1979 Houston Astros season

18th season in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros March 2026 November 2013 Houston Astros 1979 National League West Astrodome Houston, Texas 89 73 y 2nd John McMullen Tal Smith Bill Virdon KRIV KPRC (AM)(Gene Elston, Dewayne Staats, Larry Dierker) The 1979 Houston Astros season was the 18th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 15th as the Astros, 18th in the National League (NL), 11th in the NL West division, and 15th at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season having completed a 74–88 record for fifth place and 21 games behind the division-champion and NL pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers. On Opening Day, April 6, J. R. Richard made his fourth Opening Day start for Houston, who hosted the Atlanta Braves and won, 2–1. On April 7, Ken Forsch tossed a no-hitter versus Atlanta, the sixth no-hitter in Astros history, and 6–0 Astros win. On May 16, the National League approved the sale of the Astros to John McMullen. During the amateur draft, Houston's first round selection was catcher John Mizerock at eighth overall. In the sixth round, they chose second baseman Bill Doran. For the first time, Houston sent as many as four representatives for the National League in the MLB All-Star Game, including shortstop Craig Reynolds, his second selection, and pitchers Joe Niekro (first), Joaquín Andújar (second), and Joe Sambito (first). The season after becoming the first right-hander in National League history to convert 300 strikeouts, Richard improved on the category, leading the NL for a second successive season (313). He also become the first Astro to garner the earned run average (ERA) title (2.71), while Niekro became the first Astro to lead the league in wins (21). Moreover, Niekro became the first Astro to be recognized for a full-season pitching award, by The Sporting News as the NL Pitcher of the Year.From its inception in 1944 until 2013, The Sporting News recognized one pitcher each from the NL and the American League (AL) for this award. lower-alpha "SN Pitcher of the Year" Another Sporting News award went to outfielder Jeffrey Leonard, as the NL Rookie Player of the YearFrom 1961–2003, The Sporting News declared one rookie position player and pitcher from each league, the NL and the American League (AL), for this award. Starting in 2004, this system was modified to selecting one rookie from each league for the award, regardless of position. lower-alpha "Sporting News Rookies" and selection to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team. The 1979 Astros also were the final National League franchise of the 20th century to hit more triples (52) than home runs (49). The Astros concluded the season with an 89–73 record, in second place and 1½ games behind the first-place Cincinnati Reds. At the time, this represented the most wins in club history along with the closest to first place ever finished, supplanting the records of the 1972 club. The following year, the Astros exceeded this new club record for wins while winning their first division title. Offseason December 8, 1978: Floyd Bannister was traded by the Astros to the Seattle Mariners for Craig Reynolds.https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bannifl01.shtml Floyd Bannister stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com September 14, 2025 Regular season Summary Opening Day + Opening Day starting lineup Uniform Uniform number Player Position 21 Terry Puhl Right fielder 12 Craig Reynolds Shortstop 28 César Cedeño Center fielder 25 José Cruz Left fielder 23 Enos Cabell Third baseman 27 Bob Watson First baseman 18 Art Howe Second baseman 14 Alan Ashby Catcher 50 J. R. Richard Pitcher Venue: Astrodome • Final: Houston 2, Atlanta 1 Sources:https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=197904060HOU Atlanta Braves (1) vs Houston Astros (2) box score Baseball Almanac April 6, 1979 October 1, 2025https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1979-uniform-numbers.shtml 1979 Houston Astros uniform numbers Baseball-Reference.com October 1, 2025 For Opening Day, April 6, the Astros hosted and defeated the Atlanta Braves, 2–1. Starter J. R. Richard tossed one-run ball over 5 1 3 frames, earning the victory. During the bottom of the first inning, Enos Cabell punched a run batted in-single that plated Terry Puhl and José Cruz for all the support Richard would require. Joaquín Andújar took over for the final 3 2 3 frames to earn the save.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU197904060.shtml Atlanta Braves (1) vs Houston Astros (2) box score Baseball-Reference.com April 6, 1979 January 21, 2026 Richard's Opening Day start was his fourth, tying him with Larry Dierker for most by an Astros hurler.https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/opening.shtml Houston Astros Opening Day starters Baseball-Reference.com October 26, 2025 Ken Forsch's no-hitter On April 7, Ken Forsch tossed a no-hitter of the Braves to lead a 6–0 win at the Astrodome. From the second until the eighth inning, the Astros hurler retired 20 batters consecutively.de Luna Marcy https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/Astrodome-55th-anniversary-debut-photos-history-12796463.php Iconic Astrodome made its grand debut 55 years ago, became 'Eighth Wonder of the World' Houston Chronicle April 9, 2020 August 18, 2025 Catcher Alan Ashby, who tripled in two runs in the seventh to chase Braves' starter Larry McWilliams, drove in three overall.Shattock Harry https://www.astrosdaily.com/history/19790407/index.html Forsch fires no-hitter at Braves Houston Chronicle April 7, 1979 December 7, 2025 Astros Daily Forsch earned a game score of 88.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU197904070.shtml Atlanta Braves (0) vs Houston Astros (6) box score Baseball-Reference.com April 7, 1979 April 30, 2026 In the eighth inning, shortstop Craig Reynolds made a key play, stabbing a line shot to his left barreled off the bat of Dale Murphy. Reynolds fielded the scorcher on one-hop, and fired to first for the out. During the ninth, Forsch secured a ground ball out from pinch-hitter Rowland Office. Next, Jerry Royster battled, with a ball, a strike, then another ball, before pegging a vicious liner eight feet foul down the third-base line. Royster ended the at bat with a meek grounder to Reynolds. One pitch later, Glenn Hubbard lightly tapped a slow roller to Reynolds, who threw to first for the final out of the masterpiece. The sixth no-hitter in club history, Forsch's was the first for the Astros since Larry Dierker no-hit the Montreal Expos on July 9, 1976. The subsequent achievement by a Houston Astro was by Nolan Ryan, who srymied the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 26, 1981.https://www.baseball-almanac.com/pitching/official-no-hitters.shtml Official no-hitters in Major League Baseball Baseball Almanac December 3, 2025 The April 7 date was the earliest in the calendar year for a no-hitter until Hideo Nomo accomplished the feat on April 6, 2001. Sixty-two years earlier, on April 14, 1917, Ed Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox had hurled the previous earliest calendar-date no-hitter by leading a blanking over the St. Louis Browns.Greene Nelson 'Chip' https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/april-7-1979-astros-ken-forsch-hurls-earliest-no-hitter-in-mlb-history/ Astros’ Ken Forsch hurls earliest no-hitter in MLB history Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) April 7, 1979 December 