1962 Houston Colt .45s season

Offseason

Summary

On January 3, 1962, a groundbreaking ceremony was showcased to establish the construction of the Astrodome. The ceremony included the firing of pistols into the earth by team, city, and county officials.

Transactions

• September 11, 1961: Rusty Staub was signed as an amateur free agent by the Colt .45's.
• October 13, 1961: Al Cicotte was purchased by the Colt .45s from the St. Louis Cardinals.
• March 24, 1962: Dave Philley was signed as a free agent by the Colt .45s.
• March 24, 1962: Dave Philley was traded by the Colt .45s to the Boston Red Sox for Tom Borland.
• Prior to 1962 season: J. C. Hartman was acquired by the Colt .45s from the Houston Buffaloes as part of a minor league working agreement.

Expansion draft

Main article: 1961 MLB expansion draft

The Colt .45s were one of two teams added to the National League before the 1962 season, the other being the New York Mets. This brought the number of teams in the NL to ten, matching the 1961 expansion of the American League.

Regular phase

:$75,000 per player

• Eddie Bressoud, infielder, San Francisco Giants
• Bob Aspromonte, infielder, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Bob Lillis, infielder, St. Louis Cardinals
• Dick Drott, pitcher, Chicago Cubs
• Al Heist, outfielder, Chicago Cubs
• Román Mejías, outfielder, Pittsburgh Pirates
• George Williams, infielder, Philadelphia Phillies
• Jesse Hickman, pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
• Merritt Ranew, catcher, Milwaukee Braves
• Don Taussig, outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals
• Bobby Shantz, pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates
• Norm Larker, infielder, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Sam Jones, pitcher, San Francisco Giants
• Paul Roof, pitcher, Milwaukee Braves
• Ken Johnson, pitcher, Cincinnati Reds
• Dick Gernert, infielder, Cincinnati Reds
• Ed Olivares, infielder, St. Louis Cardinals
• Jim Umbricht, pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates
• Jim Golden, pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Premium phase

:$125,000 per player

• Joey Amalfitano, infielder, San Francisco Giants
• Turk Farrell, pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Hal Smith, catcher, Pittsburgh Pirates
• Al Spangler, outfielder, Milwaukee Braves

1961 minor league affiliates

The Colt .45s and Mets were established on October 17, 1960, giving them time to acquire professional minor-league players, sign amateur free agents (there was no MLB first-year player draft until 1965) and enter into working agreements with minor league affiliates during the 1961 season. Houston had formal working agreements with two minor league baseball teams in 1961 (see table below). In addition, the roster of the 1961 Houston Buffs of the Triple-A American Association, officially a minor-league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, would include a handful of players signed by the Colt .45s. The most prominent of these was Dave Giusti, then 21, who went on to a 15-year MLB career.

Regular season

Summary

The inaugural series

;Inaugural game: April 10, Colt Stadium, Houston, Texas

The Colt .45s started their inaugural season on April 10, 1962, with an 11–2 win against the Chicago Cubs, highlighted by a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning with no outs by Román Mejías, the first home run in franchise history. Mejías became Houston's breakout offensive star for that game, going 3-for-5 with six runs batted in (RBI). Catcher Hal Smith followed Mejías' home run in the third inning with his first of the season just two outs later. Al Spangler was 2-for-3 with two bases on balls and connected for the first triple in franchise history. Bob Aspromonte delivered the first hit and scored the first run. Mejías connected for a second home run in the eighth inning, and Shantz threw a complete game to earn the win.

By virtue of driving in 6 runs in the Colt .45s' inaugural game, Mejías established the single-game franchise RBI record, which stood until August 29, 1989, when Rafael Ramírez produced 7 RBI, also against the Chicago Cubs. and followed that up by starting another hitting streak the following month.

In the second game on April 11, Hal Woodeshick and Dick "Turk" Farrell combined to produce Houston's first shutout victory, 2–0. Hal Smith stroked a two-run single in the first inning to accounted for the all of the game's scoring. Moreover, this contest actualized the franchise's first-ever rain delay, spanning one hour and seven minutes. During the Opening Series finale on April 12, Dean Stone tossed the first complete-game shutout in Colts franchise history, a three-hitter that led a 3–0 win. Stone's effort also capped a three-game sweep of the Cubs in Houston's first-ever series in their first homestand. With a 3–0 record, the Colt .45s retained a share of the National League lead with the San Francisco Giants.

