dubon has been great with RISP. He gets a hit and the team never looked back.
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For whatever it’s worth, our 7-19 club looked much better than their 7-19 club.
Hate to admit this, but those two Abreu hits will only delay the inevitable.
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No, we’ll have to see lots more dropped popups and booted grounders before we see the last of Heinz Abreu. Looking forward to that day very much!
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I about spit my water at the screen laughing when he missed that pop up. I could laugh because there was a runner on 1st so he got bailed out. Matter of fact I remember a similar play back in Bagwell’s day when he did it on purpose to get a fast runner off the basepaths. That certainly was not on purpose.
To be completely fair to Jose, he may have missed a play a 10 year old in little league would make, he also made a tough catch up on the rolled up tarp and one halfway down the line in RF over his shoulder, as well as stabbing a tough line drive. But that pop fly.
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Good God, these ESPN announcers SUCK. Somebody tell that chick to shut her mouth and get back in the kitchen where she belongs……
She prolly can’t cook worth a flip, either.
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I didn’t get to see Framber pitch much today. Just his last inning. But the numbers and the score sure looked good. ZERO WALKS and a big W!
It’ll be nice to see an Astros pitcher who can throw strikes for a change.
If we can get Javier back in time, there may be a chance to save the season from being a disaster.
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The Astros got more love in Mexico City than they’ve gotten at home lately, and for good reason. It’s so important for these guys to go out and win on Tuesday night. Then maybe we can start talking about building momentum.
But the way, Joey Lops hit his 13th today, along with a base hit and two walks to go along with a strikeout. Those strikeouts are more digestible when a guy has 27 RBI’s. His OPS is 1.106.
And between 2023 and 2024 he’s had 26 starts at first base, including seven this year. He’s made 1 error in those starts. Of course we know errors are not the only way to judge a guys ability to play the bag, but it is a pretty good indication that he’s not going to embarrass himself over there if given a chance.
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Loperfido on the way according to channel 2
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Just read the same from McTaggart. Wonder who goes where? Could simply mean less playing time for Jake and or Chas, but I’m wondering if the Chas hamstring issue might be a factor. Unless maybe Singleton is being replaced.
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There is whispering in the social media world that Abreu is out, but I think that is just people’s wishful thinking.
Loperfido’s presence makes Singleton the dude in the room. Maybe Chas is heading to the IL for a period of time but that doesn’t solve the 40 man. Singleton solves it all. Sad day for Jon, but he has gotten 120 PAs in the majors to show something and he has given us a .212 average with 2 HR and 10 RBI. Got to do better when it’s literally the only thing you can do. I think he could have done more if offered more consistent playing time, but when you are a 31 year old reclamation project you have to do what you do when you get the chance. I am sure he clears waivers though and ends up playing everyday at AAA, so we’ll see if we have heard the last of him.
Maybe they get creative, maybe its something like Henley off the 40 man and they send Meyers down to keep another lefty bat. But at that point you are going to want to give all the LH at bats from 1B to Loperfido so Singleton is just a wasted spot. No, I can’t see Singleton surviving this.
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The easy way out is to cut Singleton and assume he will end up down in AAA – I mean he could get picked up by someone else – but not likely.
Would they do a lefty/righty at first base? Would Abreu be OK with sitting most of the time until a lefty is starting? I guess if he wants to get paid he would.
Would they dare just cut the ties with Abreu? It is sunk cost.
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Unless you are thinking that you can stack some leftiness in the lineup by putting Lops in CF and Singleton at 1B together on the same day, I don’t see a reason to do anything besides Singleton. And I wouldn’t want to do that unless I was making that that my go to lineup 75% of the time.
They won’t cut ties with Abreu unless they think Loperfido is the first baseman. Otherwise, they won’t have a “guy” for first base (oddly enough on a roster full of guys with professional 1B experience, including Alvarez, who was signed as a first baseman). And the mindset has to be “what if” when it comes to Loperfido. This is not a universally accepted top prospect, this a guy that is red hot and can’t be ignored anymore. What if he fails and you have released Abreu?