7, 2025 Forsch's batterymate, Ashby, who caught the no-hitter, did so for the first of three for Houston.https://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_noh1.shtml No-hitter records Baseball Almanac December 3, 2025 Though Forsch had been mainstay on the Astros' pitching staff throughout the entire decade since picking up his first major league win in 1970, he had authored a 23–28 record over the next three seasons. Hence, Forsch was moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen. He did gain an All-Star selection in 1976 while recording 19 saves. In 1979, Forsch was reinstated into the rotation. Meanwhile, his older brother, Bob, had also pitched a no-hitter as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals nearly one year prior on April 16, 1978, a 5–0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN197804160.shtml St. Louis Cardinals 5, Philadelphia Phillies 0 box score Baseball-Reference.com April 16, 1978 September 6, 2025 Hence, the Forsches become the first set of brothers to have pitched a no-hitter in the major leagues..Pietrusza David Baseball: the biographical encyclopedia 2000 Total/Sports Illustrated Kingston, NY [u.a.] 1892129345 370 registration https://archive.org/details/baseballbiograph00matt/page/370 Forsch was recognized with the NL Player of the Week Award for April 8.https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mlb-players-of-the-week.shtml MLB Players of the Week Awards Baseball-Reference.com August 18, 2025 Rest of April During his second start of the season on April 10, Richard set the modern-day recordSince 1893. lower-alpha "Modern-day record" for wild pitches uncorked in one game, with 6.https://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_wild1.shtml MLB wild pitch records Baseball Almanac October 19, 2025 In spite of notable lack of control including four bases on balls issued, Richard fired a six-hit complete game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with just one run surrendered, struck out 13, and obtained a game score of 80 for his second win of the season. Houston won by a margin of 2–1, propelled by two doubles courtesy of César Cedeño, another by José Cruz, and a run batted in (RBI) single by Enos Cabell.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU197904100.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers (1) vs Houston Astros (2) box score Baseball-Reference.com April 10, 1979 October 19, 2025 Three Astros authored concurrent hitting streaks, with the first starting April 17, and lasting exactly 15 games each. All overlapped from April 26 through May 5. On April 17, Craig Reynolds, began his and maintained until May 5, batting .386. José Cruz produced his from April 21–May 9, hitting .393. Finally, Enos Cabell followed suit, going from April 26 to May 11, batting .320.Smith David https://www.astrosdaily.com/history/hitstreak.html Houston Astros hitting streaks Astros Daily Retrosheet November 15, 2025 Cruz' hitting streak represented his best while in an Astros' uniform until he hit in 19 straight from August 23—September 12, 1983. Cabell's and Reynolds' represented career-highs while with Houston. For the month of April, Forsch was recognized with the National League (NL) Pitcher of the Month Award.https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mlb-pitchers-of-the-month.shtml Major League Baseball Pitchers of the Month Baseball-Reference.com July 8, 2025 In 5 games, all starts, he went 3–0 with a 2.39 earned run average (ERA) over 39 1 3 innings pitched, and 1.017 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP).https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=forscke01&year=1979&t=p Ken Forsch 1979 pitching splits Baseball-Reference.com December 7, 2025 May On May 9, to protest the calls of substitute umpire Dave Pallone, the Cardinals bench threw helmets and bats onto the field, which led to the ejection of the Cardinals' entire coaching staff. Pallone, who previously had worked in the minor leagues, was appointed to officiate the game due to the umpires strike.Schwartzberg Seth https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2025/5/9/24426693/today-in-astros-history Today in Astros history - May 9 The Crawfish Boxes SB Nation May 9, 2025 October 3, 2025Roberts Chris March 28, 1979 Court can't order umpires to work https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=86ctAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aXIFAAAAIBAJ&dq=umpire%20strike%201979&pg=5937%2C8230862 October 9, 2024 Schenectady Gazette 28 Google News Archive Associated Press The sale of the Astros was announced on May 10 from the Ford Motor Credit Company to Dr John McMullen, formerly a partner of George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees.Schwartzberg Seth https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2025/5/10/24427416/today-in-astros-history Today in Astros history - May 10 The Crawfish Boxes SB Nation May 10, 2025 October 2, 2025 Quipped McMullen, "There is nothing in life quite so limited as being a limited partner of George Steinbrenner."Toobin Jeffrey Jeffrey Toobin http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/30/110530fa_fact_toobin?currentPage=all Madoff's Curveball The New Yorker May 30, 2011 October 2, 2025 May 25, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110525055926/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/30/110530fa_fact_toobin?currentPage=all live Six days later, the National League approved for McMullen, a businessman and former Naval architect, to acquire the franchise for a reported figure of $19 million. McMullen had previously owned the Astros and also later became owner of the NHL's New Jersey Devils. This date corresponded to the announcement of another sale of the team which took place in 2011.Schwartzberg Seth https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2025/5/16/24431440/today-in-astros-history Today in Astros history - May 16 The Crawfish Boxes SB Nation May 16, 2025 September 2, 2025 The Astros posted a season-high 11 runs scored on May 12 during the premier contest of a doubleheader versus the Chicago Cubs.https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1979-schedule-scores.shtml#33 1979 Houston Astros schedule Baseball-Reference.com November 15, 2025 Cruz, Reynolds, and Terry Puhl each had three hits and at least two runs batted in (RBI), while Bob Watson, Julio González, and Alan Ashby each collected two hits. The Astros totaled 16 hits and 5 bases on balls. Meanwhile, Forsch went the distance, allowed just 2 earned runs to pick up his fourth win, and registered a game score of 64.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU197905121.shtml Chicago Cubs (3) vs Houston Astros (11) box score—Game 1 Baseball-Reference.com May 12, 1979 November 15, 2025 During the month of May, Joe Niekro made 7 starts and registered a perfect 6–0 record with 1.70 ERA over 58 1 3 frames, four complete games, two shutouts, and 1.029 WHIP.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=niekrjo01&year=1979&t=p Joe Niekro 1979 pitching splits Baseball-Reference.com January 22, 2026 Hence, Niekro was recognized as NL Pitcher of the Month, succeeding Forsch in a consecutive month. June During the month of June, Joaquín Andújar made six starts, while registering a 5–1 record with 1.59 ERA over 51 frames, five complete games, and 1.020 WHIP.