1982 Houston Astros season

The 1982 Houston Astros season was the 21st season for the Major League Baseball franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 18th as the Astros, 21st in the National League, 14th in the NL West division, and 18th at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season as second-half division champions, ended in defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the [1981 National League (baseball)|National League Division Series|National League Division Series], the eventual World Series champions.
On April 6, Nolan Ryan made his first Opening Day start for Houston, who hosted the St. Louis Cardinals but were defeated, 14–3. On July 7, Don Sutton earned his 250th career victory, while, twenty days later, Ryan earned the 200th of his career.
First baseman Ray Knight represented the Astros at the MLB All-Star Game and played for the National League, his second career selection.
The Astros concluded the season with a 77–85 record, in fifth place and 12 games behind the division-champion [1982 1982 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves].

Offseason

;Summary
The Astros concluded the 1981 season with an overall record of 61–49 for third-best in the division. As a response to the players' strike, a one-time format with a split regular season was implemented and modified playoffs were introduced. Houston qualified for the second-half division title. In the National League Division Series, Houston faced the first-half division-champion Los Angeles Dodgers, but were defeated prior to the Dodgers winning the World Series.
Former Colt.45s infielder Pete Runnels, a native of Lufkin, Texas, was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1982. Runnels played in Houston during the 1963 and 1964 campaigns.
;Transctions

October 23, 1981: Pete Ladd was traded by the Astros to the Milwaukee Brewers for Rickey Keeton.
December 18, 1981: César Cedeño was traded by the Astros to the Cincinnati Reds for Ray Knight.

Regular season

Summary

April

Prior to the start of the season's first game, the Astros were announced as the hosts for the 1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
For Opening Day, on April 6, the Astros hosted the St. Louis Cardinals. Nolan Ryan made his first Opening Day start for Houston; however, he took the loss as the Cardinals sent nine men to the plate and scored five runs during the first inning. St. Louis never looked back, pounding out 18 hits and taking the season's inaugural contest, 14–3. This was the first time that Ryan surrendered more than three runs in any game at the Astrodome. Art Howe banged out a sacrifice fly during the bottom of the second inning off Cardinals starter Bob Forsch and swatted a home run in the seventh. Alan Ashby also homered off Forsch in the sixth to account for all of Houston's tallies. Jim Kaat tossed a scoreless ninth inning for St. Louis to become the first pitcher in major league history to appear in 24 seasons. This was the second consecutive Opening Day that the Astros were matched up against that season's eventual World Series champions.
José Cruz smashed his 100th career home run on April 26, a two-run shot off John Martin of the St. Louis Cardinals. Ray Knight slugged a home run of his own, collected three runs batted in and was 3-for-4 as Houston triumphed, 6–2. Nolan Ryan went the distance, struck out five, and earned his first win of the season

Don Sutton's 250th career win

During his brief stay as an Astro, right-hander Don Sutton earned his 250th career victory on July 7, 1982, via a 5–1 tally versus the Chicago Cubs. It was his ninth win of the campaign. In support, Phil Garner slugged a two-run home run, and José Cruz drove in two others.

July

From July 24 to August 14, Dickie Thon manufactured a 21-game hitting streak, which was the fifth in team history of 20 games or longer, and just two games short of Art Howe's then-club record of 23 from May 1 to May 24 of the prior campaign.

Nolan Ryan's 200th career win

On July 27, Nolan Ryan earned the 200th victory of his career with a five-hit, 3–2 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds. Ryan whiffed 13, issued two bases on balls and earned a solid game score of 82. During the first inning, he picked off Eddie Milner. Meanwhile, Tony Scott doubled, collected an RBI, and swiped two of Houston's four bags. During the bottom of the eighth, Terry Puhl smashed a line drove of reliever Jim Kern, which second baseman Ron Oester slung wildly as Ray Knight charged around third base, ahead of the throw to home plate to score the winning run.

August

On August 11, Nolan Ryan hurled his first one-hit complete game as an Astro, the eighth of his career, and lowest-hit effort since his no-hitter on September 26, 1981. Ryan's most recent one-hitter was on July 13, 1979, as a member of the [1979 1979 California Angels season|California Angels season|California Angels]. Ryan walked three and struck out six for a game score of 88, and, at the plate, hit an RBI single and drew a base on balls to lead a 3–0 win over the San Diego Padres. Terry Puhl slashed three hits, while Phil Garner and Ray Knight each logged RBI singles. Dickie Thon extended his hitting streak to 20 games.

