1970 Houston Astros season

Ninth season in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros March 2026 November 2013 Houston Astros 1970 National League West Astrodome Houston, Texas 79 83 y 4th Roy Hofheinz Spec Richardson Harry Walker KTRK-TV KPRC (AM)(Gene Elston, Loel Passe, Harry Kalas) The 1970 Houston Astros season was the ninth season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their sixth as the Astros, their ninth in the National League (NL), second in the NL West division, and sixth at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season having posted a record of 81–81, for fifth place and 12 games behind the division-champion Atlanta Braves. On April 7, pitcher Larry Dierker made his second Opening Day start for the Astros, who defeated the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park, 8–5. The Astros' first-round draft pick in the amateur draft was pitcher Randy Scarbery, at third overall, and in the fourth round, they selected outfielder Greg Gross. The Astros produced the only game in franchise history with at least both 20 hits and drawing 10 bases on balls on July 11.As of 2025. Second baseman Joe Morgan and shortstop Denis Menke represented the Astros at the MLB All-Star Game, the second career selection for both. The Astros concluded the season with a record of 79–83, for fourth place and 23 games behind the division-champion and NL pennant-winning Cincinnati Reds in the NL West. Third baseman Doug Rader became the second Astros player to be awarded Gold Gloves, his first of five consecutive. Offseason Summary The Astros concluded the 1969 season with an 81 81 y record, for fifth place and 12 games behind the NL West division-champion Atlanta Braves,https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1969.shtml 1969 National League team statistics Baseball Reference November 29, 2025 the first year of the divisional era. With Major League Baseball's third wave of expansion, the number of teams in each of the National and American Leagues grew from 10 to 12, splitting them into East and West divisions, while inserting the League Championship Series into the playoff tournament. The National League added the Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres, with the Padres, Braves, and Astros all aligned together into the NL West division.https://www.baseball-almanac.com/yearly/yr1968a.shtml Baseball history in 1968 National League Baseball Almanac July 7, 2026 Meanwhile, the American League added the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Pilots.https://www.baseball-almanac.com/yearly/yr1968a.shtml Baseball history in 1968 American League Baseball Almanac July 7, 2026 The 1969 season was the first in franchise history in which Houston attained a record of at least .500 and a then-record 81 wins, reversing a trend of at least 90 losses during each of their first seven seasons of play.https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/ Houston Astros team history & encyclopedia Baaseball-Reference.com October 13, 2025 On May 1, 1969, Don Wilson became the first Astros hurler to toss two no-hitters for the team,https://www.baseball-almanac.com/pitching/official-no-hitters.shtml Official no-hitters in Major League Baseball Baseball Almanac September 20, 2026 while Larry Dierker became an All-Starhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1969-allstar-game.shtml N. L. All-Stars (9) vs A. L. All-Stars (3) box score Baseball Reference July 23, 1969 September 20, 2026 and Houston's first-ever 20-game winner.Hulsey Bob https://www.astrosdaily.com/history/20win.html#:~:text=Listed%20below%20are%20the%20moundsmen,21)%2C%201980%20(20) Houston Astros 20-game winners Astros Daily November 29, 2019 September 28, 2025 Transactions November 21, 1969: Mike Marshall was purchased by the Astros from the Milwaukee Brewers.https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/marshmi01.shtml Mike Marshall stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 11, 2025 December 4, 1969: Curt Blefary was traded by the Astros to the New York Yankees for Joe Pepitone.https://www.baseball-reference.com/p/pepitjo01.shtml Joe Pepitone stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 11, 2025 Exhibition play On April 3, Doug Rader swatted the first home run to reach the Astrodome's gold (upper reserved) seats, landing in section 738D, row 6, seat 1. Rader "touched 'em all" on Stan Bahnsen's offering during the Astros' 9–5 victory over the New