1980 Houston Astros season

19th season in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros March 2026 November 2013 Houston Astros 1980 National League West champions National League West Astrodome Houston, Texas 93 70 y 1st John McMullen Tal Smith, Al Rosen Bill Virdon KRIV–TV 26(Gene Elston, Dewayne Staats, Larry Dierker) KPRC–AM 950(Gene Elston, Dewayne Staats, Larry Dierker) The 1980 Houston Astros season was the 19th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 16th as the Astros, 19th in the National League (NL), 12th in the NL West division, and 16th at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season having completed an 89–73 record for second place and 1 1 2 games behind the division-champion Cincinnati Reds. At the time, this represented the closest the Astros had ever qualified for the playoffs. On Opening Day, April 10, J. R. Richard made his fifth consecutive Opening Day start for Houston, who hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers and won, 3–2. On July 4, right-hander Nolan Ryan became the fourth major league hurler to record 3,000 career strikeouts. Richard and left fielder José Cruz were selected to the MLB All-Star Game; Richard was the starting pitcher for the National League, and this was the first career selection for both players. After a late collapse in 1979, the Astros completed their scheduled regular season with a record of 92–70, tying them for first place with Los Angeles after having lost three in a row in Los Angeles in the final series of the season. To determine the division champion, the teams played a tie-breaker on October 6, which the Astros won for the first division title and first time in franchise history to qualify for the playoffs. At the time, this also set the club record for wins in one season, surpassing the 89 from the season prior. Houston faced the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series (NLCS), losing three games to two. Following the season, The Sporting News recognized general manager Tal Smith as Executive of the Year, and Bill Virdon as Manager of the Year,From 1938 to 1985, The Sporting News presented one Manager of the Year Award for all of MLB. Starting in 1986, it was presented to one each in both the NL and the American League (AL). lower-alpha "TSN manager award" the first Houston Astros personnel to win these awards. Offseason October 12, 1979: Signed pitcher J. R. Richard to a four-year extension.https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/12/archives/richard-signs-fouryear-pact.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb Richard signs four-year pact The New York Times A22 October 12, 1979 October 22, 2025 Associated Press October 26, 1979: Keith Drumright was sent by the Astros to the Kansas City Royals as the player to be named later to conclude the exchange started on April 27, 1979, in which the Astros received George Throop from Kansas City.https://www.baseball-reference.com/d/drumrke01.shtml Keith Drumright stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 3, 2025 November 19, 1979: Nolan Ryan was signed as a free agent by the Astros,https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ryanno01.shtml Nolan Ryan stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 14, 2025 for four seasons at $4 million total. Thus, Ryan become baseball's first million-dollar player.Ryan going to Astros for $4 million; $1 million a year in pact https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/16/archives/ryan-going-to-astros-for-4-million-1-million-a-year-in-pact.html November 16, 1979 November 17, 2024 The New York Times A25 January 31, 1980: Joe Morgan was signed as a free agent by the Astros. A reunion for the two sides, Morgan made his major league debut with the Colt .45s in 1963 and patrolled second base for them through the 1971 campaign.https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/morgajo02.shtml Joe Morgan stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 18, 2025 February 21, 1980: Frank Riccelli was released by the Astros.https://www.baseball-reference.com/r/riccefr01.shtml Frank Riccelli stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 18, 2025 Regular season Summary Opening Day thumb|right|200px|upright|J. R. Richard, first pitcher to start five Opening Days for the Astros + Opening Day starting lineup Uniform Uniform number Player Position 21 Terry Puhl Right fielder 12 Craig Reynolds Shortstop 28 César Cedeño Center fielder 8 Joe Morgan Second baseman 25 José Cruz Left fielder 23 Enos Cabell Third baseman 18 Art Howe First baseman 14 Alan Ashby Catcher 50 J. R. Richard Pitcher Venue: Astrodome • Final: Houston 3, Los Angeles 2 Sources:https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=198004100HOU Los Angeles Dodgers (2) vs Houston Astros (3) box score Baseball Almanac April 10, 1980 September 29, 2025https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1980-uniform-numbers.shtml 1980 Houston Astros uniform numbers Baseball-Reference.com September 30, 2025 On April 10, the Astros hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers for Opening Day, with J. R. Richard serving as the starting pitcher for the Astros. Richard carried a personal 11-game winning streak over Los Angeles into the start.Bush Frederick C. https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/april-10-1980-astros-j-r-richard-flirts-with-perfection-on-opening-day/ Astros’ J. R. Richard flirts with perfection on Opening Day Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) April 10, 1980 December 21, 2025 Leadoff hitter and the first batter of the season for Houston Terry Puhl cranked a home run in the bottom of the first inning. In the bottom of the second, José Cruz replicated Puhl's feat with a home run leading off, and later that frame, Alan Ashby singled home Art Howe to stake Houston to a 3–0 lead.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198004100.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers (2) vs Houston Astros (3) box score Baseball-Reference.com April 10, 1980 October 26, 2025 Cruz' home run was the second of his career on Opening Day, following his blast on April 7, 1975.https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/home_run.php?p=cruzjo01 José Cruz home runs Baseball Almanac April 12, 2026 Meanwhile, Richard (1–0) started the new campaign in style by assembling a bid for a perfect game as the Dodgers took their at bat for the top of the seventh frame. He struck out Davey Lopes to retire the 19th consecutive batter and first of the seventh. Rookie Rudy Law then stroked a clean single to right field to simultaneously end perfect game and no-hit bids. Richard concluded with eight innings and surrendered just two hits and two runs—one unearned—while inducing 13 whiffs and departed with a 3–2 lead. Joe Sambito relieved and tossed a perfect ninth to preserve the Astros' victory and earn the save. This Opening Day start extended Richard's then-club record for pitchers to five, which stood until Roy Oswalt took the mound for the 2008 opener.Prior to Oswalt breaking the record, who amassed eight total, Richard was matched by Mike Scott in 1991 and Shane Reynolds in 2000. "Note" Meanwhile, Enos Cabell, who made the fifth and final of five uninterrupted Opening Day starts at third base for Houston, was just the third such player at the position for the club. Cabell succeeded Bob Aspromonte, who started each of the first seven in club history (1962 to 1968), and Doug Rader, who started each of the following seven (1969 to 1975).https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/opening.shtml Houston Astros Opening Day starters Baseball-Reference.com October 26, 2025 Moreover, the victory represented Houston's eighth on Opening Day in 10 campaigns. This was the best such performance over any 10 season-span in club history, until the Astros reeled off a winning streak of ten Opening Day games from 2013 to 2022.https://www.baseball-almanac.com/opening_day/odschedule.php?t=HOU Houston Astros Opening Day history Baseball Almanac April 19, 2026 Rest of April Homerless the year prior, on April 11, Craig Reynolds belted his first of the year on an offering from Don Stanhouse leading off the eighth to ignite a five-run rally. This is enough to topple Los Angeles. Making his major league debut, Dave Smith earned the win in relief.Hulsey Bob https://www.astrosdaily.com/history/thisdate/index.html This date in Astros history Astros Daily September 7, 2025 During the eighth inning rally, Luis Pujols singled in two runs with the bases loaded, while Enos Cabell scored on the same play via an error, and Art Howe followed by doubling in Pujols.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198004110.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers (6) vs Houston Astros (10) box score Baseball-Reference.com April 11, 1980 October 26, 2025 In his debut as a Houston Astro on April 12, Nolan Ryan slugged a three-run home off Don Sutton of the Dodgers for the first of his major league career. The shot also accounted for half of the runs batted in (RBI) Ryan would accumulate that year. Though the blast gave Houston the lead, it did not hold as the game went all the way to 17 innings before Los Angeles claimed a 6–5 triumph. On the mount, Ryan went 6 innings, yielded 4 runs, 5 walks, and struck out three. Dave Smith (1–1) took the loss when he surrendered the go-ahead single to Mickey Hatcher that scored Dusty Baker during his fourth inning of work.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198004120.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers (6) vs Houston Astros (5) box score Baseball-Reference.com April 12, 1980 October 20, 2025 On April 15, Joe Niekro tossed a six-hit complete game victory over the Atlanta Braves, leading a 6–2 Astros win.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 His first win of the season, Niekro surrendered no bases on balls while striking out 6.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198004150.shtml Atlanta Braves (2) vs Houston Astros (6) box score Baseball-Reference.com April 15, 1980 October 25, 2025 Richard fired a one-hitter of the Dodgers on April 19 in a 12-strikeout performance, notching his 13th consecutive triumph against the club. The lone hit surrendered to the Dodgers was an infield single by Reggie Smith during the fourth inning, while Richard's game score graded at 94. Bob Welch countered Richard nearly pitch-for-pitch, yielding Houston's only two hits in the fourth as well. However, Terry Puhl and César Cedeño both scored, resulting in the only tallies of the contest and 2–0 Astros win.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198004190.shtml Houston Astros (2) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (0) box score Baseball-Reference.com April 19, 1980 October 26, 2025 Ryan captured his first victory in an Astros uniform on April 22,https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=ryanno01&t=p&year=1980 Nolan Ryan 1980 pitching game logs Baseball-Reference.com December 22, 2025 leading an 8–0 shutout of the Cincinnati Reds at the Astrodome.He surrendered six hits, issued six walks, and whiffed seven over seven frames. Meanwhile, during the bottom of the first inning, José Cruz cranked a bases-loaded triple to opening the scoring—the first of three safeties—while finishing a home run short of hitting for the cycle.