September

On September 27, switch-hitting catcher Alan Ashby became the 12th National League player—on the 17th occasion—and first Houston Astro to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game. However, it was Ashby's single to right in the top of the eighth which plated José Cruz for the go-ahead tally at 4–3 over the Padres. Two innings earlier, Ashby had homered from the left side off Padres starter John Montefusco to tie it 3-all. In the top of the ninth, from the right side, Ashby took lefty Chris Welsh deep for a three-run bomb for the 7–3 score. Houston batters aggregated 15 hits, led by Ashby and Cruz with three each. Meanwhile, Vern Ruhle posted scoreless ball over the final five innings in relief, with four strikeouts to pick up the victory.

Performance overview

The Astros concluded the 1982 season with an record, for fifth place and 12 games behind the NL West division-champion Atlanta Braves. Hence, the Astros missed the playoffs for the first time since 1979 after having qualified for the first two times in franchise history. It was the just third time since 1969 that Houston had finished more than four games under.500.
Dickie Thon collected 10 triples to lead the National League. Thon was the fourth Astros hitter to lead the league in triples, succeeding teammate Craig Reynolds from the year prior.
Nolan Ryan led the major leagues in fewest hits per nine innings surrendered, the seventh time in club history for an Astros pitcher. Having the led the league the year prior, Ryan joined J. R. Richard as the second Astros pitcher to lead the league in the category multiple times.
However, Ryan also led the major leagues in most walks issued to extend his major-league record for leading the league to an eighth season, and for the second time in the National League. Ryan already held the American League record with six, as a member of the California Angels. This was his second time as member of the Astros.

Notable transactions

June 8, 1982: Joe Pittman was traded by the Astros to the San Diego Padres for Danny Boone.
August 30, 1982: Don Sutton was traded by the Astros to the Milwaukee Brewers for players to be named later and cash.
September 3, 1982: The Brewers completed their August 30 trade with the Astros, sending Kevin Bass, Frank DiPino, and Mike Madden to the Astros.

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	100	339	87	.257	12	49
1B	Ray Knight	158	609	161	.274	6	70
2B	Phil Garner	155	588	161	.274	13	83
SS	Dickie Thon	136	496	137	.276	3	36
3B	Art Howe	110	365	87	.238	5	38
LF	José Cruz	155	570	157	.275	9	68
CF	Tony Scott	132	460	110	.239	1	29
RF	Terry Puhl	145	507	133	.262	8	50

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
Danny Heep	85	198	47	.237	4	22
Luis Pujols	65	176	35	.199	4	15
Denny Walling	85	146	30	.205	1	14
Alan Knicely	59	133	25	.188	2	12
Craig Reynolds	54	118	30	.254	1	7
Bill Doran	26	97	27	.278	0	6
Kiko Garcia	34	76	16	.211	1	5
Harry Spilman	38	61	17	.279	3	11
Scott Loucks	44	49	11	.224	0	3
Tim Tolman	15	26	5	.192	1	3
Kevin Bass	12	24	1	.042	0	1
Joe Pittman	15	10	2	.200	0	0
Larry Ray	5	6	1	.167	0	1
Mike Ivie	7	6	2	.333	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	35	270.0	17	12	2.47	130
Nolan Ryan	35	250.1	16	12	3.16	245
Don Sutton	27	195.0	13	8	3.00	139
Bob Knepper	33	180.0	5	15	4.45	108
Vern Ruhle	31	149.0	9	13	3.93	56
Frank DiPino	6	28.1	2	2	6.04	25

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
Mike LaCoss	41	115.0	6	6	2.90	51

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Dave Smith	49	5	4	11	3.84	28
Frank LaCorte	55	1	5	7	4.48	51
Randy Moffit	30	2	4	3	3.02	20
Bert Roberge	22	1	2	3	4.21	18
George Cappuzzello	17	0	1	0	2.79	13
Danny Boone	10	0	1	1	3.55	4
Joe Sambito	9	0	0	4	0.71	7
Mark Ross	4	0	0	0	1.50	4
Gordie Pladson	2	0	0	0	54.00	0

Awards and achievements

;Career honors

Texas Sports Hall of Fame inductee: Pete Runnels, infielder • In Houston 1963–1964 • 148 games •

;Awards

Houston Astros Most Valuable Player Award : Ray Knight
MLB All-Star Game—Reserve infielder: Ray Knight
NL Pitcher of the Month—August: Nolan Ryan

;Batting leaders

Triples: Dickie Thon

;Pitching leaders

Bases on balls allowed: Nolan Ryan
Hit batsmen: Nolan Ryan
Hits per nine innings pitched: Nolan Ryan
Wild pitches: Joe Niekro