York Yankees.Hulsey Bob https://www.astrosdaily.com/history/thisdate/index.html This date in Astros history Astros Daily September 6, 2025 Regular season Summary April + Opening Day starting lineup Uniform Uniform number Player Position 18 Joe Morgan Second baseman 9 Joe Pepitone Right fielder 24 Jimmy Wynn Center fielder 33 John Mayberry First baseman 11 Denis Menke Shortstop 10 Tommy Davis Left fielder 12 Doug Rader Third baseman 7 Johnny Edwards Catcher 49 Larry Dierker Pitcher Venue: Candlestick Park • Houston 8, San Francisco 5 Sources:https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=197004070SFN Houston Astros (8) vs San Francisco Giants (5) box score Baseball Almanac April 7, 1970 October 11, 2025https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1970-uniform-numbers.shtml 1970 Houston Astros uniform numbers Baseball-Reference.com October 11, 2025 Astros Opening Day starter, Larry Dierker, "ordered" pinch hitter Norm Miller to hit a home run as he was departing the game on April 7. Miller obliged, with a pivotal three-run blast off starter Gaylord Perry of the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park in an 8–5 Astros victory. Dierker picked up the win, while Fred Gladding iced the final 1 2 3 frames to earn the save.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN197004070.shtml Houston Astros (8) vs San Francisco Giants (5) box score April 7, 1970 Baseball-Reference.com January 11, 2026 Dierker, the Astros' starter for the opener in 1968, became the first pitcher to start more than one for the club.https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/opening.shtml Houston Astros Opening Day starters Baseball-Reference.com January 11, 2026 The Astros launched five home runs on April 12 to dump Phil Niekro and the Atlanta Braves, 8–3. In the third inning, Jimmy Wynn blasted one unforgettable rocket which made contact in the gold upper reserved seats (section 738C, row 6, seat 3), outdoing his own effort just earlier in the game. In the first inning, Wynn had launched a home run into the purple seats. Tommy Davis, Joe Pepitone and Doug Rader each went yard, helping starter Larry Dierker remain in complete command the whole evening. On April 23, Tom Griffin tossed his first one-hit complete game, where he issued two walks and struck out eight.https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/G/PX_grift101.htm Top performances for Tom Griffin Retrosheet February 24, 2026 June Center fielder César Cedeño made his major league debut on June 20 at Atlanta Stadium, and proceeded to accrete two hits as Houston rallied to defeat the Braves, 9–6.Schwarzberg Seth https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2025/6/20/24452675/today-in-astros-history Today in Astros history - June 20 The Crawfish Boxes SB Nation June 20, 2025 June 20, 2025 Batting third in the order, Cedeño faced southpaw George Stone for his first plate appearance, and was retired on a fly ball to left field. Leading of the top of the fourth, Cedeño singled off stone for his first major league hit.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL197006200.shtml Houston Astros (9) vs Atlanta Braves (6) box score June 20, 1970 Baseball-Reference.com February 24, 2026 July Joe Morgan tied a club record starting July 6 by drawing at least one base on balls in each of 11 consecutive contests, enduring until July 20, having been set by teammate Jimmy Wynn starting exactly one year earlier. Morgan drew 14 total walks with this active streak, while slashing.333 / .509 / .462 / .971. He also accrued 7 stolen bases. Alex Bregman later tied this streak, from April 20 to 30, 2019.The major league record is 22 by Roy Cullenbine, from July 2–22, 1947. Criteria: Longest streak of consecutive games, in the regular season, requiring bases on balls ≥ 1, sorted by most games matching criteria.https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/player-batting-streak-finder.cgi?request=1&timeframe=seasons&streak_length=10&playerapp=onepa&scomp%5B1%5D=gt&sval%5B1%5D=1&sstat%5B1%5D=b_bb Player batting streak stats finder–baseball Stathead Sports Reference December 24, 2025 Also on July 6, César Cedeño connected for his first major league home run, off Claude Osteen of the Los Angeles Dodgers, for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=cedence01&t=b César Cedeño career home runs Baseball-Reference.com November 5, 2025 The blast gave Houston a 4–3 lead. The game proceeded to extra innings, when the Dodgers harangued Jim Bouton for four runs in the top of the tenth. The Dodgers then withstood a three-run rally led by Pepitone, Rader, and Johnny Edwards in the bottom of the tenth, to hold on for the triumph over Houston, 10–8.