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198004190.shtml Cincinnati Reds (0) vs Houston Astros (8) box score Baseball-Reference.com April 22, 1980 December 22, 2025 This was also Cruz' fifth career bout of five runs batted in (RBI) or more.https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/PX_cruzj001.htm Top performances for José Cruz Retrosheet December 22, 2025 Following a stellar month of April, J. R. Richard earned National League (NL) Pitcher of the Month honors. It was also his second consecutive accolade, dating to September at the conclusion of the 1979 season.https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mlb-pitchers-of-the-month.shtml Major League Baseball Pitchers of the Month Baseball-Reference.com July 24, 2025 During five April starts, Richard went 4–0, 1.67 earned run average (ERA), and induced 48 whiffs over 37 2 3 innings pitched (IP). Additionally, he suppressed hitters' success to a .104 batting average against (BAA) while limiting baserunners to a 0.717 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) and no home runs surrendered.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=richaj.01&year=1980&t=p J. R. Richard 1980 pitching splits Baseball-Reference.com October 22, 2025 May With a 4–2 win on May 3, Astros manager Bill Virdon earned win number 356 as manager to take over the all-time franchise lead.This date corresponded to another milestone win for Astros managers, when Dusty Baker reached 2,000 career victory during the 2022 campaign. "Note"Schwartzberg Seth https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2025/5/3/24422954/today-in-astros-history Today in Astros history - May 3 The Crawfish Boxes SB Nation May 3, 2025 October 22, 2025 The victory over the St. Louis Cardinals allowed Virdon to surpass Harry Walker, who led the club from 1968 to 1972.https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/managers.shtml Baseball-Reference.com Houston Astros managers October 22, 2025 Following a near-four hour rain delay on May 6 at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, the Astros left 8–4 winners over the Expos. José Cruz furnished four runs batted in (RBI) to propel the Astros' victory.Schwartzberg Seth https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2025/5/6/24424639/today-in-astros-history Today in Astros history - May 6 The Crawfish Boxes SB Nation May 6, 2025 October 11, 2025 On May 18, Ryan hurtled both his first shutout and double-digit strikeout performance as an Astro, while reversing a personal three-game losing streak. Snaring a four-hitter, the Astros triumphed, 3–0, over the Philadelphia Phillies at home. Pete Rose—who knocked three hits—was the only Phillie whom Ryan was unable to solve. All of Houston's scoring took place during the first two frames, courtesy of an RBI from each of the first three batters in the order—Rafael Landestoy, Terry Puhl, and Jeffrey Leonard. Also his first complete game for the new team, Ryan's outing drew a game score of 85.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198005180.shtml Philadelphia Phillies (0) vs Houston Astros (3) box score Baseball-Reference.com May 18, 1980 October 26, 2025 Enos Cabell singled home José Cruz during the second frame on May 28, and, from there, Nolan Ryan operated in complete command from start to finish, firing a two-hit, 1–0, shutout of the San Diego Padres. Ryan fanned seven and earned a game score of 85.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198005280.shtml San Diego Padres (0) vs Houston Astros (1) box score Baseball-Reference.com May 28, 1980 February 21, 2026 This was Ryan's sixteenth career two-hit complete game, and first since June 18, 1979.Nolan Ryan, for single games, in complete games, in the regular season, requiring hits allowed = 2, sorted by ascending date.https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/player-pitching-game-finder.cgi?request=1&order_by_asc=1&order_by=date&player_id=ryan--001lyn&timeframe=seasons&ccomp%5B1%5D=eq&cval%5B1%5D=2&cstat%5B1%5D=p_h&role=CG Nolan Ryan ((!)) player pitching game stats finder Stathead Sport Reference February 21, 2026 June—early July thumb|right|150px|Nolan Ryan, 1972, signed a record-breaking deal with the Astros after playing for the Angels. In a 3–0 shutout of the Chicago Cubs on June 11, Astros starter J. R. Richard extended a scoreless innings streak to 31 2 3. The win capped the first-ever homestand sweep for the Astros after having swept 3 games each in series against the San Francisco Giants and Cubs.Schwartzberg Seth https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2025/6/11/24447191/today-in-astros-history Today in Astros history - June 11 The Crawfish Boxes SB Nation June 11, 2025 July 1, 2025 Richard's streak broke the franchise record, which stood until September 11, 2008, when Roy Oswalt went to 32 1 3 innings after a 6–0 shutout win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.Duncan Chris https://www.timesonline.com/story/sports/mlb/2008/09/11/bucs-can-t-solve-astros/18358089007/ Bucs can't solve Astros' Oswalt The Times Associated Press September 11, 2008 September 30, 2025 Despite battling the flu, on June 16, Nolan Ryan hurled seven one-hit innings before reliever Joe Sambito closed out a 2–0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals' only hit was a double in the third inning. Offensively, José Cruz plated both of the Astros' runs.Schwartzburg Seth https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2025/6/19/24452132/today-in-astros-history Today in Astros history - June 16 The Crawfish Boxes SB Nation June 19, 2025 June 25, 2025 Richard yielded his first two home runs of the season on July 3 to the Atlanta Braves—which would also be the final two served of his careerhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/eve5nt_hr.fcgi?id=richaj.01&t=p J. R. Richard career home runs allowed Baseball-Reference.com October 22, 2025—hence, commencing the season without having surrendered any over the first 110 innings.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=richaj.01&t=p&year=1980 J. R. Richard 1980 pitching game logs Baseball-Reference.com October 22, 2025 Dale Murphy and Chris Chambliss took Richard deep back-to-back with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, for the first since Ray Knight on September 21, 1979.lower-alpha Between Knight's and Murphy's blasts, Richard tossed 135 1 3 consecutive innings without having served a home run. "Richard homerless streak"https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=richaj.01&t=p&year=1979 J. R. Richard 1979 pitching game logs Baseball-Reference.com October 22, 2025 The Astros won, 5–3, and Richard obtained his 10th victory of the season, which would be the concluding of his career as well. Nolan Ryan's 3,000th strikeout At Riverfront Stadium on July 4, Ryan became the fourth pitcher in major league history to record 3,000 strikeouts, joining Walter Johnson, Gaylord Perry, and Bob Gibson. During the bottom of the second inning, César Gerónimo of the Cincinnati Reds whiffed on a high inside fastball for the right-hander's historic marker.Gerónimo was also Gibson's 3,000th strikeout casualty on July 17, 1974. lower-alpha "Gibson" However, Cincinnati prevailed, 8–1. Over four innings, Ryan fanned six but walked seven.Feinstein John John Feinstein https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/07/05/ryan-whiffs-3000th-loses/2920aeaf-7c20-4078-8121-d6cabb6216db/ Ryan whiffs 3,000th, loses The Washington Post July 4, 1980 November 29, 2025 subscription Gerónimo was Ryan's third victim of the evening. In the first inning, Ken Griffey Sr. and Dan Driessen whiffed. In the second, Ray Knight worked a base on balls to turn over to Gerónimo. The center fielder fouled off an offering, took a ball, took a strike, then was retired swinging. The game momentarily paused as catcher Alan Ashby presented the ball to Ryan while 37,047 onlookers acknowledged the accomplishment with a standing ovation. Ryan concluded the outing with 3,003 strikeouts, but with 1,173 bases on balls. His 13-year career record stood at 172–165. MLB All-Star Game J. R. Richard was named the starting pitcher for the National League at the 51st All-Star Game, hosted at Dodger Stadium. There, Richard owned a career 7–2 record, and, on the season going into the break, had produced a 10–4 record, 1.96 ERA and 115 punchouts in 110 1 3 frames.Sarnoff Gary https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/july-9-1980-national-league-wins-all-star-game-at-dodger-stadium/ National League wins All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) July 9, 1980 December 22, 2025 Richard became the Astros' first-ever pitcher to start an All-Star Game. He proceeded to toss two scoreless innings, fanned three hitters while navigating nine total batters faced. He also surrendered one hit and issued two bases on balls.https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/pitch-all-star.shtml Houston Astros All-Star pitching register Baseball-Reference.com October 19, 2025 Cruz was also an All-Star selectee but did not enter the contest. The NL squad prevailed, 4–2.https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1980-allstar-game.shtml 1980 All-Star Game box score Baseball-Reference.com July 9, 1980 December 22, 2025 Rest of July—August Richard made what turned out to be his final major league appearance on July 14 at the Astrodome, hosting the Braves.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/richaj.01.shtml J. R. Richard stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com December 22, 2025 He departed during the top of the fourth inning having surrendered just 1 hit to a scoreless tie. Richard doubled off Phil Niekro his final plate appearance leading off the bottom of the third, but Niekro came back to strike out the side, retiring Landestoy, Leonard and Cruz. During the top of the fourth, Richard issued a walk to Dale Murphy, who was leading off, then induced Chris Chambliss to hit into a groundball force out. Chambliss would be Richard's final major league batter faced. Gordie Pladson relieved and proceeded to toss 3 2 3 innings. The Braves scored first, when Bruce Benedict doubled in Jeff Burroughs in the top of the fifth off Pladson. In the seventh, Bob Horner took Pladson deep. The Astros could not muster any offense, however, dropping the contest, 2–0.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198007140.shtml Atlanta Braves (2) vs Houston Astros (0) box score Baseball-Reference.com July 14, 1980 December 22, 2025 Joe Niekro went 3-for-3 while batting on July 27 to lead a 6–3 triumph over the Montreal Expos and pick up his 11th victory of the season. Niekro pitched 5 solid innings, with two runs allowed, while Dave Smith picked up with the final four frames with just one unearned allowed to convert his fifth save. Rafael Landestoy tripled, got a stolen base and scored a run to lead the offense.