Rest of April

Houston, as the major league club, hosted the St. Louis Cardinals for the first time on April 24, 1962. Prior to joining the National League, Houston's Buffaloes had served as one of Cardinals' minor league affiliates over a span of four decades, where which many future Cardinals stars made their way to the major leagues. Don Taussig, a Colt .45s expansion draftee from the Cardinals, hit the go-ahead home run off Larry Jackson in the sixth inning that set a 4–3 Colts victory. Hal Woodeshick navigated five errors to earn the victory. This was Taussig's only home run for Houston, and the final of his major league career.

The team finished April with a 7–8 record, 4 games in front of fellow-expansion club the New York Mets and only 5 games behind the National League-leading Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates.

May

During a five-day span in early May, Colt .45s hurlers established multiple strikeout firsts in franchise annals.

Ken Johnson achieved Houston's first double-digit strikeout game during his start on May 2,

Two days after Johnson tossed the first double-digit strikeout game for the new franchise, on May 4, Bob Bruce matched this achievement in a relief outing with 10 for the first time in club history.

Keeping with new pitching strikeout achievements, on May 6, Turk Farrell whiffed 11 Milwaukee Braves during his start to take the single-game franchise lead. This was Mejías' second five-RBI contest of the season, and first since Opening Day, while Browne's home run was the only deep drive of his major league career.

On May 10, Mejías connected for the first-ever inside-the-park home run at Colt Stadium, a fly ball to center field during the bottom of the first inning off Don Drysdale of the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, in the top of the fourth, Larry Burright connected for a three-run jack off Bob Bruce, his first in the major leagues. Los Angeles never looked back, winning 6–2, while handing Bruce his first loss of the season.

Beginning May 25, Mejías initiated another hitting streak for 16 games to establish one of Houston's earliest club records, during which he carried a .368 batting average. This hitting streak lasted until June 10, and stood as the record stood until Rusty Staub hit in 20 consecutively from June 30 to July 21, 1967.

A new idea was presented to Harris County commissioners on May 31 by Weldon Appelt to build a stadium using arches to facilitate construction, leading to a proposing for a domed stadium. Meanwhile, the Colt .45s defeated the Chicago Cubs, 10–6, after erupting for five runs ninth inning.

June

By June 2, with the second loss to the Pirates in Pittsburgh, the Colt .45s had fallen to 16 games behind the eventual NL champion Giants, a deficit that no pre-Wild Card era team had ever recovered from to make the post season.

While hosting the Dodgers on June 10, Colts shortstop Don Buddin hit a grand slam during the second game of a doubleheader, the first-ever slam in franchise history, and the first-ever hit at Colt Stadium. and 9–7, many of their players complained about the excess heat. However, Buddin's eventful slam came ignited a later-inning rally during the second game, as he golfed a Joe Moeller pitch to left in the bottom of the sixth with Los Angeles leading, 9–1. In the bottom of the ninth, Houston loaded the bases again with none out during a succession of the first five batters to reach base, including on an error and fielder's choice. Two runs scored; however, Aspromonte was retired on a groundout for the final out of the contest.

Ten days after the first grand slam in franchise history by Buddin, Norm Larker blasted the Colts' second on June 20, and first on the road. The second slam of Larker's career (he had hit his first less than a year earlier as a member of the Dodgers), his was a go-ahead blast off Juan Marichal at Candlestick Park to give Houston a 5–2 advantage over San Francisco. Román Mejías slugged his 17th home run during the top of the first to give Houston a 1–0 edge. Joey Amalfitano tripled and scored three runs. Houston batters collected eight safeties while coaxing nine base on balls on the way to a 9–5 triumph.

July

On July 20, Turk Farrell whiffed 12 St. Louis Cardinals to establish a new single-game strikeout record for Houston, which remained so until he struck out 13 on May 10, 1963, against the Cubs. on "Stan Musial Day" in Houston. However, Farrell brewed controversy when he admitted to having thrown the Cardinals legend an illegal spitball, which Musial punished for an RBI single. Batting .349, Musial recorded two hits and plated two of St. Louis' tallies.

The win on July 20 broke a five-game losing streak; however, this was the Colts' third losing streak of at least of five games in July. Before the month concluded, Houston was mired in another losing streak that lasted six outings, going overall in their first July.

August

With an August 21 loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies, the Houston Colt .45s were mathematically eliminated from the postseason with a 37-game deficit to the Dodgers with 37 games remaining.