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=andujjo01&year=1979&t=p Joaquín Andújar 1979 pitching splits Baseball-Reference.com January 23, 2026 Hence, Andújar was recognized as NL Pitcher of the Month, succeeding Forsch and Niekro for a third consecutive month. This was the first time that Houston presented three awardees during a single season. July Since the inception of the Colt .4s/Astros franchise, Houston had not yet seen a playoff push. Their closest prior to 1979 had been 1972—also the team's first winning season—with an 84–69 record and second-place finish, trailing first place by 10 1 2 games. Yet, as of July 4, they posted a winning percentage upward of .600 and held a 10 1 2-game lead in the NL West.Whiteman Mike https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/september-21-1979-bruce-bochys-walk-off-single-keeps-astros-pennant-hopes-alive/ Bruce Bochy’s walk-off single keeps Astros pennant hopes alive Society for American Baseball Research (SARBR) September 21, 1979 February 3, 2026 MLB All-Star Game For the first time, four Astros represented the club at the MLB All-Star Game, including shortstop Craig Reynolds, his second selection, and pitchers Joe Niekro (first), Joaquín Andújar (second), and Joe Sambito (first). Prior to this, three were appointed for the 1967 Classic. This record was tied at the 1986 Game, and maintained as the most Astros All-Stars until five were chosen for the 1994 contest.https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/bat-all-star.shtml Houston Astros All-Star player register Baseball-Refererence.com October 28, 2025 After Garry Templeton declined his invitation to the All-Star Game, NL manager Tommy Lasorda added Reynolds to the NL roster. A member of the Seattle Mariners the year before, Reynolds was also chosen for the American League in that year's All-Star Game.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SCgwAAAAIBAJ&pg=5505,1569560&dq Craig Reynolds replaces Templeton on All Stars Bulletin Journal United Press International (UPI) July 15, 1979 March 9, 2026 Later July Struggling through a mid-season slump, on July 22, Houston rallied for a 7–6 victory at Busch Memorial Stadium. In the top of the ninth inning, José Cruz singled home Julio González for the game-winning run batted in (RBI). Terry Puhl cranked a home run and Enos Cabell and Jeffrey Leonard collected three hits apiece to add to the momentum. Joe Sambito hurled two scoreless innings in relief to preserve the win over St. Louis. Just their second win over their previous 14 contests, Houston's ten-game division lead from two weeks earlier had shrunk to just four games.Hulsey Bob https://www.astrosdaily.com/history/thisdate/index.html This date in Astros history Astros Daily September 7, 2025 On July 29, César Cedeño connected for the third walk-off triple in club history. This scored starting pitcher J. R. Richard during the bottom of the ninth for 4–3 victory over Los Angeles.The most recent walk-off triple was by César Gerónimo on April 28, 1971. The next occurrence was by Casey Candaele on September 28, 1990.https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/event_finder.cgi?request=1&year_min=1962&team_id=HOU&event=22&type=b&criteria5=walk_off---T HOU: 5 triples in 1962–2025—Walk-off Stathead Sports Reference February 23, 2026 Hence, Richard (9–11), who bookended the contest by also delivering the first pitch, went the distance. August On August 3, J. R. Richard turned in the second 15-strikeout outing of his career and first since his MLB debut on September 5, 1971.https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/R/PX_richj101.htm Top performances for J. R. Richard Retrosheet November 22, 2025 The Astros hosted Atlanta, and at the start of play, owned a 3 1 2-game lead in the NL West. In the top of the first, Jerry Royster struck out, then Richard induced a fly out by Gary Matthews, and finished off the frame with a whiff of Rowland Office.Flynn T. S. https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/august-3-1979-j-r-richard-strikes-out-15-in-complete-game-victory-over-braves/ J.R. Richard strikes out 15 in complete-game victory over Braves Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) August 3, 1979 December 19, 2025 On August 14, the switch-hitting pitcher Joaquín Andûjar slugged his first major league home run,https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=andujjo01&t=b Joaquín Andújar career home runs Baseball-Reference.com December 7, 2025 from an offering by the Montreal Expos' notorious eccentric, Bill "Spaceman" Lee. Andujar had warned Lee against a fastball; however, Lee challenged him in the bottom of the second. Hence, Andûjar nailed it for a two-run, inside-the-park home run high off the center field wall, that stood up for an Astros 2–1 Astros victory. On the mound, Andûjar hurled a complete game four hitter, earning the win a game score of 76, yielding the only run of the game to Lee via fielder's choice RBI groundout.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU197908140.shtml Montreal Expos (1) vs Houston Astros (2) box score Baseball-Reference.com August 14, 1979 December 6, 2025 Richard hurled his sixth career two-hitter on August 27, leading a 3–0 defeat of the Expos. César Cedeño kicked off the scoring in the top of the third, doubling in Rafael Landestoy. Cabell plated two runs in the top of the sixth, scoring Craig Reynolds and Terry Puhl off Scott Sanderson. Richard's (14–12) effort garnered a game score of 89.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197908270.shtml Houston Astros (3) vs Montreal Expos (0) box score Baseball-Reference.com August 27, 1979 December 19, 2025 It was Richard's first two-hit effort with double figures in strikeouts (12). Two weeks after lifting his first major league home run, on August 28, Andûjar connected for his second, off Steve Rogers, also against the Expos. Cabell and Denny Walling both scored a pair of runs; however, the Expos triumphed via a walk-off base on balls that Warren Cromartie coaxed from Joe Sambito with one out in the bottom of the ninth.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197908280.shtml Houston Astros (6) vs Montreal Expos (7) box score Baseball-Reference.com August 28, 1979 December 6, 2025 During the month of August, Richard completed all six contests in which he appeared, allowing just for earned runs for a 0.67 ERA in 54 innings. He went 5–1, whiffed 62, and surrendered 18 bases on balls.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=richaj.01&year=1979&t=p J. R. Richard 1979 pitching splits Baseball-Reference.com December 21, 2025 September J. R. Richard whiffed 15 batters on September 21, tying his career-high, last accomplished the previous August 3. On September 26, the Braves' Phil Niekro doubled in two runs off his younger brother, Joe, to spark a 9–4 win over the Astros. The elder Niekro tallied 4 RBI for the game, while the win evened his record at 20–20, earning the distinction of posting the first record in the National League in 74 years of winning and losing 20 games each.The most recent pitcher to produce this win–loss record milestone had been Wilbur Wood of the Chicago White Sox in the American League (AL), who tossed a 24‐20 record in 1973. lower-alpha "20–20 AL" Niekro's NL predecessor, Irving Young of the Boston BeaneatersAlso a prior season for the Atlanta Braves franchise. lower-alpha "Braves" was credited with a 20–21 record. The win tied also made the Niekro brothers the first pair in National League history to record at least 20 wins each. https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/27/archives/braves-phil-niekro-sparks-94-rout-another-costly-hit.html