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON198007270.shtml Houston Astros (6) vs Montreal Expos (3) box score Baseball-Reference.com July 27, 1980 October 25, 2025 While working out at the Astrodome on July 30, J. R. Richard collapsed from stroke. Rushed to Houston Methodist Hospital, surgical intervention saved his life. His distracted teammates dropped the contest, 6–4, later that day to the Phillies. Following recovery, Richard would never regain the coordination required to resume his playing career. In the midst of his finest campaign at the time of the accident, Richard was leading the league in each of wins, earned run average, strikeouts and shutouts.https://www.astrosdaily.com/files/team/richard/richard.html James Rodney "J. R." Richard, #50 Astros Daily October 19, 2025 Richard, who at that point had realized full control over his arsenal, had finished the 1979 campaign as the league leader with fewest hits per nine innings surrendered (6.8 H/9) and highest strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.19 K/BB). Spanning one full calendar year over 31 games started dating to the previous July 26, he had commenced an uniquely dominant period, not seen in club history: 20–6 W–L, 1.50 ERA, 234 2 3 innings, 15 complete games, 7 shutouts, 258 strikeouts, 48 runs, 133 hits, 4 home runs, 78 BB, and 0.899 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) versus 902 batters faced.In a span of 31 games, from 1979-07-26 to 1980-07-30, in the regular season, sorted by descending Strikeouts.https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/player-pitching-span-finder.cgi?request=1&player_id=richar001jam&timeframe=custom_timeframe&date_min=1979-07-26&date_max=1980-07-30&span_length=31 J. R. Richard player pitching span stats finder Stathead Sports Reference December 22, 2025 With the contest on August 23 so far having gone scoreless, Joe Niekro entered and took the mound in the 16th inning versus the Chicago Cubs. In the bottom of the 17th, an intentional base on balls to José Cruz loaded the bases. With two out, Niekro batted and singled in Enos Cabell for the walk-off, 1–0 triumph, while spotting himself his own victory to boost his record to 13–11.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198008230.shtml Chicago Cubs (0) vs Houston Astros (1) box score Baseball-Reference.com August 23, 1980 October 25, 2025 For the week of August 18 to 24, Joe Sambito tossed 8 2 3 shutout innings pitched, yielding two hits and no walks for a .095 batting average against, and struck out seven over three relief appearances. The last of the three included four one-hit frames in extra innings against the Cubs in the 17-inning shutout on August 23.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=sambijo01&t=p&year=1980 Joe Sambito 1980 pitching game logs Baseball Reference September 20, 2026 Hence, Sambito was recognized with the NL Player of the Week Award.https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mlb-players-of-the-week.shtml MLB Players of the Week Awards Baseball-Reference.com August 31, 2025 On August 26, César Cedeño walloped the first grand slam by the Houston Astros in nearly three years since Bob Watson did so September 4, 1977, and his first since June 11, 1974.https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/event_finder.cgi?request=1&year_min=1962&year_max=1980&team_id=HOU&event=23&type=b&criteria78=rob---111 HOU: 36 Home Runs in 1962-1980 – 123 Stathead Sports Reference September 20, 2026 It was a 2-all tiebreaking shot off Jim Kaat of St, Louis during the top of the fifth inning. Houston stayed in control after that, with Joe Niekro (14–11) going the distance, scattering seven hits in a 7–2 final. José Cruz collected three hits and an RBI, and Terry Puhl doubled (17) and purloined a base (20).https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198009062.shtml Houston Astros (7) vs St. Louis Cardinals (2) box score Baseball-Reference.com August 26, 1980 November 22, 2025 September—October On September 6, Art Howe's eighth consecutive hit, a two-run single, matched the club record and paced a 9–5 triumph over St. Louis during the first game of a doubleheader.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=howear01&t=b&year=1980 Art Howe 1980 game batting logs Baseball-Reference.com October 23, 2025 Pitcher Joe Niekro chipped in two hits with a double. In the nightcap, José Cruz blasted a grand slam, the first of his career, and ninth home run of the season.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=cruzjo01&t=b José Cruz career home runs Baseball-Reference.com November 19, 2025 Cruz' blast, off John Martin in third inning, ignited the crucial margin for victory in a 6-4 finalhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198009062.shtml St. Louis Cardinals (2) vs Houston Astros (6) box score—Game 2 Baseball-Reference.com September 6, 1980 November 19, 2025 for the twinbill sweep which drew the Astros to within one game of the NL West-leading Dodgers. Vern Ruhle, who went the distance for the second game, continued his emergence as a clutch performer in place of J. R. Richard after his stroke to fuel the Astros in the pennant race. Cruz blasted an extra innings, walk-off home run on September 10 off Rick Sutcliffe to cap a furious 6–5 final over Los Angeles, pulling the two clubs into a tie for first place in the NL West. The drive redeemed two previous Astros runners who were cut down attempting to score, while Cruz had stoked two rallies in regulation to bring the contest to a 3–3 tie. César Cedeño clustered four hits; The fourth walk-off blast of Cruz' career,José Cruz: 6 home runs in 1972–1988—walk-offhttps://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/event_finder.cgi?request=1&player_id=cruzjo01&year_min=1972&event=23&type=b&criteria5=walk_off---T José Cruz batting event finder Stathead Sports Reference February 7, 2026 he went 3-for-6 and scored thrice. Nolan Ryan worked the first eight innings for Houston and struck out nine.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198009100.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers (5) vs Houston Astros (6) box score Baseball-Reference.com September 10, 1980 October 25, 2025 Joe Morgan stung his former club on September 18 with a tie-breaking two-run home run, punctuating a 10–2 beatdown of Cincinnati. José Cruz also homered off Charlie Liebrandt in the ninth as the Astros ran away with it to highlight a five-run frame. Ken Forsch (12–12) earned the win while Joe Sambito polished off three scoreless frames to sum his 16th save.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN198009180.shtml Houston Astros (10) vs Cincinnati Reds (2) box score Baseball-Reference.com September 18, 1980 October 25, 2025 On September 21, Vern Ruhle heaved 7 2 3 innings pitched of a no-hit bid to grasp a 5–1 win in San Francisco while reclaiming the division lead from the Dodgers. Jim Wohlford desisted the bid but Ruhle (10–4) could not be halted from polishing off a complete game three-hitter to outduel Vida Blue, and post a game score of 81. Art Howe homered and Gary Woods drove in two for Houston.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198009210.shtml Houston Astros (5) vs San Francisco Giants (1) box score Baseball-Reference.com September 21, 1980 October 25, 2025 Ruhle tossed a crucial four-hit, 2–0 shutout of Cincinnati on September 26 to move Houston to two games ahead of the Dodgers for the division lead. The following day, Niekro teamed with Dave Smith to author yet another 2–0 victory of Cincinnati. A four-hitter, Niekro improved to 18–12 while Smith hurled the final four outs, including three strikeouts, for his ninth save. Craig Reynolds delivered a 2-RBI double in bottom of fifth for the contest's only tallies. With seven games remaining, it was Houston's 89th victory of the season,https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198009270.shtml Cincinnati Reds (0) vs Houston Astros (2) box score Baseball-Reference.com September 27, 1980 October 25, 2025 equaling the prior year's edition for most in franchise history.https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/ Houston Astros team history & encyclopedia Baseball-Reference.com October 7, 2025 On October 1, Ruhle shot his third consecutive complete game to up his record to 12–4 as Terry Puhl stroked a bases-loaded double to key a 5–2 triumph over Atlanta. Ruhle outdueled Phil Niekro (15–17), who surrendered four runs on seven hits in seven innings.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198010010.shtml Atlanta Braves (2) vs Houston Astros (5) box score Baseball-Reference.com October 1, 1980 October 25, 2025 Following a 3–2 victory over the Braves on October 2, the Astros built one of the largest divisional leads that they would hold all season, going up three games on second-place Los Angeles prior to venturing to Dodger Stadium with three games remaining in the season.1980 Houston Astros schedule & results https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1980-schedule-scores.shtml Baseball Reference.com May 3, 2025 The antepenultimate contest on October 3 featured a taut pitchers' duel between the Astros' Ken Forsch and the Dodgers' Don Sutton. Forsch pitched the entire nine innings of a 2–2 tie, including yielding the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth. Forsch remained on the mound in the bottom of the tenth, but was greeted by catcher Joe Ferguson's walk-off home run, handing Forsch and the Astros a stunning 3–2 defeat.Vivanco Cosme https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-3-1980-joe-ferguson-keeps-dodgers-alive-in-nl-west-race/ Joe Ferguson keeps Dodgers alive in NL West race Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) October 3, 1980 April 13, 2026 The home run was Ferguson's third walk-off of the campaign.Ferguson had belted his most recent walk-off home run against Forsch's brother, Bob, on August 1, 1980.https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/home_run.php?p=fergujo01 Joe Ferguson home runs Baseball Almanac April 13, 2026 The Dodgers won the second game as well. During the regular season finale, Houston mounted a 3–0 advantage through four innings. Los Angeles answered by scoring once each in the bottom of the fifth and seventh innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Ron Cey connected off Frank LaCorte for a two-run home run that scored Steve Garvey and gave the Dodgers a 4–3 lead. This lead stood as the final score, capping a Dodgers' sweep of the final series.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198010050.shtml Houston Astros (3) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (4) box score Baseball-Reference.com October 5, 1980 October 29, 2025 At the conclusion of the regular season, the Astros and Dodgers had tied for first place in the NL West with identical 92–70 records. Hence, a tie-breaker was scheduled for October 6, also held at Dodger Stadium, as an addendum to the regular season to determine the NL West division winner and club which would qualify for the playoffs. NL West tie-breaker game To secure their first-ever playoff entrance, the Astros commissioned Joe Niekro as starting pitcher for the tie-breaker game on October 6. This additional regular season contest ceded Niekro another opportunity at a personal milestone, as he had concluded the original 162-game gamut with 19 victories. Niekro delivered, leading the Astros to a 7–1 triumph via a complete game six-hitter, while unlocking his 20th win. First baseman Art Howe led the offense, connected for his 10th home run among three hits while activating four runs batted in (RBI). Craig Reynolds also collected three hits as the Astros mashed 12 hits total.