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+====== Houston Astros ======
+===== World's First Domed Stadium Debut =====
+The Astros made history by playing the first official Major League Baseball game at the world's first fully enclosed, air-conditioned domed stadium, the Astrodome, on April 12, 1965, against the Philadelphia Phillies. [([[https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/astrodome/|Ballparks of Baseball]])]
+===== Started as the Houston Colt .45s =====
+The franchise began in 1962 as the Houston Colt .45s, taking their name from the famous sidearm of the American West, before becoming the Astros three years later when they moved into the revolutionary Astrodome. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houston_Astros|Britannica]])]
+===== First Major League Game in the South =====
+The Houston Colt .45s made history by playing the first-ever major league game in the southern United States on April 10, 1962, defeating the Chicago Cubs 11-2 at Colt Stadium. [([[https://www.mlb.com/astros/team/jobs/our-history|MLB.com History]])]
+===== Expansion Team Success Record =====
+The Astros are the only expansion era team with an all-time winning record, boasting a 5,009–4,965–5 (.502) record through the end of the 2024 season, making them unique among teams created during baseball's expansion period. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houston_Astros|Britannica]])]
+===== Ground Breaking with Gunfire =====
+Ground broke for the Harris County Domed Stadium (later the Astrodome) on January 3, 1962, as Houston Sports Association officials, Harris County Commissioners, and civic leaders ceremonially fired Colt .45 pistols into the ground. [([[https://www.mlb.com/astros/team/jobs/our-history|MLB.com History]])]
+===== Eighth Wonder of the World =====
+The Astrodome was dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World" when it opened in 1965, becoming the world's first indoor, air-conditioned domed stadium and setting the standard for arena design and construction for decades to come. [([[https://savingplaces.org/places/the-astrodome|National Trust for Historic Preservation]])]
+===== Luxury Amenities Pioneer =====
+The Astrodome featured unprecedented luxury amenities including 53 luxury suites, 42,217 cushioned seats, five different restaurants, a barbershop, a bowling alley, and a weather station, prompting comedian Bob Hope to joke that if it had a maternity ward and cemetery, you'd never have to leave. [([[https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-astrodome-the-eighth-wonder-of-the-world-changed-sports-and-spectatorship-in-america/|SABR]])]
+===== First Racially Integrated Facility =====
+The Astrodome was the first Harris County facility specifically designed and built as a racially integrated building, playing an important role in the desegregation of Houston during the Civil Rights Movement. [([[https://astrodomeconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/210611_FS_Eng_History.pdf|Astrodome Conservancy]])]
+===== Revolutionary Scoreboard Spectacle =====
+The original Astrodome featured a massive $2 million, 474-foot-long scoreboard, home run spectacular, and display picture board behind the centerfield pavilion seats, making it one of the most advanced scoring displays of its era. [([[https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/astrodome/|Ballparks of Baseball]])]
+===== Multi-Sport Convertible Design =====
+The Astrodome could accommodate both baseball and football by utilizing two sets of 5,010 moveable seats that could be repositioned to form a football gridiron, serving as home to the Houston Astros, Houston Oilers (NFL), and University of Houston. [([[https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/astrodome/|Ballparks of Baseball]])]
+===== Nearly Two Billion Dollar Valuation =====
+The Houston Astros' franchise value reached 1.98 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, approximately corresponding to the average franchise value in Major League Baseball, representing a significant surge over the previous six years. [([[https://www.statista.com/topics/4721/houston-astros/|Statista]])]
+===== Strong Revenue Generation =====
+In 2021, the Astros generated approximately 388 million U.S. dollars in revenue with an operating income of 29 million U.S. dollars, demonstrating the team's strong financial performance. [([[https://www.statista.com/topics/4721/houston-astros/|Statista]])]
+===== Premium Ticket Pricing =====
+The average ticket price for Houston Astros games reached over $58.60 for the 2022 season, reflecting increased demand and the team's success on the field. [([[https://www.statista.com/topics/4721/houston-astros/|Statista]])]
+===== Jim Crane's $680 Million Investment =====
+Business owner Jim Crane purchased the Houston Astros in 2011 for $680 million, transforming the franchise through embracing sabermetrics and pioneering new analytical technologies. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houston_Astros|Britannica]])]
+===== First Championship After Hurricane Harvey =====