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU197007060.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers (10) vs Houston Astros (8) box score Baseball-Reference.com July 6, 1970 November 5, 2025 The Astros set all-time franchise records on July 11 by attaining upward of 20 hits and 10 walks,As of 2025, this is the only game of this type for the Astros. However, it was the fifth in the major leagues in 1970, and sixth since 1962. Criteria: For single games, from 1962 to 2026, in the regular season, requiring bases on balls ≥ 10 and hits ≥ 20, sorted by ascending date.https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/team-batting-game-finder.cgi?request=1&order_by_asc=1&order_by=date&timeframe=seasons&year_min=1962&year_max=2026&ccomp%5B1%5D=gt&cval%5B1%5D=20&cstat%5B1%5D=b_h&ccomp%5B2%5D=gt&cval%5B2%5D=10&cstat%5B2%5D=b_bb Team batting game stats finder Stathead Sports Reference April 4, 2026 with 17 runners left on base (LOB),Surpassed 17 runners LOB on June 2, 1963, versus Milwaukee, and July 27, 1969, versus Philadelphia. Criteria: For single games, from 1962 to 2026, for HOU, in the regular season, sorted by descending runners left on base.https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/team-batting-game-finder.cgi?request=1&order_by=b_lob&timeframe=seasons&year_min=1962&year_max=2026&team_id=HOU Team batting game stats finder Stathead Sports Reference April 4, 2026 and six intentional base on balls (IBB) during a 5–4, 14-inning victory over the San Francisco Giants.Remained the team record until July 15, 1984, versus Philadelphia. Criteria: For single games, from 1962 to 2026, for HOU, in the regular season, sorted by descending intentional bases on balls.https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/team-batting-game-finder.cgi?request=1&order_by=b_ibb&timeframe=seasons&year_min=1962&year_max=2026&team_id=HOU Team batting game stats finder Stathead Sports Reference April 4, 2026 The Giants' Willie May, then the active home run leader, entered the contest six hits away from joining the 3,000 hit club. In the first inning, Mays singled off Astros starter Larry Dierker. Through six innings, Dierker was largely unhittable, surrendering just one other hit. Dierker also scored one of the Astros' first two runs. During the top of the seventh, the Giants' Willie McCovey homered (23) to tie the score. In the top of the ninth, Mays connected for his 2,996th and 619th home run to put the Giants ahead, 3–2. Denis Menke knocked a triple in the bottom of the ninth to tie the score again, 3–3. In the top of the 13th Bobby Bonds (14) homered to put the Giants back ahead, 4–3. During the bottom of the 13th, Doug Rader scored on a ground out by Don Bryant.Cohen Alan https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/july-11-1970-astros-prevail-in-14-in-overly-tame-ending-to-a-very-hairy-game/ Astros prevail in 14 in ‘overly tame ending to a very hairy game’ Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) July 11, 1970 April 17, 2026 Giants pitching issued 3 IBB to Jimmy Wynn, who drew four walks total. Joe Morgan reached base six times with four hits and two walks, and Jesús Alou also had four hits. The strategy kept San Francisco close, but, during the bottom of the 14th, Johnny Edwards swatted a walk-off sacrifice fly to plate Cedeño for the victory.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU197007110.shtml San Francisco Giants (4) vs Houston Astros (5) box score July 11, 1970 Baseball-Reference.com January 11, 2026 The Astros accumulated 21 hits, second most in club history at the time.The record at this time was 23 hits collected on June 7, 1967, versus St. Louis. Criteria: For single games, from 1962 to 1970, for HOU, in the regular season, sorted by descending hits.https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/team-batting-game-finder.cgi?request=1&order_by=b_h&timeframe=seasons&year_min=1962&year_max=1970&team_id=HOU Team batting game stats finder Stathead Sports Reference April 4, 2026 August On August 21, Doug Rader connected for his 20th home run of the season, off Jim Bunning of the Philadelphia Phillies.