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198010060.shtml Houston Astros (7) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (1) box score Baseball-Reference.com October 6, 1980 October 19, 2025 Hence, the Astros finally claimed both their first division title and first playoff berth. However, Astros catcher Alan Ashby sustained a rib fracture in a violent collision at home plate during the fourth inning with the knee of his counterpart Joe Ferguson. The injury forced Ashby to miss any remaining action for the season, including the National League Championship Series (NLCS). Performance overview The wait was over: during their 19th season in 1980 the Astros qualified for the first-ever playoff tournament in franchise history. Presaged by their greatest run to date the season prior in 1979, they mounted a then-franchise record 89 wins hallmarked by remarkable achievement by their pitching both collectively and individually, just falling short with a second-place finish. During the 1980 season, though the Astros had spent more days in first place than ever, they never led by more than 3 1 2 games as the Los Angeles Dodgers continually matched the Astros win-for-win with the two clubs swapping and maintaining first and second place at various junctures throughout the season.1980 Los Angeles Dodgers schedule & results https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/1980-schedule-scores.shtml Baseball Reference.com October 19, 2025 With their 93rd regular-season victory, the Astros established yet another then-club record for wins, having just superseded that achievement the season prior. This record held for just six seasons, until another playoff charge in 1986. As a team, the Astros golfed 67 triples, usurping the club record of 60 set in 1977.The 1984 edition later tied this record. This Astros team also formerly held the stolen base record with 194, having surpassed the record of 190 set just the year before, until 1988.https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/batteam.shtml Houston Astros team yearly batting stats Baseball-Reference.com January 16, 2026 After going 21–11 in 1979, Joe Niekro followed up with a 20–12 record to became the first Houston Astro to produce back-to-back 20 game-winning seasons.https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2642036 Baseball peers remember Joe Niekro as 'fun-loving guy' ESPN.com Associated Press October 28, 2006 September 16, 2025 Niekro augmented his performance at the plate by batting .275 (22-for-80), with 5 doubles, 10 RBI, 4 bases on balls and 18 sacrifice hits, the latter of which ranked second in the league.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/niekrjo01.shtml Joe Niekro stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 25, 2025 Nolan Ryan led the major leagues in walks (98) to extend his major-league record to a seventh season, and for the first time as a National Leaguer. As a member of the California Angels, Ryan had already broken the American League record with six, from 1972–1974, and 1976–1978.https://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/walks_by_pitchers_records.shtml MLB bases on balls records Baseball Almanac December 1, 2025 Reliever Dave Smith established a then-Astros' rookie record by converting 10 saves, surpassing six each by Jim Crawford (1968) and Steve Shea (1973).Record was broken by Bill Dawley, who converted 14 saves in 1983.https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=smithda02 Dave Smith stats, height, weight, research & history Baseball Almanac March 14, 2026 Left fielder José Cruz was recognized with the Houston Astros' team Most Valuable Player Award (MVP), the second time receiving this honor since his performance during the 1977 campaign. Cruz became the second repeat winner, joining Rusty Staub in 1966 and 1967.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 18, 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 Season standings Houston Astros Record versus opponents National League border:1px solid #aaa HOU Roster 1980 Houston Astros Roster Pitchers 47 Joaquín Andújar 43 Ken Forsch 31 Frank LaCorte 36 Joe Niekro 46 Randy Niemann 26 Gordie Pladson 50 J. R. Richard 42 Bert Roberge 48 Vern Ruhle 34 Nolan Ryan 35 Joe Sambito 45 Dave Smith 41 Bobby Sprowl Catchers 14 Alan Ashby 13 Bruce Bochy  6 Luis Pujols Infielders 16 Dave Bergman 23 Enos Cabell 10 Mike Fischlin  9 Julio González 20 Danny Heep 18 Art Howe 17 Rafael Landestoy  8 Joe Morgan 12 Craig Reynolds 29 Denny Walling Outfielders 28 César Cedeño 25 José Cruz 30 Jeffrey Leonard 22 Scott Loucks 21 Terry Puhl 15 Gary Woods Other batters 11 Alan Knicely Manager  7 Bill Virdon Coaches  4 Deacon Jones  3 Don Leppert  5 Bob Lillis  2 Mel Wright Game log Regular season Legend Astros win Astros loss Postponement Clinched divisionBoldAstros team member background:#072854;color:#FF7F00; 1980 regular season game log: 93–70 (Home: 55–26; Away: 38–44) y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; April: 13–5 (Home: 9–3; Away: 4–2) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |-style="background:#cfc;" | 1 || April 10 || 7:35p.m. CST || Dodgers || W 3–2 || Richard (1–0) || Hooton (0–1) || Sambito (1) || 2:03 || 33,270 || 1–0 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 2 || April 11 || 7:35p.m. CST || Dodgers || W 10–6 || Smith (1–0) || Stanhouse (0–1) || – || 2:58 || 30,701 || 2–0 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 3 || April 12 || 3:15p.m. CST || Dodgers || L 5–6 (17) || Howe (1–0) || Smith (1–1) || Hooton (1) || 5:35 || 24,609 || 2–1 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 4 || April 13 || 2:05p.m. CST || Dodgers || W 4–2 || Forsch (1–0) || Goltz (0–1) || LaCorte (1) || 2:19 || 33,676 || 3–1 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 5 || April 14 || 7:35p.m. CST || Braves || W 5–4 || Sambito (1–0) || Garber (0–1) || – || 3:15 || 15,017 || 4–1 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 6 || April 15 || 7:35p.m. CST || Braves || W 6–2 || Niekro (1–0) || McWilliams (0–2) || – || 2:14 || 15,712 || 5–1 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 7 || April 17 || 3:00p.m. CST || @ Dodgers || L 4–6 || Reuss (1–0) || Smith (1–2) || – || 3:06 || 45,476 || 5–2 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 8 || April 18 || 9:30p.m. CST || @ Dodgers || W 7–4 || Forsch (2–0) || Goltz (0–2) || Andújar (1) || 3:20 || 41,112 || 6–2 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 9 || April 19 || 9:00p.m. CST || @ Dodgers || W 2–0 || Richard (2–0) || Welch (0–1) || – || 2:40 || 50,112 || 7–2 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 10 || April 20 || 3:00p.m. CST || @ Dodgers || L 2–4 || Reuss (2–0) || Niekro (1–1) || – || 2:27 || 39,442 || 7–3 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 11 || April 21 || 7:35p.m. CST || Reds || L 5–6 || LaCoss (3–0) || Ruhle (0–1) || Hume (3) || 3:09 || 29,067 || 7–4 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 12 || April 22 || 7:35p.m. CST || Reds || W 8–0 || Ryan (1–0) || Pastore (2–1) || – || 2:45 || 30,094 || 8–4 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 13 || April 23 || 7:35p.m. CST || Reds || L 2–3 (12) || Hume (2–0) || Andújar (0–1) || Bair (1) || 3:39 || 29,828 || 8–5 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 14 || April 25 || 7:35p.m. CST || Mets || W 7–4 || Richard (3–0) || Falcone (1–1) || – || 2:52 || 24,140 || 9–5 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 15 || April 26 || 7:35p.m. CST || Mets || W 6–0 || Niekro (2–1) || Glynn (0–1) || LaCorte (2) || 2:42 || 44,540 || 10–5 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 16 || April 27 || 2:05p.m. CDT || Mets || W 4–3 (12) || LaCorte (1–0) || Allen (0–3) || – || 3:37 || 20,828 || 11–5 || W3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 17 || April 29 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Reds || W 3–0 || Forsch (3–0) || Leibrandt (1–2) || – || 2:14 || 18,092 || 12–5 || W4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 18 || April 30 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Reds || W 5–1 || Richard (4–0) || Seaver (1–1) || – || 2:21 || 19,821 || 13–5 || W5 |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; May: 12–14 (Home: 4–4; Away: 8–10) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |-style="background:#cfc;" | 19 || May 1 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Reds || W 9–3 || Niekro (3–1) || LaCoss (3–2) || – || 3:00 || 18,215 || 14–5 || W6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 20 || May 2 || 7:38p.m. CDT || @ Cardinals || L 1–9 || Hood (1–1) || Ryan (1–1) || Kaat (1) || 2:39 || 23,009 || 14–6 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 21 || May 3 || 7:10p.m. CDT || @ Cardinals || W 4–2 || Ruhle (1–1) || Martínez (1–2) || Sambito (2) || 2:10 || 23,292 || 15–6 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 22 || May 4 || 1:19p.m. CDT || @ Cardinals || W 4–2 || Forsch (4–0) || Sykes (1–3) || LaCorte (3) || 2:37 || 17,262 || 16–6 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 23 || May 5 || 12:35p.m. CDT || @ Expos || L 1–10 || Palmer (1–0) || Richard (4–1) || – || 2:41 || 5,477 || 16–7 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 24 || May 6 || 12:35p.m. CDT || @ Expos || W 8–4 || Niekro (4–1) || Grimsley (1–2) || – || 2:33 || 5,503 || 17–7 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 25 || May 7 || 12:35p.m. CDT || @ Expos || L 0–3 || Sanderson (2–2) || Ryan (1–2) || Fryman (3) || 2:29 || 7,386 || 17–8 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 26 || May 9 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || L 4–5 || McWilliams (2–2) || Forsch (4–1) || Bradford (1) || 2:21 || 11,111 || 17–9 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 27 || May 10 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || W 3–2 (11) || LaCorte (2–0) || Garber (1–2) || Sambito (3) || 3:15 || 13,798 || 18–9 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 28 || May 11 || 1:15p.m. CDT || @ Braves || L 4–7 || Niekro (2–4) || Niekro (4–2) || – || 2:25 || 10,871 || 18–10 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 29 || May 13 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Expos || L 2–3 || Palmer (2–0) || Ryan (1–3) || – || 2:42 || 24,835 || 18–11 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 30 || May 14 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Expos || L 0–1 || Sanderson (3–2) || Forsch (4–2) || Fryman (5) || 2:19 || 20,636 || 18–12 || L3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |31 || May 16, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |7:35p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L 0–3 || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Ruthven (4–2) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Richard (4–2) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |— || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:06 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |33,610 