Braves’ Phil Niekro sparks 9‐4 rout The New York Times September 27, 1979 September 16, 2025 J. R. Richard earned NL Pitcher of the Month honors for September. His second monthly award, he first won for July 1978, while becoming the first Astro to win two monthly honors. Richard was also the fourth Astro during the season to receive Pitcher of the Month Award to extend the club record. Over 7 September starts, Richard went 4–1, with 4 completed games, 2 shutouts, 1.24 earned run average (ERA), and recorded 69 strikeouts over 58 IP. Additionally, the league hit for .164 batting average against (BAA) while baserunners reached on 0.828 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP). Performance overview The Astros concluded the season with an 89 73 y performance, in second place in the NL West, and trailing Cincinnati by 1 1 2 games.https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1979.shtml 1979 National League team statistics Baseball-Reference.com November 15, 2025 Their performance jumped by 15 wins and 19 1 2 games in the standings. At the time, this represented each of the club's most wins, highest standing within the division, and fewest games away from the division title and hence playoff appearance. The 1979 squad supplanted the achievements of their 1972 counterpart (84 wins, 3rd place, 10 1 2 games behind) for the franchise records. The 1979 club also maintained the upward trend of competitive momentum the following season, finally capturing both their first-ever division title and playoff berth, while recording 93 wins to break the franchise mark yet again.https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/ Houston Astros team history & encyclopedia Baaseball-Reference.com November 15, 2025 Having drawn 1,900,312 fans, Houston saw attendance rise steadily over the fourth consecutive season since 1975. This was the second-highest figure in club history, trailing only the 1965 edition, which drew 2,151,470 during their first year at the Astrodome. The next year, fans returned to the 2-million threshold. Bill Virdon also cemented his place as the longest-tenured manager is club history. The 1979 Astros achieved another distinction by remaining as the final National League franchise of the 20th century to hit more triples (52) than home runs (49).Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p. 96, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, 978-0-451-22363-0 Houston's starting pitchers belted four of home runs—two each by Andújar and Richard.https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1979.shtml 1979 Houston Astros statistics Baseball-Reference.com December 6, 2025 Commencing with Forsch's early-season no-hitter, and All-Star nods for Niekro, Andújar, and Sambito, Astros pitching led the most successful-to-date season in club history, setting a number of franchise records along with unprecedented achievements. The starting rotation took turns claiming four National League (NL) Pitcher of the Month Awards, more than they had won in any year prior, starting in April (Forsch), May (Niekro), June (Andújar), and September (J. R. Richard). Richard and Niekro further led the league in a number of key individual categories. The season after becoming the first right-hander in NL history to reach the 300-strikeout plateau, and simultaneously the first Astro lead to league in the category (303), J. R. Richard improved upon his 1978 strikeout total by whiffing 313 and winning his second title in a row.https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SO_p_leagues.shtml Yearly league leaders & records for strikeouts Baseball-Reference.com September 15, 2025 He also became the first to accumulate 300 whiffs in successive years since Sandy Koufax in 1965 and 1966.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 24, 2025 Associated Press Moreover, per the Elias Sports Bureau (ESB), Richard became the second hurler since 1950 to lead MLB in strikeouts, ERA, and batting average against, joining Koufax in 1965.In 1986, Mike Scott became the second Astros pitcher to equal this feat.Langs Sarah https://www.mlb.com/news/stats-to-explain-jacob-misiorowski-special-2026-season 9 reasons why Misiorowski's season has been one of a kind MLB.com September 19, 2026 September 20, 2026 Richard complemented this unprecedented achievement for the team by becoming the first Astros pitcher to lead the league in earned run average (2.71 ERA).https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/earned_run_avg_leagues.shtml Yearly league leaders & records for earned run average Baseball-Reference.com September 15, 2025 Thus, Richard became the first in club history to lead the league in two-thirds of the pitching Triple Crown,Composed of leading the league in each of wins, strikeouts and ERA. lower-alpha "Triple Crown"https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/pitrip.shtml Triple Crown of pitching Baseball Almanac September 21, 2025 and the Astros' first five-time team leader in strikeouts.Bob Bruce, Mike Cuellar, Don Wilson, Jerry Reuss, and Larry Dierker, all had previously led the Colt .45s/Astros pitching staff twice. lower-alpha "Astros K leaders"https://www.astrosdaily.com/history/strikeouts.html The Strikeout Zone Astros Daily January 15, 2026 This was also his fourth successive campaign with 18 or more wins, another club record.Number of seasons player meets criteria, playing for HOU, in the regular season, requiring wins ≥ 18, sorted by descending instances.https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/baseball/player-pitching-season-finder.cgi?request=1&match=player_season_count&ccomp%5B2%5D=gt&cval%5B2%5D=18&cstat%5B2%5D=p_w&team_id=HOU Player pitching season & career stats finder–baseball Stathead Sports Reference January 17, 2026 Meanwhile, Joe Niekro set the franchise record in wins with 21,https://www.mlb.com/astros/history/timeline Astros history – Timeline MLB.com August 28, 2025 and became the club's first league leader.Tied his older brother, Phil, for the league lead in wins, the only time two brothers have accomplished this feat. lower-alpha "Niekros wins leaders"https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1979-pitching-leaders.shtml 1979 National League pitching leaders Baseball-Reference.com September 16, 2025https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/W_leagues.shtml Yearly league leaders & records for wins Baseball-Reference.com September 15, 2025 Richard, as the ERA and strikeout leader, along with Niekro, combined to lead the NL in all three Triple Crown categories. The 1979 season marked first time that all three individual Triple Crown categories were claimed by Astros pitching. In 2019, another tandem of Astros hurlers swept the individual Triple Crown categories. Gerrit Cole led the American League (AL) in ERA (2.50) and strikeouts (326), while Justin Verlander was the AL leader in wins (21).https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2019-pitching-leaders.shtml 2019 American League pitching leaders Baseball-Reference.com September 16, 2025 Niekro became the first Astro to win The Sporting News (TSN) NL Pitcher of the Year Award,lower-alpha "SN Pitcher of the Year"https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/tsn.shtml The Sporting News Pitchers of the Year & The Sporting News Major League Players of the Year Baseball-Reference.com August 30, 2025 while outfielder Jeffrey Leonard was recognized by TSN as the NL Rookie Player of the Year, the fourth overall in franchise history—preceded by second baseman Joe Morgan (1965),https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snrp2.shtml Rookie Player of the Year Award Baseball Almanac September 24, 2025 right-hander Tom Griffin (1969),https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snrp.shtml Rookie Pitcher of the Year Award Baseball Almanac September 28, 2025 and right fielder Greg Gross (1974).lower-alpha "Sporting News Rookies" Niekro was also recognized with the Houston Astros' team Most Valuable Player Award (MVP).