I honestly didn’t want Loperfido called up unless he was getting the CF job or 1B job. Abreu being on the roster means he is still going to play, a lot. Meyers has not been infallible and McCormick has had a terrible start, but they are both better than Abreu.
What makes the most sense, Loperfido is going to be in the lineup 4 times a week I would think but maybe in CF more than we think, probably like a pure split between CF and 1B. McCormick is going to see even more PT disappear as he will have zero chance of getting in there in days that Caratini is in there.
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Would they dare just cut the ties with Abreu?
I doubt it. With big money come big egos. Which is generally not conducive to good decision making.
We’ll see. <fingers crossed>
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I just want people to remember that Tucker hit a very soft .141 his first trip up.
Bregman went 2 for 38 before he caught up to the game.
I think Loperfido will get a chance play 4 or 5 days a week at first and in the outfield.
if given the chance, he’ll figure things out.
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Tucker was a 21 year old who spent almost the entire next season after that .141 back in the minors. The Astros had a RFer at the time in Reddick. He got the job for good 2 years later.
Bregman was up in a time that the expectations on the team were different.
The Astros are 9-19 but supposed to be contending. This team needs a shot in the arm and Loperfido just happens to be one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now. If he doesn’t provide it, he could be back at AAA before the clock strikes midnight. Heck, honestly, I don’t know how much of a chance they will give him. If Abreu is still there, and I think he will be, I can’t see Espada not playing him at least half the games.
Sending Lops down if he struggles for two weeks, I would disagree with that, you would disagree with that, but we don’t get to run the Astros. That’s why I think it’s wishful thinking that the Astros would release Abreu.
The Orioles just went through this. They called up the consensus number 1 prospect in baseball in Holliday, and then after 10 days unceremoniously demoted him because they are in a dog fight and don’t have the time to wait for him to hit .059.
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What I find interesting and often overlooked is that Loperfido is considered an older prospect, but has only played 276 minor league baseball games. Tucker played 525. Hopefully Loperfido benefits from a certain level of maturity, but his MILB career has been a bit of a crash course in some regards. He’s played just 57 AAA games.
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Espada has his work cut out for him trying to shuffle the lineup to get the right matchups, but Loperfido just needs to get on base, cut down the K’s and the hits will come.
Joey caught Dana’s eye that day
He got a snack at Shake Shack
But that was off his diet list
And he ain’t going back
At Maui Wowi bar
We annoint him a star
He made a stop
Just long enough
To grab a battle axe to chop
Next stop H-town
Loperfido put the lumber down heads will roll
He said one more swing ought to get it
One last shot ‘fore we quit it
One for the road
Loperfido.. woah oh oh oh
He’s for the money
He’s made the show
Loperfido’s waiting for the go
Loperfido.. woah oh oh oh
He said one more swing ought to get it
One last shot ‘fore we quit it
One more for the road
Loperfido will be runnin’
Havin’ great big fun
Until he got the note
Sayin’ hold the base or steal it
And that was all she wrote
He’ll be makin’ like a bee line
Headin’ for the border line
Goin’ for broke
Sayin’ one more hit ought to do it
This joint aint nothin’ to it
One more for the road
Loperfido.. whoah oh oh oh
He’s for the money
He’s made the show
Loperfido’s waiting for the go
Loperfido.. woah oh oh oh oh oh oh
One more swing ought to get it
One last shot then we quit it
One more for the road
Loperfido.. woah oh oh oh
He’s for the money
He’s made the show
Loperfido’s a waitin’ for the go
Loperfido.. woah oh oh oh
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NOTE: Sorry if this is a duplicate – having trouble posting:
My 10 short-Term Goals for the Astros [essential if we are to rise from the dead this year]:
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