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=raderdo02&t=b Doug Rader career home runs Baseball-Reference.com August 31, 2026 Rader became the first player in team history to hit as many home runs in one season as a third baseman.In the regular season, from 1962 to 2005, playing for HOU, as 3B (within defensive positions), requiring home runs ≥ 20, sorted by greatest home runs. lower-alpha "home runs as 3b"https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/split_finder.cgi?request=1&order_by_asc=0&order_by=HR&year_min=1962&year_max=2005&split_1=defp%3Adefp&split_detail=defp%3Adefp%3Aas+3B&class=player&type=b&ccomp%5B1%5D=gt&cval%5B1%5D=20&cstat%5B1%5D=HR&team_id=HOU Player batting splits finder Stathead Sports Reference August 31, 2026 September During a 10-day span commencing September 7 on a West Coast road trip, 24-year old slugger Bob Watson crushed his first two career grand slams.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=watsobo01&t=b Bob Watson career home runs Baseball-Reference.com November 20, 2025 The first blast was at San Diego Stadium off a Ron Willis offering during the opener of a doubleheader, a 10–5 triumph over the Padres. Starting pitcher Ken Forsch (1–0) earned his first major league victory, also earning the complete game while overcoming a five-run run rally by San Diego in the bottom of the ninth inninghttps://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN197009071.shtml Houston Astros (10) vs San Diego Padres (5) box score—Game 1 Baseball-Reference.com September 7, 1970 November 20, 2025 in what was his major league debut.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/forscke01.shtml Ken Forsch stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball Reference October 17, 2026 Ten days later at Dodger Stadium, Watson tagged Jim Brewer for a grand slam in the 7th inning that snapped 5–5 tie and was a key play in an Astros 10–5 victory over Los Angeles.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197009170.shtml Houston Astros (10) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (5) box score Baseball-Reference.com September 17, 1970 November 20, 2025 Watson became the second player in team history to hit two grand slams during the same month, joining Bob Aspromonte, who did so twice (a team record), in June 1964 and August 1966.Two grand slams in one month remained the team record until Alex Bregman hit three in June 2023. Watson's were the Astros' fourth and fifth grand slams of the season, the latter of which set a team record.https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/event_finder.cgi?request=1&year_min=1962&team_id=HOU&event=23&type=b&criteria175=rob---111 Batting event finder HOU: 202 Home Runs in 1962-2026—123 Stathead Sport Reference August 13, 2026 Performance overview The Astros concluded the season with a 79 83 y record, for fourth place and 23 games behind the NL West division-champion and NL pennant-winning Cincinnati Reds.https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1970.shtml 1970 National League team statistics Baseball-Reference.com November 23, 2025 Though Houston's record declined by two victories from the year prior, this represented the first time in franchise history they had won at least 79 contests successively, following the period during which they lost at least 90 games in each of their first seven seasons of play. Moreover, the 1970 campaign was also the first in which Houston had closed out as high as fourth place in the standings. This iteration of the Astros set several then-club records, including scoring 744 runs and hitting 129 home runs, surpassing the 676 tallies obtained the year prior, and 112 home runs in 1966. They remained the club record until 1995 (747 runs) and 1972 (134 home runs).https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/batteam.shtml Houston Astros team yearly batting stats Baseball-Reference.com February 4, 2026 They also set a then-team record with five grand slams, breaking the record of four established just season prior. The record was later tied in 1973 and 1986, and surpassed in 1989 (six). By swiping 42 bags, Joe Morgan became first player in club history to record two 40-stolen base season, both in catenation. For the team, this signaled the second of a franchise-record nine successive campaigns featuring at least one baserunner who pilfered 40 or more bases.Number of players that meet criteria in a season, playing for HOU, in the regular season, requiring stolen bases ≥ 40, sorted by ascending