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 League standings Houston Astros Record vs. opponents National League border:1px solid #aaa HOU Notable transactions April 27, 1979: The Astros traded a player to be named later to the Kansas City Royals for George Throop. The Astros completed the deal by sending Keith Drumright to the Royals on October 26.https://www.baseball-reference.com/d/drumrke01.shtml Keith Drumright stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 3, 2025 June 13, 1979: Bob Watson was traded by the Astros to the Boston Red Sox for Pete Ladd, a player to be named later, and cash. The Red Sox completed the deal by sending Bobby Sprowl to the Astros on June 19.https://www.baseball-reference.com/w/watsobo01.shtml Bob Waston stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 18, 2025 Draft picks June 5, 1979: 1979 Major League Baseball draft John Mizerock was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 1st round (8th pick).https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mizerjo01.shtml John Mizerock stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 18, 2025 Bill Doran was drafted by the Astros in the 6th round.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/doranbi02.shtml Bill Doran stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 18, 2025 Mark Ross was drafted by the Astros in the 7th round.https://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rossma01.shtml Mark Ross stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 18, 2025 Lemmie Miller was drafted by the Astros in the 1st round (20th pick) of the secondary phase, but did not sign.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/millele01.shtml Lemmie Miller stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com October 18, 2025 Roster 1979 Houston Astros Roster Pitchers 47 Joaquín Andújar 37 Tom Dixon 43 Ken Forsch 31 Frank LaCorte 39 Pete Ladd 39 Bo McLaughlin 54 Mike Mendoza 36 Joe Niekro 46 Randy Niemann 34 Gordie Pladson 45 Frank Riccelli 50 J. R. Richard 42 Bert Roberge 48 Vern Ruhle 35 Joe Sambito 41 Bobby Sprowl 33 George Throop 38 Rick Williams 41 Gary Wilson Catchers 14 Alan Ashby  6 Reggie Baldwin 13 Bruce Bochy 11 Alan Knicely  8 Luis Pujols Infielders 16 Dave Bergman 23 Enos Cabell 28 César Cedeño  9 Julio González 18 Art Howe 17 Rafael Landestoy 12 Craig Reynolds 24 Jimmy Sexton 27 Bob Watson Outfielders 22 Jesús Alou 25 José Cruz 20 Danny Heep 30 Jeffrey Leonard 21 Terry Puhl 29 Denny Walling 19 Tom Wiedenbauer Manager  7 Bill Virdon Coaches  4 Deacon Jones  5 Bob Lillis  3 Tony Pacheco  2 Mel Wright Game log Regular season background:#072854;color:#FF7F00; 1979 regular season game log: 89–73 (Home: 52–29; Away: 37–44) y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; April: 15–6 (Home: 8–1; Away: 7–5) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |-style="background:#cfc;" | 1 || April 6 || || Braves || || || || || || || 1–0 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 2 || April 7 || || Braves || || || || || || || 2–0 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 3 || April 8 || || Braves || || || || || || || 3–0 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 4 || April 9 || || Dodgers || || || || || || || 3–1 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 5 || April 10 || || Dodgers || || || || || || || 4–1 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 6 || April 11 || || Dodgers || || || || || || || 5–1 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 7 || April 13 || || @ Giants || || || || || || || 5–2 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 8 || April 14 || || @ Giants || || || || || || || 5–3 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 9 (1) || April 15 || || @ Giants || || || || || || – || 6–3 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 10 (2) || April 15 || || @ Giants || || || || || || || 7–3 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 11 || April 16 || || @ Dodgers || || || || || || || 8–3 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 12 || April 17 || || @ Dodgers || || || || || || || 8–4 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 13 || April 18 || || @ Dodgers || || || || || || || 9–4 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 14 || April 20 || 7:35p.m. CST || Pirates || W 5–4 (10) || Sambito (1–0) || Bibby (1–1) || – || 3:16 || 19,834 || 10–4 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 15 || April 21 || 7:35p.m. CST || Pirates || W 5–4 (10) || Andújar (2–0) || Tekulve (0–3) || – || 3:23 || 48,977 || 11–4 || W3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 16 || April 22 || 3:00p.m. CST || Pirates || W 3–2 || Andújar (3–0) || Candelaria (0–1) || Sambito (2) || 2:27 || 22,403 || 12–4 || W4 |-style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 24 || || @ Cubs || colspan=8 | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: July 7) |-style="background:#fcc;" | 17 || April 25 || || @ Cubs || || || || || || || 12–5 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 18 || April 26 || || @ Cubs || || || || || || || 13–5 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 19 || April 27 || 6:35p.m. CST || @ Pirates || W 9–8 (11) || Riccelli (1–0) || Whitson (1–1) || – || 3:30 || 5,767 || 14–5 || W2 |-style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 28 || || @ Pirates || colspan=8 | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: July 19) |-style="background:#fcc;" | 20 || April 29 || 12:05p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || L 5–10 || Kison (1–0) || Niekro (1–2) || Jackson (3) || 3:07 || 7,598 || 14–6 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 21 || April 30 || || @ Cardinals || || || || || || || 15–6 || W1 |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; May: 14–17 (Home: 9–8; Away: 5–9) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |-style="background:#fcc;" | 22 || May 1 || || @ Cardinals || || || || || || || 15–7 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 23 || May 2 || || @ Cardinals || || || || || || || 15–8 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 24 || May 3 || || @ Cardinals || || || || || || || 16–8 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 25 || May 4 || || @ Reds || L 5–6 (10) || || Riccelli (1–1) || – || 3:47 || 20,988 || 16–9 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 26 || May 5 || || @ Reds || L 2–6 || || Andújar (3–1) || || 2:13 || 25,044 || 16–10 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 27 (1) || May 6 || || @ Reds || L 5–17 || || || || 2:48 || – || 16–11 || L3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 28 (2) || May 6 || || @ Reds || W 8–2 || || || || 3:00 || 33,618 || 17–11 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 29 || May 8 || || Cardinals || || || || || || || 17–12 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 30 || May 9 || || Cardinals || || || || || || || 18–12 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 31 || May 10 || || Cardinals || || || || || || || 18–13 