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |18–13 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L4 |-style="background:#fcc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |32 || May 17, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |7:35p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L 2–4 || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Christenson (3–0) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Niekro (4–3) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Noles (3) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:25 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |43,525 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |18–14 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |33 || May 18, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:05p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |W 3–0 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Ryan (2–3) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Lerch (2–3) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |— || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:07 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |33,950 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |19–14 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 34 || May 20 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Mets || W 3–2 || Forsch (5–2) || Swan (2–3) || – || 2:29 || 8,466 || 20–14 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 35 || May 21 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Mets || L 1–5 || Falcone (3–2) || Richard (4–3) || Allen (7) || 2:37 || 4,233 || 20–15 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 36 || May 22 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Mets || W 8–5 || Niekro (5–3) || Kobel (0–4) || LaCorte (4) || 2:55 || 7,812 || 21–15 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |37 || May 23, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |7:05p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |@ Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L 0–3 || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Carlton (8–2) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Ryan (2–4) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |— || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:11 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |27,822|| style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |21–16 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |38 || May 24, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |6:05p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |@ Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L 4–5 || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Saucier (2–3) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Andújar (0–2) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |McGraw (3) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:28 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |28,539 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |21–17 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |39 || May 25, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |12:35p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |@ Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L 2–6 || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Ruthven (5–3) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Forsch (5–3) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |— || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:10 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |37,340 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |21–18 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 40 || May 26 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Padres || W 4–1 || Richard (5–3) || Curtis (3–4) || Sambito (4) || 2:59 || 18,242 || 22–18 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 41 || May 27 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Padres || W 4–3 || LaCorte (3–0) || Fingers (5–5) || – || 2:47 || 18,246 || 23–18 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 42 || May 28 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Padres || W 1–0 || Ryan (3–4) || Wise (2–3) || – || 2:30 || 19,697 || 24–18 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 43 || May 30 || 9:38p.m. CDT || @ Giants || L 2–3 || Blue (8–2) || Forsch (5–4) || – || 2:19 || 10,511 || 24–19 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 44 || May 31 || 3:09p.m. CDT || @ Giants || W 5–0 || Richard (6–3) || Montefusco (2–4) || – || 2:15 || 11,649 || 25–19 || W1 |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; June: 18–9 (Home: 13–4; Away: 5–5) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |-style="background:#fcc;" | 45 || June 1 || 3:09p.m. CDT || @ Giants || L 2–6 || Knepper (4–6) || Niekro (5–4) || – || 2:35 || 19,801 || 25–20 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 46 || June 2 || 9:00p.m. CDT || @ Padres || L 0–3 || Wise (3–3) || Ryan (3–5) || Rasmussen (1) || 2:16 || 27,176 || 25–21 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 47 || June 3 || 9:00p.m. CDT || @ Padres || W 3–2 || Ruhle (2–1) || Jones (4–4) || LaCorte (5) || 2:20 || 12,363 || 26–21 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 48 || June 4 || 9:00p.m. CDT || @ Padres || W 4–3 || Forsch (6–4) || Fingers (5–6) || Sambito (5) || 2:27 || 13,619 || 27–21 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 49 || June 6 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Giants || W 2–0 || Richard (7–3) || Knepper (4–7) || – || 2:02 || 26,822 || 28–21 || W3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 50 || June 7 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Giants || W 3–0 || Niekro (6–4) || Whitson (2–7) || – || 2:05 || 42,263 || 29–21 || W4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 51 || June 8 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Giants || W 5–4 || Sambito (2–0) || Minton (2–3) || – || 2:30 || 28,327 || 30–21 || W5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 52 || June 9 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Cubs || W 6–2 || Forsch (7–4) || Lamp (6–2) || – || 2:31 || 19,022 || 31–21 || W6 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 53 || June 10 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Cubs || W 5–2 || Ruhle (3–1) || Krukow (3–7) || – || 2:22 || 21,201 || 32–21 || W7 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 54 || June 11 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Cubs || W 3–0 || Richard (8–3) || Reuschel (5–6) || – || 2:18 || 31,599 || 33–21 || W8 |-style="background:#bbb;" |–|| June 12 || || Cubs || colspan=8 | Postponed (Schedule change) (Makeup date: June 9) |-style="background:#fcc;" | 55 || June 13 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || L 3–5 || Solomon (4–0) || Niekro (6–5) || Tekulve (9) || 2:35 || 31,854 || 33–22 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 56 || June 14 || 6:05p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || W 7–3 || Ryan (4–5) || Robinson (2–2) || LaCorte (6) || 3:08 || 33,922 || 34–22 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 57 || June 15 || 12:35p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || L 1–4 || Candelaria (4–5) || Forsch (7–5) || – || 2:08 || 49,541 || 34–23 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 58 || June 16 || 1:30p.m. CDT || @ Cubs || W 2–1 || Ruhle (4–1) || Hernández (1–5) || Smith (1) || 2:35 || 15,289 || 35–23 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 59 || June 17 || 1:30p.m. CDT || @ Cubs || W 7–1 || Richard (9–3) || McGlothen (3–4) || Andújar (2) || 2:54 || 19,480 || 36–23 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 60 || June 18 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Cardinals || W 3–0 || Niekro (7–5) || Kaat (1–4) || – || 2:08 || 24,459 || 37–23 || W3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 61 || June 19 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Cardinals || W 2–0 || Ryan (5–5) || Sykes (1–6) || Sambito (6) || 2:02 || 24,663 || 38–23 || W4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 62 || June 20 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Pirates || W 6–4 || Forsch (8–5) || Candelaria (4–6) || Sambito (7) || 2:14 || 35,955 || 39–23 || W5 |-style="background:#cfc;"tps://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1980/B06200HOU1980.htm | 63 || June 21 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Pirates || W 4–2 || Ruhle (5–1) || Blyleven (2–7) || Sambito (8) || 2:30 || 45,867 || 40–23 || W6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 64 || June 22 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Pirates || L 1–2 || Bibby (8–1) || Niekro (7–6) || Jackson (3) || 2:33 || 46,213 || 40–24 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 65 || June 23 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Dodgers || L 0–3 || Sutcliffe (2–4) || Andújar (0–3) || – || 2:29 || 29,753 || 40–25 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 66 || June 24 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Dodgers || W 5–4 (12) || LaCorte (4–0) || Beckwith (3–1) || – || 4:13 || 34,388 || 41–25 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 67 || June 25 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Dodgers || L 2–9 || Welch (8–2) || Forsch (8–6) || – || 2:50 || 34,416 || 41–26 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 68 || June 27 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Reds || W 5–4 || Niekro (8–6) || Pastore (9–4) || Sambito (9) || 2:31 || 36,648 || 42–26 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 69 || June 28 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Reds || L 5–8 || Price (1–0) || Richard (9–4) || Hume (11) || 3:08 || 44,025 || 42–27 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 70 || June 29 || 5:00p.m. CDT || Reds || W 12–10 || LaCorte (5–0) || Soto (0–3) || Sambito (10) || 3:20 || 38,408 || 43–27 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 71 || June 30 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || L 4–5 (11) || Hrabosky (4–1) || Sambito (2–1) || – || 2:53 || 8,208 || 43–28 || L1 |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; July: 13–16 (Home: 8–6; Away: 5–10) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |-style="background:#fcc;" | 72 || July 1 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || L 4–13 || Alexander (6–3) || Niekro (8–7) || – || 2:47 || 9,546 || 43–29 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 73 || July 2 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || L 0–14 || Niekro (6–10) || Ruhle (5–2) || – || 2:27 || 21,908 || 43–30 || L3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 74 || July 3 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || W 4–3 || Richard (10–4) || Boggs (3–4) || LaCorte (7) || 2:44 || 15,769 || 44–30 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 75 || July 4 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Reds || L 1–8 || Leibrandt (8–4) || Ryan (5–6) || – || 2:42 || 37,047 || 44–31 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 76 || July 5 (1) || 4:37p.m. CDT || @ Reds || L 6–8 || Soto (1–3) || Forsch (8–7) || – || 2:46 || N/A || 44–32 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 77 || July 5 (2) || 7:58p.m. CDT || @ Reds || L 2–3 || LaCoss (5–7) || Andújar (0–4) || Hume (12) || 2:34 || 44,083 || 44–33 || L3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 78 || July 6 || 1:15p.m. CDT || @ Reds || W 3–2 || Niekro (9–7) || Pastore (10–5) || LaCorte (8) || 2:37 || 30,045 || 45–33 || W1 |-style=background:#bbbfff | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |— || July 8, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |7:40p.m. CDT || colspan="9" style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |51st All-Star Game in Los Angeles, CA |-style="background:#fcc;" | 79 || July 10 || 9:30p.m. CDT || @ Dodgers || L 3–4 || Howe (3–4) || Ryan (5–7) || – || 2:52 || 49,692 || 45–34 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 80 || July 11 || 7:10p.m. CDT || @ Dodgers || L 2–3 || Reuss (10–2) || Forsch (8–8) || Howe (8) || 2:30 || 42,754 || 45–35 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 81 || July 12 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Braves || W 9–5 || Niekro (10–8) || McWilliams (5–6) || Smith (2) || 2:54 || 38,610 || 46–35 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 82 || July 13 (1) || 5:35p.m. CDT || Braves || W 6–5 || Sambito (3–1) || Garber (2–5) || LaCorte (9) || 2:48 || N/A || 47–35 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 83 || July 13 (2) || 8:58p.m. CDT || Braves || W 6–1 || Ruhle (6–2) || Boggs (3–5) || – || 2:28 || 31,230 || 48–35 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 84 || July 14 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Braves || L 0–2 || Niekro (7–11) || Pladson (0–1) || – || 2:19 || 20,247 || 48–36 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |85 || July 15, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |7:35p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |W 3–2 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Sambito (4–1) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Ruthven (8–6) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |— || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:08 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |24,223 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |49–36 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |86 || July 16, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |7:35p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L 2–4 || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Walk (6–0) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Forsch (8–9) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |— || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:06 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |28,532 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |49–37 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |87 || July 17, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |7:35p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L 1–2 || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Carlton (15–4) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Niekro (10–8) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |— || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:18 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |26,403 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |49–38 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 88 || July 18 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Expos || L 4–5 (11) || Fryman (4–4) || Smith (1–3) || Norman (4) || 3:24 || 26,389 || 49–39 || L3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 89 || July 19 (1) || 5:35p.m. CDT || Expos || W 4–2 || Andújar (1–4) || Lea (2–4) || Smith (3) || 2:44 || 40,499 || 50–39 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 90 || July 19 (2) || 8:54p.m. CDT || Expos || L 2–5 || Gullickson (1–2) || Pladson (0–2) || – || 2:35 || 39,507 || 50–40 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 91 || July 20 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Expos || W 4–3 || Sambito (5–1) || Norman (0–1) || – || 2:16 || 28,513 || 51–40 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 92 || July 21 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Mets || W 3–2 || LaCorte (6–1) || Allen (4–6) || – || 2:23 || 20,548 || 52–40 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 93 || July 22 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Mets || W 6–5 || Roberge (1–0) || Glynn (3–3) || Smith (4) || 3:02 || 26,815 || 53–40 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 94 || July 23 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Mets || L 3–4 || Reardon (5–5) || LaCorte (6–1) || Allen (16) || 2:44 || 30,236 || 53–41 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 95 || July 25 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Expos || W 9–8 || LaCorte (7–1) || Sosa (5–4) || – || 3:31 || 50,217 || 54–41 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 96 || July 26 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Expos || L 1–2 (12) || Sahnsen (7–4) || LaCorte (7–2) || – || 3:46 || 42,400 || 54–42 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 97 || July 27 || 12:35p.m. CDT || @ Expos || W 6–3 || Niekro (11–8) || Lee (3–5) || Smith (5) || 3:02 || 41,107 || 55–42 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |98 || July 28, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |6:35p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |@ Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |W 3–2 (10) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Sambito (6–1) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Reed (6–4) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |— || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:41 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |30,181 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |56–42 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |99 || July 29, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |6:35p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |@ Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L 6–9 || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Saucier (5–3) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |LaCorte (7–3) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |McGraw (8) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |3:05 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |30,252 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |56–43 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |100 || July 30, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |6:35p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |@ Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L 4–6 || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Ruthven (10–7) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Ryan (5–8) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |McGraw (9) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:36 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |31,342 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |56–44 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L2 |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; August: 18–12 (Home: 9–4; Away: 9–8) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |-style="background:#fcc;" | 101 || August 1 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Mets || L 4–5 || Reardon (6–5) || Smith (1–4) || – || 2:42 || 16,612 || 56–45 || L3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 102 || August 2 || 6:05p.m. CDT || @ Mets || L 3–5 || Allen (5–6) || Niekro (11–9) || – || 2:46 || 45,426 || 56–46 || L4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 103 || August 3 || 1:05p.m. CDT || @ Mets || W 3–2 (10) || Sambito (7–1) || Reardon (6–6) || – || 3:41 || 22,492 || 57–46 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 104 || August 4 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Giants || W 4–2 || Ryan (6–8) || Hargesheimer (2–1) || Sambito (11) || 2:19 || 33,884 || 58–46 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 105 || August 5 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Giants || L 3–9 || Lavelle (5–5) || Pladson (0–3) || – || 3:03 || 24,198 || 58–47 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 106 || August 6 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Giants || W 1–0 || Forsch (9–9) || Blue (9–6) || – || 2:10 || 23,478 || 59–47 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 107 || August 7 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Padres || L 1–5 || Shirley (9–7) || Niekro (11–10) || – || 2:59 || 20,044 || 59–48 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 108 || August 8 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Padres || L 3–5 || Eichelberger (3–0) || Sambito (7–2) || Fingers (15) || 2:45 || 15,207 || 59–49 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 109 || August 9 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Padres || W 9–5 || Smith (2–4) || D'Acquisto (2–3) || – || 2:50 || 21,233 || 60–49 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 110 || August 10 || 2:05p.m. CDT || Padres || L 2–3 || Wise (4–5) || Sambito (7–3) || – || 2:21 || 20,514 || 60–50 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 111 || August 11 || 9:35p.m. CDT || @ Giants || L 4–5 || Blue (10–6) || Forsch (9–10) || Minton (12) || 2:48 || 10,755 || 60–51 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 112 || August 12 || 9:35p.m. CDT || @ Giants || L 0–2 || Ripley (6–5) || Niekro (11–11) || Lavelle (6) || 2:05 || 29,770 || 60–52 || L3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 113 || August 13 || 2:05p.m. CDT || @ Giants || L 5–6 (12) || Rowland (1–0) || Smith (2–5) || – || 3:42 || 10,149 || 60–53 || L4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 114 || August 14 || 3:00p.m. CDT || @ Padres || W 2–1 || Ryan (7–8) || Curtis (4–8) || – || 2:18 || 12,150 || 61–53 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 115 || August 15 || 9:00p.m. CDT || @ Padres || W 3–1 (20) || Smith (3–5) || Rasmussen (2–9) || – || 6:17 || 14,177 || 62–53 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 116 || August 17 (1) || 3:00p.m. CDT || @ Padres || W 5–0 || Forsch (10–10) || Jones (5–12) || – || 2:06 || N/A || 63–53 || W3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 117 || August 17 (2) || 5:41p.m. CDT || @ Padres || W 9–2 || Niekro (12–11) || Mura (4–5) || – || 2:23 || 16,120 || 64–53 || W4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 118 || August 19 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Pirates || W 5–2 || Ryan (8–8) || Candelaria (8–13) || Sambito (12) || 2:23 || 39,415 || 65–53 || W5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 119 || August 20 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Pirates || W 5–1 || Ruhle (7–2) || Bibby (15–3) || Smith (6) || 2:54 || 32,112 || 66–53 || W6 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 120 || August 21 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Pirates || W 12–5 || Sambito (8–3) || Blyleven (7–9) || – || 2:59 || 33,884 || 67–53 || W7 