instances.https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/player-batting-season-finder.cgi?request=1&match=league_player_season_count&order_by_asc=1&ccomp%5B1%5D=gt&cval%5B1%5D=40&cstat%5B1%5D=b_sb&team_id=HOU Player batting season & career stats finder–baseball Stathead Sports Reference January 3, 2026 Third baseman Doug Rader was recognized with his first career Gold Glove Award, thus being first Houston player awarded since pitcher Bobby Shantz in 1962. Shantz played for the Colt .45s for approximately the first month of the franchise's inaugural season prior to being traded.https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/gold_glove_nl.shtml National League Gold Glove Award winners Sports Reference, LLC Baseball-Reference.com October 4, 2016https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/shantbo01.shtml Bobby Shantz stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 19, 2025 Rader also hit 25 home runs to establish the team record for a single season at his position, which remained so until 2005, when Morgan Ensberg hit 36.lower-alpha "home runs as 3b" League standings Houston Astros Record versus opponents National League border:1px solid #aaa HOU Notable transactions June 4, 1970: Greg Gross was drafted by the Astros in the 4th round of the 1970 Major League Baseball draft. Player signed June 9, 1970.https://www.baseball-reference.com/g/grossgr01.shtml Greg Gross stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 14, 2025 June 23, 1970: Mike Marshall was traded by the Astros to the Montreal Expos for Don Bosch. July 29, 1970: Joe Pepitone was purchased from the Astros by the Chicago Cubs. August 12, 1970: Jim Bouton was released by the Houston Astros.https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/boutoji01.shtml Jim Bouton stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 14, 2025 Roster 1970 Houston Astros Roster Pitchers 42 Jack Billingham 36 Wade Blasingame 56 Jim Bouton 41 Ron Cook 39 George Culver 49 Larry Dierker 31 Jack DiLauro 43 Ken Forsch 48 Fred Gladding 38 Tom Griffin 46 Buddy Harris 23 Denny Lemaster 53 Mike Marshall 43 Dan Osinski 45 Jim Ray 37 Scipio Spinks 40 Don Wilson Catchers  6 Don Bryant  7 Johnny Edwards 10 Larry Howard Infielders 14 Marty Martínez 33 John Mayberry 11 Denis Menke 18 Joe Morgan  9 Joe Pepitone 12 Doug Rader 15 Héctor Torres 8,27 Bob Watson Outfielders 22 Jesús Alou 44 Jim Beauchamp 28 César Cedeño 10 Tommy Davis 19 Gary Geiger 20 César Gerónimo 26 Keith Lampard 21 Norm Miller 24 Jimmy Wynn Other batters 20 Leon McFadden Manager 25 Harry Walker Coaches  4 Buddy Hancken  3 Mel McGaha  5 Jim Owens  2 Salty Parker Game log Regular season Legend Astros win Astros loss Postponement Eliminated from playoff raceBoldAstros team member background:#072854;color:#FF7F00; 1970 regular season game log: 79–83 (Home: 44–37; Away: 35–46)1970 Houston Astros Schedule & Results https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1970-schedule-scores.shtml Baseball Reference 5 May 2025 y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; April: 7–14 (Home: 6–4; Away: 1–10) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |14 || April 20, 1970 || || style="Pittsburgh Pirates 1970 2;" |@ Pirates |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |15 || April 21, 1970 || || style="Pittsburgh Pirates 1970 2;" |@ Pirates |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |16 || April 22, 1970 || || style="Pittsburgh Pirates 1970 2;" |@ Pirates |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |20 || April 28, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |@ Reds |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |21 || April 29, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |@ Reds |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; May: 14–15 (Home: 6–7; Away: 8–8) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |28 || May 7, 1970 || || style="Pittsburgh Pirates 1970 2;" |Pirates |- style="background:#bfb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |29 || May 8, 1970 || || style="Pittsburgh Pirates 1970 2;" |Pirates |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |30 || May 9, 1970 || || style="Pittsburgh Pirates 1970 2;" |Pirates |- style="background:#bfb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |31 || May 10, 1970 || || style="Pittsburgh Pirates 1970 2;" |Pirates |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |41 || May 21, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |Reds |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |42 || May 22, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |Reds |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |43 || May 23, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |Reds |- style="background:#bfb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |44 || May 24, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |Reds |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; June: 12–14 (Home: 8–7; Away: 4–7) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |72 || June 26, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |Reds |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |73 || June 27, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |Reds |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |74 || June 28, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |Reds |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; July: 13–14 (Home: 7–7; Away: 6–7) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |78 (1) || July 3, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |@ Reds |- style="background:#bfb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |79 (2) || July 3, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |@ Reds |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |80 || July 4, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |@ Reds |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |81 || July 5, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |@ Reds |-style=background:#bbbfff | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |— || July 14, 1970 || style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |7:15p.m. CDT || colspan="9" style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |41st All-Star Game in Cincinnati, OH |- style="background:#bfb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |93 || July 20, 1970 || || style="Pittsburgh Pirates 1970 2;" |Pirates |- style="background:#bfb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |94 || July 21, 1970 || || style="Pittsburgh Pirates 1970 2;" |Pirates |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |97 || July 24, 1970 || || style="Pittsburgh Pirates 1970 2;" |@ Pirates |- style="background:#bfb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |98 || July 25, 1970 || || style="Pittsburgh Pirates 1970 2;" |@ Pirates |- style="background:#bfb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |99 || July 26, 1970 || || style="Pittsburgh Pirates 1970 2;" |@ Pirates |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; August: 16–13 (Home: 7–7; Away: 9–6) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; September: 16–13 (Home: 9–5; Away: 7–8) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- style="background:#bfb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |147 || September 15, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |Reds |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |148 || September 16, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |Reds |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |153 || September 21, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |@ Reds |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |154 || September 22, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |@ Reds |- style="background:#fbb;" | style="Houston Astros 1970 2;" |155 || September 23, 1970 || || style="Cincinnati Reds 1970 2;" |@ Reds |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; October: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Away: 0–0) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |- Detailed records National League Opponent W L WP RS Runs scored RA Runs against NL EastChicago Cubs 5 7 5 7 y 47 62Montreal Expos 8 4 8 4 y 59 44New York Mets 6 6 6 6 y 51 54Philadelphia Phillies 4 8 4 8 y 43 55Pittsburgh Pirates 6 6 6 6 y 56 64St. Louis Cardinals 6 6 3 15 y 63 62 Div Total 35 37 35 37 y 319 341 NL WestAtlanta Braves 9 9 9 9 y 88 91Cincinnati Reds 3 15 3 15 y 55 81Houston Astros Los Angeles Dodgers 8 10 8 10 y 99 84San Diego Padres 14 4 14 4 y 89 66San Francisco Giants 10 8 10 8 y 94 100 Div Total 44 46 44 46 y 425 422 Season Total 79 83 79 83 y 744 763 Month Games Won Lost Win % RS Runs scored RA Runs against April 21 7 14 7 14 y 89 109 May 29 14 15 14 15 y 142 149 June 26 12 14 12 14 y 108 99 July 27 13 14 13 14 y 121 142 August 29 16 13 16 13 y 138 138 September 29 16 13 16 13 y 141 122 October 1 1 0 1 0 y 5 4 Total 162 79 83 79 83 y 744 763 Games Won Lost