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 32 || May 11 || || Cubs || || || || || || || 18–14 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 33 || May 12 (1) || || Cubs || || || || || || – || 19–14 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 34 || May 12 (2) || || Cubs || || || || || || || 19–15 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 35 || May 13 || || Cubs || || || || || || || 20–15 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 36 || May 15 || || Giants || || || || || || || 20–16 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 37 || May 16 || || Giants || || || || || || || 20–17 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 38 || May 17 || || Giants || || || || || || || 20–18 || L3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 39 || May 18 || || Padres || || || || || || || 21–18 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 40 || May 19 || || Padres || || || || || || || 21–19 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 41 (1) || May 20 || || Padres || || || || || || – || 22–19 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 42 (2) || May 20 || || Padres || || || || || || || 23–19 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 43 || May 21 || || @ Braves || || || || || || || 23–20 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 44 || May 22 || || @ Braves || || || || || || || 24–20 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 45 || May 23 || || @ Braves || || || || || || || 24–21 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 46 || May 25 || || @ Padres || || || || || || || 24–22 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 47 || May 26 || || @ Padres || || || || || || || 25–22 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 48 || May 27 || || @ Padres || || || || || || || 26–22 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 49 || May 28 || || @ Padres || || || || || || || 26–23 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 50 || May 29 || || Reds || W 2–1 || || || || 2:09 || 17,458 || 27–23 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 51 || May 30 || || Reds || W 6–3 || Niekro (7–2) || || Sambito (4) || 2:32 || 21,757 || 28–23 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 52 || May 31 || || Reds || W 3–0 || || || || 2:07 || 25,453 || 29–23 || W3 |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; June: 20–8 (Home: 13–2; Away: 7–6) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |-style="background:#cfc;" | 53 || June 1 || || Expos || || || || || || || 30–23 || W4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 54 || June 2 || || Expos || || || || || || || 31–23 || W5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 55 || June 3 || || Expos || || || || || || || 32–23 || W6 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 56 || June 4 || || Phillies || || || || || || || 33–23 || W7 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 57 || June 5 || || Phillies || || || || || || || 33–24 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 58 || June 6 || || Phillies || || || || || || || 34–24 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 59 || June 8 || || @ Mets || || || || || || || 35–24 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 60 || June 9 || || @ Mets || || || || || || || 35–25 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 61 || June 10 || || @ Mets || || || || || || || 36–25 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 62 || June 11 || || @ Phillies || || || || || || || 36–26 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 63 || June 12 || || @ Phillies || || || || || || || 36–27 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 64 || June 13 || || @ Phillies || || || || || || || 37–27 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 65 || June 15 || || @ Expos || || || || || || || 38–27 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 66 || June 16 || || @ Expos || || || || || || || 38–28 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 67 || June 17 || || @ Expos || || || || || || || 38–29 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 68 || June 18 || || Mets || || || || || || || 39–29 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 69 || June 19 || || Mets || || || || || || || 40–29 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 70 || June 20 || || Mets || || || || || || || 41–29 || W3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 71 || June 22 || || Padres || || || || || || || 42–29 || W4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 72 || June 23 || || Padres || || || || || || || 43–29 || W5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 73 || June 24 || || Padres || || || || || || || 44-29 || W6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 74 (1) || June 25 || || Reds || L 1–2 || || || || 2:31 || – || 44–30 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 75 (2) || June 25 || || Reds || W 4–0 || || || || 2:22 || 46,313 || 45–30 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 76 || June 26 || || Reds || W 6–5 || || || Sambito (7) || 2:32 || 37,114 || 46–30 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 77 || June 27 || || @ Giants || || || || || || || 46–31 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 78 || June 28 || || @ Giants || || || || || || || 47–31 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 79 || June 29 || || @ Padres || || || || || || || 48–31 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 80 || June 30 || || @ Padres || || || || || || || 49–31 || W3 |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; July: 12–16 (Home: 6–8; Away: 6–8) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |-style="background:#cfc;" | 81 || July 1 || || @ Padres || || || || || || || 50–31 || W4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 82 || July 3 || || @ Reds || W 3–2 || || || || 2:13 || 36,787 || 51–31 || W5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 83 || July 4 || || @ Reds || W 3–2 || Andújar (10–4) || || Sambito (9) || 2:24 || 25,713 || 52–31 || W6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 84 || July 5 || || @ Reds || L 4–5 || || || || 2:48 || 28,249 || 52–32 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 85 || July 6 || || @ Cubs || || || || || || || 53–32 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 86 (1) || July 7 || || @ Cubs || || || || || || – || 53–33 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 87 (2) || July 7 || || @ Cubs || || || || || || || 53–34 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 88 || July 8 || || @ Cubs || || || || || || || 53–35 || L3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 89 || July 10 || 7:30p.m. CDT || Pirates || L 3–4 || Bibby (4–2) || Andújar (10–5) || Tekulve (12) || 3:09 || 31,341 || 53–36 || L4 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 90 || July 11 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Pirates || L 1–5 || Kison (5–4) || Richard (7–9) || – || 2:10 || 25,330 || 53–37 || L5 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 91 || July 12 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Pirates || L 3–5 || Blyleven (7–3) || Niekro (13–4) || Tekulve (13) || 2:44 || 22,956 || 53–38 || L6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 92 || July 13 || || Cardinals || || || || || || || 53–39 || L7 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 93 || July 14 || || Cardinals || || || || || || || 54–39 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 94 || July 15 || || Cardinals || || || || || || || 54–40 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbcaff;" | colspan="12" | 50th All-Star Game in Seattle, Washington |-style="background:#fcc;" | 95 (1) || July 19 || 5:05p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || L 5–9 || Roberts (1–2) || Forsch (5–6) || – || 2:41 || – || 54–41 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 96 (2) || July 19 || 8:16p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || L 2–4 || Kison (6–4) || Niekro (13–5) || Jackson (11) || 2:12 || 33,464 || 54–42 || L3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 97 || July 20 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || L 3–9 || Candelaria (9–7) || Richard (7–11) || – || 2:40 || 23,585 || 54–43 || L4 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 98 || July 21 || 1:15p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || L 5–6 || Romo (5–3) || Sambito (4–3) || Tekulve (14) || 3:00 || 19,570 || 54–44 || L5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 99 || July 22 || || @ Cardinals || || || || || || || 55–44 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 100 || July 23 || || @ Cardinals || || || || || || || 56–44 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 101 || July 24 || || Cubs || || || || || || || 57–44 || W3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 102 || July 25 || || Cubs || || || || || || || 58–44 || W4 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 103 || July 26 || || Dodgers || || || || || || || 58–45 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 104 || July 27 || || Dodgers || || || || || || || 58–46 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 105 || July 28 || || Dodgers || || || || || || || 59–46 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 106 || July 29 || || Dodgers || || || || || || || 60–46 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 107 || July 30 || || Giants || || || || || || || 60–47 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 108 || July 31 || || Giants || || || || || || || 61–47 || W1 |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; August: 15–11 (Home: 8–4; Away: 7–7) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |-style="background:#cfc;" | 109 || August 1 || || Giants || || || || || || || 62–47 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 110 || August 3 || || Braves || || || || || || || 63–47 || W3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 111 (1) || August 4 || || Braves || || || || || || – || 64–47 || W4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 112 (2) || August 4 || || Braves || || || || || || || 65–47 || W5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 113 || August 5 || || Braves || || || || || || || 66–47 || W6 |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb | 114 || August 7 || || @ Dodgers || || || || || || || 66–48 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 115 || August 8 || || @ Dodgers || || || || || || || 67–48 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 116 || August 9 || || @ Dodgers || || || || || || || 67–49 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 117 || August 10 || || @ Braves || || || || || || || 68–49 || W1 |-style="background:#bbb;" | — || August 11 || || @ Braves || colspan=8 | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: September 24) |-style="background:#fcc;" | 118 || August 12 || || @ Braves || || || || || || || 68–50 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 119 || August 13 || || Expos || || || || || || || 69–50 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 120 || August 14 || || Expos || || || || || || || 70–50 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 121 || August 15 || || Expos || || || || || || || 70–51 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 122 || August 17 || || Phillies || || || || || || || 70–52 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 123 || August 18 || || Phillies || || || || || || || 70–53 || L3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 124 || August 19 || || Phillies || || || || || || || 70–54 || L4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 125 || August 20 || || @ Mets || || || || || || || 71–54 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 126 || August 21 || || @ Mets || || || || || || || 71–55 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 127 || August 22 || || @ Mets || || || || || || || 72–55 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 128 || August 24 || || @ Phillies || || || || || || || 72–56 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 129 || August 25 || || @ Phillies || || || || || || || 73–56 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 130 || August 26 || || @ Phillies || || || || || || || 74–56 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 131 || August 27 || || @ Expos || || || || || || || 75–56 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 132 || August 28 || || @ Expos || || || || || || || 75–57 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 133 || August 29 || || @ Expos || || || || || || || 75–58 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 134 || August 31 || || Mets || || || || || || || 76–58 || W1 |- y background:#FF7F00;color:#072854; September: 13–15 (Home: 8–6; Away: 5–9) # Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/Streak |-style="background:#cfc;" | 135 || September 1 || || Mets || || || || || || || 77–58 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 136 || September 2 || || Mets || || || || || || || 77–59 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 137 || September 3 || || Dodgers || || || || || || || 77–60 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 138 || September 4 || || Dodgers || || || || || || || 78–60 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 139 || September 5 || || Padres || || || || || || || 79–60 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 140 || September 6 || || Padres || || || || || || || 80–60 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 141 || September 7 || || Giants || || || || || || || 80–61 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 142 || September 8 || || Giants || || || || || || || 80–62 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 143 || September 9 || || Giants || || || || || || || 81–62 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 144 || September 11 || || @ Reds || L 8–9 || || Sambito (7–6) || – || 3:14 || 40,574 || 81–63 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 145 || September 12 || || @ Reds || L 4–7 || || Niekro (18–10) || || 3:00 || 42,035 || 81–64 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 146 || September 14 || || @ Giants || || || || || || || 82–64 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 147 || September 15 || || @ Giants || || || || || || || 82–65 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 148 || September 16 || || @ Giants || || || || || || || 82–66 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 149 || September 17 || || @ Padres || || || || || || || 83–66 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 150 || September 18 || || @ Padres || || || || || || || 83–67 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 151 || September 19 || || Braves || || || || || || || 83–68 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 152 || September 20 || || Braves || || || || || || || 84–68 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 