+The Astros won their first World Series title in 2017 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the victory coming just months after Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston, providing hope and unity to the city during its recovery. [([[https://www.mlb.com/astros/history/timeline|MLB.com Timeline]])]
+===== Record Seven Consecutive ALCS Appearances =====
+The Astros have appeared in a record seven consecutive American League Championship Series, winning four of the last seven American League pennants, showcasing unprecedented sustained excellence. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houston_Astros|Britannica]])]
+===== Only Team with Seven Straight Postseason Series Wins =====
+The Houston Astros are the only team in Major League Baseball history to win a postseason series in seven straight seasons, demonstrating their consistent playoff success. [([[https://kids.kiddle.co/Houston_Astros|Kids Kiddle]])]
+===== Four Consecutive AL West Titles =====
+In 2024, the Astros became the first team to win the AL West division in four straight years since the 1971–1975 Oakland Athletics, clinching their seventh division title in eight years. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houston_Astros|Britannica]])]
+===== Second World Series Championship in 2022 =====
+The Astros captured their second World Series title in 2022, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games after finishing the regular season with the American League's best record of 106-56. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houston_Astros|Britannica]])]
+===== Jose Altuve's Historic Extra-Base Hit Milestone =====
+Jose Altuve reached 700 career extra-base hits in 2025, consisting of 436 doubles, 31 triples, and 233 home runs, placing him 207th all-time in Major League Baseball history and 10th among active players. [([[https://www.si.com/mlb/astros/news/houston-astros-legend-reaches-historic-milestone-during-victory-over-reds|Sports Illustrated]])]
+===== Most Playoff Games by Any Astro =====
+Jose Altuve has played in more playoff games than any other player in Astros history and ranks ninth all-time in playoff games played across Major League Baseball. [([[https://climbingtalshill.com/posts/2023-astros-alcs-bound-15-interesting-astros-facts-you-might-not-know-01hcjphxgtkq/2|Climbing Tals Hill]])]
+===== Jeff Bagwell's Unanimous MVP Award =====
+Jeff Bagwell became the first Houston player ever to win the National League Most Valuable Player award in 1994, earning unanimous selection for only the third time in league history after batting .368 with 39 home runs and 116 RBIs. [([[https://www.mlb.com/astros/history/timeline|MLB.com Timeline]])]
+===== Craig Biggio's Franchise Record Career =====
+Craig Biggio's debut in 1988 began a franchise record 20 seasons with Houston, and he became a Hall of Fame inductee in 2015 after establishing numerous team records. [([[https://www.mlb.com/astros/team/jobs/our-history|MLB.com History]])]
+===== Nolan Ryan's 200-Strikeout Season =====
+Although Nolan Ryan posted only an 11-10 record with the Astros, he achieved 200 strikeouts and joined the team in time to celebrate Houston's first division championship in 1980. [([[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/astr.shtml|Baseball Almanac]])]
+===== First Team to Win Three Different Divisions =====
+The Astros became the first team in MLB history to win three different divisions—NL West, NL Central, and AL West—showcasing their adaptability across different competitive environments. [([[https://kids.kiddle.co/Houston_Astros|Kids Kiddle]])]
+===== Franchise Record 107 Wins in 2019 =====
+The Astros set a new team record with 107 wins in 2019, which was the best record in Major League Baseball that season, before advancing to their third World Series appearance in franchise history. [([[https://kids.kiddle.co/Houston_Astros|Kids Kiddle]])]
+===== Three Consecutive 100-Win Seasons =====
+The Astros became the first team since the 2002–2004 New York Yankees to achieve three straight 100-win seasons, accomplishing this feat from 2017-2019. [([[https://kids.kiddle.co/Houston_Astros|Kids Kiddle]])]
+===== Most Postseason Appearances by Expansion Team =====
+The Houston Astros hold the record for most postseason appearances by an expansion team, demonstrating their transformation from historical mediocrity to sustained excellence. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houston_Astros|Britannica]])]
+===== Second Expansion Team to Reach 5,000 Wins =====
+In 2024, the Astros became only the second expansion team in Major League Baseball history to reach 5,000 wins, joining an elite group of successful expansion franchises. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houston_Astros|Britannica]])]
+===== Unique No-Hitter Exchange with Cincinnati =====
+After Jim Maloney of the Reds no-hit the Astros on April 30, 1969, Houston pitcher Don Wilson returned the favor by no-hitting Cincinnati the very next day, creating one of baseball's most remarkable back-to-back pitching performances. [([[https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-no-hit-history-is-anything-but-typical/c-33281062|MLB.com News]])]