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 121 || August 22 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Cubs || W 3–2 (12) || LaCorte (8–3) || Caudill (1–3) || – || 3:24 || 34,118 || 68–53 || W8 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 122 || August 23 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Cubs || W 1–0 (17) || Niekro (13–11) || Riley (0–4) || – || 4:47 || 25,031 || 69–53 || W9 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 123 || August 24 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Cubs || W 2–1 || Ryan (9–8) || Caudill (1–4) || – || 2:22 || 25,703 || 70–53 || W10 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 124 || August 25 || 7:38p.m. CDT || @ Cardinals || L 1–3 || Hood (3–5) || Ruhle (7–3) || – || 2:16 || 9,185 || 70–54 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 125 || August 26 || 7:37p.m. CDT || @ Cardinals || W 7–2 || Niekro (14–11) || Kaat (5–6) || – || 2:18 || 10,859 || 71–54 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 126 || August 27 || 7:37p.m. CDT || @ Cardinals || L 2–10 || Martin (1–0) || Forsch (10–11) || – || 2:41 || 10,025 || 71–55 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 127 || August 28 || 1:30p.m. CDT || @ Cubs || W 4–1 || Andújar (2–4) || Lamp (10–10) || Sambito (13) || 2:47 || 18,694 || 72–55 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 128 || August 29 || 1:30p.m. CDT || @ Cubs || W 6–5 || Smith (4–5) || Tidrow (5–5) || LaCorte (10) || 2:49 || 9,994 || 73–55 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 129 || August 30 || 1:15p.m. CDT || @ Cubs || W 2–0 || Ruhle (8–3) || McGlothen (9–10) || – || 2:47 || 18,803 || 74–55 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 130 || August 31 || 1:15p.m. CDT || @ Cubs || L 7–8 || Tidrow (6–5) || LaCorte (8–4) || – || 3:00 || 14,823 || 74–56 || L1 |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; September: 16–11 (Home: 10–5; Away: 6–6) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |-style="background:#cfc;" | 131 || September 1 (1) || 10:00a.m. CDT || @ Pirates || W 10–4 || Smith (5–5) || Robinson (5–8) || – || 3:07 || N/A || 75–56 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 132 || September 1 (2) || 2:42p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || L 5–7 || Rhoden (5–4) || Pladson (0–4) || Jackson (8) || 2:57 || 26,374 || 75–57 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 133 || September 3 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || L 4–10 || Candelaria (10–13) || Andújar (2–5) || Romo (9) || 3:00 || 18,502 || 75–58 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 134 || September 5 || 7:40p.m. CDT || Cardinals || L 5–7 || Seaman (3–1) || Sambito (8–4) || Frazier (2) || 3:15 || 19,628 || 75–59 || L3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 135 || September 6 (1) || 5:38p.m. CDT || Cardinals || W 9–5 || Niekro (15–11) || Sykes (6–10) || Niemann (1) || 2:40 || N/A || 76–59 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 136 || September 6 (2) || 8:49p.m. CDT || Cardinals || W 6–4 || Ruhle (9–3) || Martin (1–1) || – || 2:02 || 34,350 || 77–59 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 137 || September 7 || 6:09p.m. CDT || Cardinals || L 0–2 || Vuckovich (10–9) || Forsch (10–12) || – || 2:00 || 16,475 || 77–60 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 138 || September 9 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Dodgers || W 5–4 || Smith (6–5) || Howe (6–7) || Sambito (14) || 3:06 || 34,546 || 78–60 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 139 || September 10 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Dodgers || W 6–5 (12) || Roberge (2–0) || Sutcliffe (3–9) || – || 3:49 || 37,632 || 79–60 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 140 || September 12 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Giants || W 5–3 || Niekro (16–11) || Whitson (9–11) || Smith (7) || 2:35 || 23,380 || 80–60 || W3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 141 || September 13 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Giants || W 3–2 || Forsch (11–12) || Blue (13–8) || – || 2:10 || 32,526 || 81–60 || W4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 142 || September 14 || 6:05p.m. CDT || Giants || W 6–4 || Andújar (3–5) || Montefusco (4–8) || Sambito (15) || 2:43 || 18,471 || 82–60 || W5 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 143 || September 15 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Padres || L 3–6 || Shirley (11–10) || Ryan (9–9) || – || 2:30 || 9,578 || 82–61 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 144 || September 16 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Padres || L 3–4 || Curtis (8–8) || Ruhle (9–4) || Fingers (21) || 2:57 || 20,383 || 82–62 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 145 || September 17 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Reds || L 0–7 || Soto (10–6) || Niekro (16–12) || – || 2:37 || 25,092 || 82–63 || L3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 146 || September 18 || 11:30a.m. CDT || @ Reds || W 10–2 || Forsch (12–12) || Pastore (11–7) || Sambito (16) || 2:37 || 23,861 || 83–63 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 147 || September 19 || 9:40p.m. CDT || @ Giants || L 3–4 || Griffin (1–4) || Andújar (3–6) || Holland (6) || 2:45 || 4,377 || 83–64 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 148 || September 20 || 3:07p.m. CDT || @ Giants || W 3–2 || Smith (7–5) || Lavelle (6–7) || Sambito (17) || 2:53 || 16,770 || 84–64 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 149 || September 21 || 12:23p.m. CDT || @ Giants || W 5–1 || Ruhle (10–4) || Blue (14–9) || – || 2:29 || 19,844 || 85–64 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 150 || September 22 || 9:00p.m. CDT || @ Padres || W 4–2 || Niekro (17–12) || Shirley (11–11) || – || 2:40 || 16,513 || 86–64 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 151 || September 23 || 7:00p.m. CDT || @ Padres || L 4–9 || Curtis (9–8) || Niemann (0–1) || – || 3:00 || 4,788 || 86–65 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 152 || September 24 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || L 2–4 || Alexander (14–9) || Andújar (3–7) || Camp (20) || 2:39 || 24,897 || 86–66 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 153 || September 25 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || W 4–2 || Ryan (10–9) || Niekro (15–16) || Smith (8) || 2:39 || 7,926 || 87–66 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 154 || September 26 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Reds || W 2–0 || Ruhle (11–4) || Seaver (10–8) || – || 2:02 || 42,486 || 88–66 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 155 || September 27 || 2:05p.m. CDT || Reds || W 2–0 || Niekro (18–12) || Soto (10–7) || Smith (9) || 2:25 || 40,305 || 89–66 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 156 || September 28 || 2:05p.m. CDT || Reds || L 5–8 || LaCoss (10–12) || Andújar (3–8) || Hume (24) || 2:52 || 32,756 || 89–67 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 157 || September 30 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Braves || W 7–3 || Ryan (11–9) || Alexander (14–10) || Smith (10) || 2:41 || 31,973 || 90–67 || W1 |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; October: 3–3 (Home: 2–0; Away: 1–3) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |-style="background:#cfc;" | 158 || October 1 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Braves || W 5–2 || Ruhle (12–4) || Niekro (15–17) || – || 2:06 || 35,600 || 91–67 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 159 || October 2 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Braves || W 3–2 || Niekro (19–12) || McWilliams (9–14) || LaCorte (11) || 2:35 || 45,022 || 92–67 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 160 || October 3 || 9:30p.m. CDT || @ Dodgers || L 2–3 (10) || Valenzuela (2–0) || Forsch (12–13) || – || 2:45 || 49,642 || 92–68 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 161 || October 4 || 3:20p.m. CDT || @ Dodgers || L 1–2 || Reuss (18–6) || Ryan (11–10) || – || 2:30 || 46,085 || 92–69 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 162 || October 5 || 3:00p.m. CDT || @ Dodgers || L 3–4 || Howe (7–9) || LaCorte (8–5) || Sutton (1) || 3:33 || 52,339 || 92–70 || L3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 163 || October 6 || 3:00p.m. CDT || @ Dodgers || W 7–1 || Niekro (20–12) || Goltz (7–11) || – || 3:10 || 51,127 || 93–70 || W1 |- Detailed records National League Opponent W L WP RS Runs scored RA Runs against NL EastChicago Cubs 11 1 11 1 y 48 23Montreal Expos 5 7 5 7 y 41 49New York Mets 8 4 8 4 y 51 42Philadelphia Phillies 3 9 3 9 y 30 46Pittsburgh Pirates 7 5 7 5 y 63 49St. Louis Cardinals 7 5 7 5 y 44 46 Div Total 41 31 41 31 y 277 255 NL WestAtlanta Braves 11 7 11 7 y 77 81Cincinnati Reds 10 8 10 8 y 85 73Houston Astros Los Angeles Dodgers 9 10 9 10 y 73 72San Diego Padres 11 7 11 7 y 64 55San Francisco Giants 11 7 11 7 y 61 53 Div Total 52 39 52 39 y 360 334 Season Total 93 70 93 70 y 637 589 Month Games Won Lost Win % RS Runs scored RA Runs against April 18 13 5 13 5 y 88 53 May 26 12 14 12 14 y 79 91 June 27 18 9 18 9 y 102 87 July 29 13 16 13 16 y 108 135 August 30 18 12 18 12 y 118 98 September 27 16 11 16 11 y 121 111 October 6 3 3 3 3 y 21 14 Total 163 93 70 93 70 y 637 589 Games Won Lost Win % RS Runs scored RA Runs against Home 81 55 26 55 26 y 329 255 Away 82 38 44 38 44 y 308 334 Total 163 93 70 93 70 y 637 589 Postseason game log Legend Astros win Astros lossBoldAstros team member background:#072854;color:#FF7F00; 1980 Postseason game log: 2–3 (Home: 1–2; Away: 1–1) y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; NL Championship Series: vs. Philadelphia Phillies 2–3 (Home: 1–2; Away: 1–1)1980 National League Championship Series https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1980_NLCS.shtml Baseball Reference 3 May 2025 # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Series Box/Streak |-style="background:#fcc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |1 || October 7, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |7:15p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |@ Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L 1–3 || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Carlton (1–0) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Forsch (0–1) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |McGraw (1) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:35 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |65,277 ||style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |PHI 1–0 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2 || October 8, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |7:15p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |@ Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |W 7–4 (10) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |LaCorte (1–0) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Reed (0–1) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Andújar (1) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |3:34 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |65,476 