Houston Colt .45's

The Colt .45s were Houston's expansion club of 1962 and played three seasons under the name at 196-288. They played at Colt Stadium, a temporary park built next to the site of the Astrodome, in heat and mosquitoes severe enough that games were moved to the evening and the club sprayed the stands between innings.

The first season was 64-96, which is a respectable start for an expansion club — the Mets, who arrived the same year, went 40-120. The other two were each 66-96.

The name changed to Astros in 1965 with the move into the Astrodome, partly because the firearms manufacturer wanted a share of the merchandise. Two Hall of Famers played here, both at the beginnings of their careers: Joe Morgan, who debuted at nineteen in 1963, and Nellie Fox at the end of his.