153 || September 21 || || Reds || W 3–2 (13) || Sambito (8–6) || || – || 3:30 || 44,975 || 85–68 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 154 || September 22 || || Reds || W 4–1 || Niekro (20–10) || || Sambito (20) || 2:50 || 46,037 || 86–68 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 155 || September 23 || || Reds || L 1–7 || || || – || 2:47 || 42,067 || 86–69 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 156 (1) || September 24 || || @ Braves || || || || || || – || 86–70 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 157 (2) || September 24 || || @ Braves || || || || || || || 86–71 || L3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 158 || September 25 || || @ Braves || || || || || || || 87–71 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 159 || September 26 || || @ Braves || || || || || || || 87–72 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 160 || September 28 || || @ Dodgers || || || || || || || 87–73 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 161 || September 29 || || @ Dodgers || || || || || || || 88–73 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 162 || September 30 || || @ Dodgers || || || || || || || 89–73 || W2 |- |- style="text-align:center;" | Legend:      #cfc darkgray = Win      #fcc darkgray = Loss      #bbb darkgray = PostponementBold = Astros team member Player stats = Indicates team leader 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 108 336 68 .202 2 35 1B César Cedeño 132 470 123 .262 6 54 2B Rafael Landestoy 129 282 76 .270 0 30 SS Craig Reynolds Craig Reynolds (baseball) 146 555 147 .265 0 39 3B Enos Cabell 155 603 164 .272 6 67 LF José Cruz 157 558 161 .289 9 72 CF Terry Puhl 157 600 172 .287 8 49 RF Jeffrey Leonard 134 411 119 .290 0 47 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 Art Howe 118 355 88 .248 6 33 Julio González Julio González (infielder) 68 181 45 .249 0 10 Bob Watson 49 163 39 .239 3 18 Denny Walling 82 147 48 .327 3 31 Bruce Bochy 56 129 28 .217 1 6 Luis Pujols 26 75 17 .227 0 8 Jimmy Sexton 52 43 9 .209 0 1 Jesús Alou 42 43 11 .256 0 10 Reggie Baldwin 14 20 4 .200 0 1 Dave Bergman 13 15 6 .400 1 2 Danny Heep 14 14 2 .143 0 2 Alan Knicely 7 6 0 .000 0 0 Tom Wiedenbauer 4 6 4 .667 0 2 Pitching = Indicates league leader 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 J. R. Richard 38 292.1 18 13 2.71 313 Joe Niekro 38 263.2 21 11 3.00 119 Ken Forsch 26 177.2 11 6 3.04 58 Vern Ruhle 13 66.1 2 6 4.07 33 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 Joaquín Andújar 46 194.0 12 12 3.43 77 Rick Williams 31 121.1 4 7 3.26 37 Randy Niemann 26 67.0 3 2 3.76 24 Frank LaCorte 12 27.0 1 2 5.00 24 Frank Riccelli 11 22.0 2 2 4.09 20 Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L SV ERA SO Joe Sambito 63 91.1 8 7 22 1.77 83 Bert Roberge 26 32.0 3 0 4 1.69 13 Tom Dixon Tom Dixon (pitcher) 19 25.2 1 2 0 6.66 9 George Throop George Throop (baseball) 14 22.1 1 0 0 3.22 15 Bo McLaughlin 12 16.1 1 2 0 5.51 12 Pete Ladd 10 12.1 1 1 0 2.92 6 Gary Wilson Gary Wilson (1970s pitcher) 6 7.1 0 0 0 12.27 6 Gordie Pladson 4 4.0 0 0 0 4.50 2 Bobby Sprowl 3 4.0 0 0 0 0.00 3 Mike Mendoza 1 1.0 0 0 0 0.00 0 Awards and achievements Pitching achievements + 300 strikeout club PlayerK Strikeouts W–L Win–loss record ERA Earned run average K/9 Strikeout per nine innings J. R. Richard 313 18–13 2.71 9.6 No-hit game Date Pitcher IP Innings pitched BB Bases on balls BR Total baserunners K Strikeouts BF Batters faced Catcher Final Final score Opponent Venue Plate umpire Box Box score April 7, 1979 Ken Forsch 9 2 2 3 29 Alan Ashby 6–0 Atlanta Braves Astrodome Murray Strey Forsch: Game score: 88 • Win (1–0) Awards 1979 Houston Astros award winners Name of award Recipient Ref. References Associated Press (AP) All-Star Pitcher Joe Niekro https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/niekrjo01.shtml Joe Niekro stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more Baseball-Reference.com September 6, 2025 J. R. Richard https://www.astrosdaily.com/files/team/richard/richard.html James Rodney "J. R." Richard, #50 Astros Daily November 4, 2025 Baseball Digest Rookie All-Star Left fielder Jeffrey Leonard Houston Astros Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) Joe Niekro MLB All-Star Game Reserve infielder Craig Reynolds baseball Reserve pitcher Joaquín Andújar Joe Niekro Joe Sambito National League (NL) Pitcher of the Month AprilKen Forsch MayJoe Niekro June Joaquín Andújar SeptemberJ. R. Richard National League (NL) Player of the Week April 8Ken Forsch September 9Rafael Landestoy The Sporting News NL All-Star—Pitcher Joe Niekro NL Pitcher of the Yearlower-alpha "SN Pitcher of the Year" NL Rookie Player of the Yearlower-alpha "Sporting News Rookies" Jeffrey Leonard Topps All-Star Rookie Team Outfielder Jeffrey Leonard Gonos David https://davidgonos.com/every-topps-all-star-rookie-cup-winner-in-baseball-card-history/ All Topps All-Star Rookie Cup winners in baseball card history DavidGonos.com January 30, 2025 September 19, 2026 United Press International (UPI) All-Star Pitcher J. R. Richard Other awards results Name of award Voting recipient(s) (Team) Ref. References NL Cy Young Award 1st—Sutter (CHC) • 2nd—J. Niekro (HOU) • 3rd—Richard (HOU) https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1979.shtml 1979 awards voting Baseball-Reference.com April 28, 2026 NL Most Valuable Player 1st, tied—K. Hernandez (STL) • 1st, tied—Stargell (PIT) • 6th—Niekro (HOU) Other Astros: 19th—Richard • 21st—Sambito NL Rookie of the Year 1st—Sutcliffe (LAD) • 2nd—Leonard (HOU) Roberto Clemente Winner—Thornton (CLE) • Nominee—Cruz (HOU) https://www.astrosdaily.com/hall/Cruz_Jose.html José 'Cheo' Cruz #25 tribute Astros Daily May 21, 2026 League leaders NL batting leaders Sacrifice flies: César Cedeño (9) Sacrifice hits: Craig Reynolds: (34—led MLB) NL pitching leaders Bases on balls per nine innings pitched (BB/9): Ken Forsch (1.8) Earned run average (ERA): J. R. Richard (2.71—led MLB) Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP): J. R. Richard (2.21—led MLB) Hits per nine innings pitched (H/9): J. R. Richard (6.8—led MLB) Home runs per nine innings (HR/9): Joaquín Andújar (0.3) Shutouts: Joe Niekro (5—led MLB) Strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9): J. R. Richard (9.6—led MLB) Strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB): J. R. Richard (3.19—led MLB) Strikeouts (SO or K): J. R. Richard (313—led MLB) Strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9): J. R. Richard (9.6—led MLB) Walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP): Ken Forsch (1.069—led MLB) Wins: Joe Niekro (21) Wild pitches: Joe Niekro & J. R. Richard (19—tied, led MLB) Other + 1979 grand slams No. Number Date Astros batter Venue Inning Pitcher Opposing team Box Box score NoneHouston's second consecutive season without a grand slam. Minor league system Minor League Baseball AAA Charleston Charlies International League Jim Beauchamp AA Columbus Astros Southern League Jimmy Johnson A Daytona Beach Astros Florida State League Carlos Alfonso Rookie GCL Astros Gulf Coast League Julio Linares LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: GCL Astros See also Texas Baseball 300 strikeout club List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders List of Major League Baseball annual shutout leaders List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Notes References External links 1979 Houston Astros season at Baseball Reference Category:Houston Astros seasons Houston Astros season Houston Astro