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Tied 1–1 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |3 || October 10, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |2:00p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |W 1–0 (11)|| style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Smith (1–0) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |McGraw (0–1) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |— || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |3:22 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |44,443 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |HOU 2–1 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |4 || October 11, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |3:15p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L 3–5 (10) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Brusstar (1–0) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Sambito (0–1) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |McGraw (2) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |3:55 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |44,952 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |Tied 2–2 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |5 || October 12, 1980 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |7:00p.m. CDT || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Phillies || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L 7–8 (10)|| style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |Ruthven (1–0) || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |LaCorte (1–1) || style="Philadelphia Phillies 1980 2;" |— || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |3:38 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |44,802 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |PHI 3–2 || style="Houston Astros 1980 2;" |L2 |- Composite box Team1234567891011121314151617181920RHEOpponents81527170697954633717400001000589136773Houston9410180706757625040265000010026371455140 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 Alan Ashby 116 352 90 .256 3 48 1B Art Howe 110 321 91 .283 10 46 2B Joe Morgan 141 461 112 .243 11 49 3B Enos Cabell 152 604 167 .276 2 55 SS Craig Reynolds Craig Reynolds (baseball) 137 381 86 .226 3 28 LF José Cruz 160 612 185 .302 11 91 CF César Cedeño 137 499 154 .309 10 73 RF Terry Puhl 141 535 151 .282 13 55 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 Rafael Landestoy 149 393 97 .247 1 27 Denny Walling 100 284 85 .299 3 29 Luis Pujols 78 221 44 .199 0 20 Jeffrey Leonard 88 216 46 .213 3 20 Danny Heep 33 87 24 .276 0 6 Dave Bergman 90 78 20 .256 0 3 Gary Woods Gary Woods (baseball) 19 53 20 .377 2 15 Julio González Julio González (infielder) 40 52 6 .115 0 1 Bruce Bochy 22 22 4 .182 0 0 Scott Loucks 8 3 1 .333 0 0 Mike Fischlin 1 1 0 .000 0 0 Alan Knicely 1 1 0 .000 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 Joe Niekro 37 256.0 20 12 3.55 127 Nolan Ryan 35 233.2 11 10 3.35 200 Ken Forsch 32 222.1 12 13 3.20 84 Vern Ruhle 28 159.1 12 4 2.37 55 J. R. Richard 17 113.2 10 4 1.90 119 Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; S0 = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Joaquín Andújar 35 122.0 3 8 3.91 75 Gordie Pladson 12 41.1 0 4 4.35 13 Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L SV ERA SO Joe Sambito 64 90.1 8 4 17 2.19 75 Dave Smith Dave Smith (pitcher, born 1955) 57 102.2 7 5 10 1.93 85 Frank LaCorte 55 83.0 8 5 11 2.82 66 Randy Niemann 22 33.0 0 1 1 5.45 18 Bert Roberge 14 24.1 2 0 0 5.92 9 Bobby Sprowl 1 1.0 0 0 0 0.00 3 National League Championship Series 1980 National League Championship Series Game 1 October 7: Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia Team123456789RHEHouston001000000170Philadelphia00000210X381W: Steve Carlton (1–0)   L: Ken Forsch (0–1)   S: Tug McGraw (1)HR: HOU – None  PHI – Greg Luzinski (1)Pitchers: HOU – Forsch  PHI – Carlton, McGraw (8)Attendance: 65,277 Ken Forsch started the first-ever playoff game in Astros history.https://www.astrosdaily.com/history/1980NLCS/index.html Houston Astros 1980 NLCS Astros Daily October 18, 2025 Game 2 October 8: Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia Team12345678910RHEHouston0010001104781Philadelphia00020001014142W: Frank LaCorte (1–0)   L: Ron Reed (0–1)   S: Joaquín Andújar (1)HR: HOU – None  PHI – NonePitchers: HOU – Ryan, Sambito (7), Smith (7), LaCorte (9), Andújar (10)  PHI – Ruthven, McGraw (8), Reed (9), Saucier (10)Attendance: 65,476 Game 3 October 10: Astrodome, Houston, Texas Team1234567891011RHEPhiladelphia00000000000071Houston00000000001161W: Dave Smith (1–0)   L: Tug McGraw (0–1)   S: NoneHR: PHI – None  HOU – NonePitchers: PHI – Christenson, Noles (7), McGraw (8)  HOU – Niekro, Smith (11)Attendance: 44,443 Game 4 October 11: Astrodome, Houston, Texas Team12345678910RHEPhiladelphia00000003025130Houston0001100010352W: Warren Brusstar (1–0)   L: Joe Sambito (0–1)   S: Tug McGraw (2)HR: PHI – None  HOU – NonePitchers: PHI – Carlton, Noles (6), Saucier (7), Reed (7), Brusstar (8), McGraw (10)  HOU – Ruhle, Smith (8), Sambito (8)Attendance: 44,952 Game 5 October 12: Astrodome, Houston, Texas Game 5 capped the series in fitting fashion, with seemingly endless surprises and excitement. The Astros jumped to an early lead in the first on a run-scoring double by José Cruz. Philadelphia bounced back to take the lead on a two-run single by Bob Boone in the second. The Astros saw Luis Pujols and Enos Cabell thrown out at the plate in the second and fifth, but finally broke through to tie the game 2–2 on an unearned run in the sixth, thanks to an error by Philadelphia's less than surehanded left fielder Greg Luzinski. Houston took what seemed like a solid 5–2 lead in the seventh on an RBI single by Denny Walling, a wild pitch from Phillies reliever Larry Christenson, and a run-scoring triple by Art Howe. A three-run deficit in the eighth inning against Nolan Ryan seemed insurmountable. But the Phillies would not die. They loaded the bases with nobody out on three straight singles, including two infield hits, and then got two runs on a walk to Pete Rose and a groundout by Keith Moreland. An RBI single by Del Unser tied the game 5–5, and then Manny Trillo put the Phillies ahead with a two-run triple. The Astros promptly came back to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, with Rafael Landestoy and José Cruz each singling in a run. Neither team scored in the ninth, but the Phillies got doubles from Unser and Garry Maddox in the tenth to take an 8–7 lead. Philadelphia's Dick Ruthven retired the Astros in order in the bottom of the tenth, and the Phillies had won their first pennant since 1950. They went on to defeat the Kansas City Royals four games to two in the World Series. Team12345678910RHEPhiladelphia02000005018132Houston10000132007140W: Dick Ruthven (1–0)   L: Frank LaCorte (1–1)   S: NoneHR: PHI – None  HOU – NonePitchers: PHI – Bystrom, Brusstar (6), Christenson (7), Reed (7), McGraw (8), Ruthven (9)  HOU – Ryan, Sambito (8), Forsch (8), LaCorte (9)Attendance: 44,802 Composite Box 1980 National League Championship Series (3–2): Philadelphia Phillies over Houston Astros Team1234567891011RHEPhiladelphia Phillies0202021904020556Houston Astros1021114314119403Total Attendance: 264,950   Average Attendance: 52,990 Awards and achievements Grand slams No. Number Date Astros batter Venue Inning Pitcher Opposing team Box Box score 1 August 26 César Cedeño Busch Memorial Stadium 5tiedlead Tied score or took lead Jim Kaat St. Louis Cardinals 2 September 6dh2 Game 2 of doubleheader José Cruz1st MLB grand slam Astrodome 3tiedlead John Martin baseball Pitching achievements No-hit bids Date Starting pitcher (IP Innings pitched) Relief pitcher(s) (IP) Relief pitchers who continued no-hit effort No-hit IP Total no-hit innings GS Game score Catcher Batter Batter who ended no-hit bid Final Final score Opponent Box Box score September 21, 1980 Vern Ruhle (9) — 7 2 3 81 Luis Pujols Jim Wohlford 5–1 San Francisco Giants Note: Includes those games started with 7 or more no-hit innings. Awards 1980 Houston Astros award winners Name of award Recipient Ref. References Associated Press (AP) All-Star Outfielder César Cedeño https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cedence01.shtml César Cedeño stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com September 5, 2025 Houston Astros Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award José Cruz MLB All-Star Game Starting pitcher J. R. Richard Reserve outfielder José Cruz National League (NL) Pitcher of the Month April J. R. Richard NL Player of the Week August 24 Joe Sambito https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mlb-players-of-the-week.shtml MLB Players of the Week Awards Baseball-Reference.com August 31, 2025 The Sporting News Executive of the Year Tal Smith https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_sney.shtml MLB Executive of the Year Award Baseball Almanac September 30, 2025 Manager of the Yearlower-alpha "TSN manager award" Bill Virdon https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snmy.shtml Manager of the Year Award by The Sporting News Baseball Almanac September 15, 2025 NL All-Star Outfielder César Cedeño Other awards results Name of award Voting recipient(s) (Team) Ref. References NL Cy Young 1st—Carlton (PHI) • 4th—J. Niekro (HOU) • 5th—Sambito (HOU) https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1980.shtml 1980 awards voting Baseball-Reference.com May 30, 2026 NL Most Valuable Player 1st—Schmidt (PHI) • 3rd—Cruz (HOU) Other Astros: 13th—Cedeño • 19th—J. Niekro NL Rookie of the Year 1st—Howe (LAD) • 5th—D. Smith (HOU) Roberto Clemente Winner—P. Niekro (ATL) • Nominee—Cruz (HOU) https://www.astrosdaily.com/hall/Cruz_Jose.html José 'Cheo' Cruz #25 tribute Astros Daily May 21, 2026 League leaders Bases on balls (batting): Joe Morgan (93) Bases on balls (pitching): Nolan Ryan (98) Fielding Errors: Enos Cabell (29) Milestones Major League debuts Player—Appeared at position Dave Smith, relief pitcher Date and opponent April 11 vs Los Angeles Box Box score Also: https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1980-debuts.shtml 1980 Major League Baseball new debuts Baseball-Reference.com October 12, 2026 Minor league system Minor League Baseball AAA Tucson Toros Pacific Coast League Jimmy Johnson AA Columbus Astros Southern League Matt Galante A Daytona Beach Astros Florida State League Carlos Alfonso Rookie GCL Astros Blue Gulf Coast League Eric Swanson Rookie GCL Astros Orange Gulf Coast League Fernando Tatís Awards Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year: Jimmy Johnson See also Texas Baseball 3,000 strikeout club List of Major League Baseball All-Star Game starting pitchers List of Major League Baseball annual fielding errors leaders List of Major League Baseball franchise postseason streaks List of Major League Baseball individual streaks List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise List of Major League Baseball tie-breakers Notes "Note" References External links 1980 Houston Astros season at Baseball Reference 1980 Houston Astros season at baseball almanac Category:Houston Astros seasons Houston Astros season Category:National League West champion seasons Houston