Win % RS Runs scored RA Runs against Home 81 44 37 44 37 y 350 351 Away 81 35 46 35 46 y 394 412 Total 162 79 83 79 83 y 744 763 Player stats Batting Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI C Johnny Edwards 140 458 101 .221 7 49 1B Bob Watson 97 327 89 .272 11 61 2B Joe Morgan 144 548 147 .268 8 52 SS Denis Menke 154 562 171 .304 13 92 3B Doug Rader 156 576 145 .252 25 87 LF Tommy Davis 57 213 60 .282 3 30 CF Jimmy Wynn 157 554 156 .282 27 88 RF Jesús Alou 117 458 140 .306 1 44 Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI César Cedeño 90 355 110 .310 7 42 Joe Pepitone 75 279 70 .251 14 35 Norm Miller 90 226 54 .239 4 29 Marty Martínez 75 150 33 .220 0 12 John Mayberry 50 148 32 .216 5 14 Larry Howard 31 88 27 .307 2 16 Keith Lampard 53 72 17 .236 0 5 Héctor Torres 31 65 16 .246 0 5 César Gerónimo 47 37 9 .243 0 2 Jim Beauchamp 31 26 5 .192 1 4 Don Bryant 15 24 5 .208 0 3 Gary Geiger 5 4 1 .250 0 0 Leon McFadden 2 0 0 ---- 0 0 Pitching Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Larry Dierker 37 269.2 16 12 3.87 191 Don Wilson 29 184.1 11 6 3.91 94 Tom Griffin 23 111.1 3 13 5.74 72 Wade Blasingame 13 77.2 3 3 3.48 55 Ken Forsch 4 24.0 1 2 5.63 13 Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Jack Billingham 46 187.2 13 9 3.98 134 Denny Lemaster 39 162.0 7 12 4.56 103 Ron Cook 41 82.1 4 4 3.72 50 Jim Bouton 29 73.1 4 6 5.40 49 Scipio Spinks 5 13.2 0 1 9.88 6 Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G W L SV ERA SO Fred Gladding 63 7 4 18 4.06 46 Jim Ray 52 6 3 5 3.26 67 Jack DiLauro 42 1 3 3 4.28 23 George Culver 32 3 3 3 3.20 31 Mike Marshall Mike Marshall (pitcher) 4 0 1 0 8.44 5 Dan Osinski 3 0 1 0 9.82 1 Buddy Harris 2 0 0 0 5.68 2 Awards and achievements Grand slams No. Number Date Astros batter Venue Inning Pitcher Opposing team Box Box score 1 June 4 Doug Rader Astrodome 1tiedlead Tied score or took lead Dan McGinn Montreal Expos 2 June 10 Joe Pepitone 4 Nolan Ryan New York Mets 3 July 9 Denis Menke 1tiedlead Alan Foster baseball Los Angeles Dodgers 4 September 7dh Game 1 of doubleheader Bob Watson1st MLB grand slam San Diego Stadium 6 Ron Willis San Diego Padres 5 September 17 Dodger Stadium 9tiedlead Jim Brewer baseball Los Angeles Dodgers Awards 1970 Houston Astros award winners Name of award Recipient Ref. References Gold Glove Award Third baseman Doug Rader https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_gg3b.shtml Gold Glove third basemen Baseball Almanac October 11, 2025 Houston Astros Most Valuable Player (MVP) Joe Morgan McTaggart Brian http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091116&content_id=7674760&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou Bourn highlights Astros' awards season December 21, 2009 MLB.com October 14, 2025 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101208131739/http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091116&content_id=7674760&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou December 8, 2010 MLB All-Star Game Reserve infielder Joe Morgan https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1970-allstar-game.shtml 1970 All-Star Game box score Baseball-Reference.com October 11, 2025 Denis Menke Other awards results Name of award Voting recipient(s) (Team) Ref. References NL Rookie of the Year 1st—Morton (MON) • 4th—Cedeño (HOU) https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1970.shtml 1970 awards voting Baseball-Reference.com June 7, 2026 Milestones Major League debuts Player—Appeared at position César Cedeño, center fielder Ken Forsch, starting pitcher Date and opponent June 20 vs Atlanta September 7 at San Diego Box Box score Also: https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1970-debuts.shtml 1970 Major League Baseball new debuts Baseball-Reference.com May 9, 2025 Minor league system Minor League Baseball AAA Oklahoma City 89ers American Association Hub Kittle AA Columbus Astros Southern League Jimmy Williams A Cocoa Astros Florida State League Tony Pacheco A-Short Season Williamsport Astros New York–Penn League Dick Bogard Rookie Covington Astros Appalachian League Dick Smith Championships Southern League champions:https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-180329 List of Southern League past champions Minor League Baseball October 11, 2025 Columbus Astros Notes References 2 External links 1970 Houston Astros season at Baseball Reference Texas Baseball Category:Houston Astros seasons Houston Astros season Houston Astro