+===== Hurricane Ike No-Hitter Controversy =====
+Carlos Zambrano's no-hitter against the Astros on September 14, 2008, was particularly painful because Houston was making a late playoff push, having won 14 of 15 games, while Hurricane Ike was bearing down on the Texas coast. [([[https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-no-hit-history-is-anything-but-typical/c-33281062|MLB.com News]])]
+===== Historic Postseason Combined No-Hitter =====
+In Game 4 of the 2022 World Series, the Astros threw the third no-hitter in postseason history, with Cristian Javier combining with three relievers to no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies. [([[https://www.mlb.com/astros/history/timeline|MLB.com Timeline]])]
+===== MLB Record Strikeout Performance =====
+The 2018 Astros set a Major League Baseball record for most strikeouts by a pitching staff with 1,687, while allowing only 534 runs, the second-fewest by an AL team in a non-strike season since the designated hitter era began. [([[https://www.mlb.com/astros/history/timeline|MLB.com Timeline]])]
+===== Framber Valdez's Quality Start Record =====
+Framber Valdez set a Major League record by throwing 25 consecutive quality starts during the 2022 season, demonstrating remarkable consistency and excellence on the mound. [([[https://www.mlb.com/astros/history/timeline|MLB.com Timeline]])]
+===== Sabermetrics Pioneer in Transition =====
+Under Jim Crane's ownership, the Astros pioneered new analytical technologies and embraced sabermetrics during their transition to the American League, transforming from a historically middling franchise into one of MLB's most dominant clubs. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houston_Astros|Britannica]])]
+===== Sports Illustrated's Bold 2017 Prediction =====
+A 2014 Sports Illustrated cover story famously anointed the rebuilding Astros as the "2017 World Series champions" while the team was in the midst of a 92-loss campaign, a prediction that remarkably came true. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houston_Astros|Britannica]])]
+===== First African American General Manager =====
+In 1994, the Astros hired Bob Watson as one of the first African American general managers in baseball history, who later became general manager for the New York Yankees and helped them win a World Series. [([[https://kids.kiddle.co/Houston_Astros|Kids Kiddle]])]
+===== Revolutionary Stadium Technology =====
+The Astros were instrumental in pioneering stadium technology, from the Astrodome's innovative features to their current home Daikin Park (formerly Minute Maid Park), which opened in 2000 with modern amenities and design. [([[https://www.mlb.com/astros/ballpark/information/facts-and-figures|MLB.com Ballpark]])]
+===== Dusty Baker's Historic World Series Win =====
+Manager Dusty Baker became the oldest manager to win a World Series in 2022 at age 73, after surpassing 2,000 career wins in May to move into ninth place on the all-time managerial wins list. [([[https://www.mlb.com/astros/history/timeline|MLB.com Timeline]])]
+===== Jeremy Peña's Dual MVP Performance =====
+Rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña became the first player to win both ALCS MVP and World Series MVP awards in the same year during the Astros' 2022 championship run. [([[https://www.espn.com/mlb/history/teams/_/team/Hou/history/awards|ESPN Awards]])]
+===== Justin Verlander's Cy Young Excellence =====
+Justin Verlander won his third AL Cy Young Award in 2022 after missing the entire 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery, going 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA to lead the Astros' championship pitching staff. [([[https://www.espn.com/mlb/history/teams/_/team/Hou/history/awards|ESPN Awards]])]
+===== George Springer's World Series MVP =====
+George Springer was named 2017 World Series MVP after shaking off an 0-for-4, four-strikeout performance in Game 1 to hit five home runs, including homers in four consecutive games. [([[https://www.espn.com/mlb/history/teams/_/team/Hou/history/awards|ESPN Awards]])]
+===== Consistent Two Million Plus Attendance =====
+More than two million people attend Houston Astros games each season at their current home stadium, demonstrating strong fan support and engagement with the franchise. [([[https://www.statista.com/topics/4721/houston-astros/|Statista]])]
+===== Name Reflects Space City Heritage =====
+The team's name "Astros" reflects Houston's role as the host of the Johnson Space Center, connecting the franchise to the city's identity as a center for space exploration and NASA operations. [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Houston_Astros|Britannica]])]
+===== Historic Stadium Transitions =====
+The Astros have called three different stadiums home: Colt Stadium (1962-1964), the Astrodome (1965-1999), and their current home Daikin Park since 2000, marking significant eras in franchise history. [([[https://www.mlb.com/astros/team/jobs/our-history|MLB.com History]])]

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