September

Bob Aspromonte recorded the first five-hit game in franchise history on September 20 during the nightcap of a doubleheader versus the Mets. The Colts won, 5–4, in 12 innings. Aspromonte scored three times. Hal Smith homered and drove in the game-winning run in the top of the 12th inning.

Performance overview

The Houston Colt .45s concluded their inaugural season with a record of , for eighth place of ten clubs in the National League, trailing the NL pennant-winning San Francisco Giants by games. During each of their first three seasons, Houston lost 96 games to tie the default record set in 1962, until they set a new club record with 97 defeats in 1965. Houston would lose 90 or more contests in each of their first seven seasons until producing their first .500 season in 1969, and in 1972, realized their first-ever winning season, at . The Colt .45s hosted 924,456 fans during their inaugural season, which remained the most over their first three seasons, all at Colt Stadium, until 1965, when they drew over 2 million for the first time during their inaugural season at the Astrodome.

To get an idea of how the first season was for Houston, look at the team's best pitcher, Richard "Turk" Farrell. A starter for the Colt .45s, he was primarily a relief pitcher when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. Turk lost 20 games in 1962, but had an earned run average (ERA) of 3.02. Turk was selected to both All-Star games that year.

Farrell led the pitching staff with 203 strikeouts which remained the club record for a single season until broken by Don Wilson in 1968 when he fanned 235. Prior to that, Mike Cuellar tied the record with 203 in 1966.

A late-blooming outfielder emerged as a bright spot for the .Colt 45s line up in 1962. Román Mejías, acquired from the Pirates during the expansion draft, was named the Colt .45s starting right fielder and emerged as a breakout performer during his age-36 season. Prior to coming to Houston, he had appeared in 308 games over six seasons with Pittsburgh, batting .245 with 17 home runs and 83 RBI. In Houston, Mejías played the best baseball of his major league career, simultaneously establishing career highs in virtually every offensive category, while leading the team in numerous categories, which introduced many of the original single-season franchise offensive records. While he played better the first half of the season, an injury slowed him the second half of the season. However, he still finished with a .286 batting average, 24 home runs, and 76 RBI. His modesty and his hard play made him a fan favorite that year. Despite his excellent performance, Mejías was traded to the Boston Red Sox in the fall of 1962.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

• May 7, 1962: Bobby Shantz was traded by the Colt .45s to the St. Louis Cardinals for John Anderson and Carl Warwick.
• June 26, 1962: Bob Cerv was purchased by the Colt .45s from the New York Yankees.
• July 30, 1962: Bob Cerv was released by the Colt .45s.

Roster

Game log

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || April 10 || Cubs || 11–2 || Shantz (1–0) || Cardwell (0–1) || – || 25,271 || 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || April 11 || Cubs || 2–0 || Woodeshick (1–0) || Hobbie (0–1) || Farrell (1) || 20,336 || 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || April 12 || Cubs || 2–0 || Stone (1–0) || Curtis (0–1) || – || 7,838 || 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 13 || @ Phillies || 2–3 || Hamilton (1–0) || Farrell (0–1) || – || 12,633 || 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 14 || @ Phillies || 0–3 || Mahaffey (2–0) || Johnson (0–1) || – || 2,732 || 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || April 17 || @ Mets || 5–2 (11) || Golden (1–0) || Moford (0–1) || Tiefenauer (1) || 3,191 || 4–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 18 || @ Cubs || 2–3 (10) || Ellsworth (1–0) || Farrell (0–2) || – || 3,318 || 4–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 8 || April 19 || @ Cubs || 6–0 || Stone (2–0) || Cardwell (0–3) || – || 3,835 || 5–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 21 || Phillies || 1–3 || McLish (1–0) || Johnson (0–2) || Baldschun (1) || 21,841 || 5–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 22 || Phillies || 3–4 || Owens (1–1) || Giusti (0–1) || Baldschun (2) || 13,130 || 5–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 11 || April 24 || Cardinals || 4–3 || Woodeshick (2–0) || Jackson (2–1) || – || 19,335 || 6–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 12 || April 25 || Cardinals || 5–5 (17) || – || – || – || 17,265 || 6–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 26 || Cardinals || 2–3 || Gibson (1–1) || Johnson (0–3) || – || 15,129 || 6–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 27 || Braves || 1–2 || Shaw (2–1) || Shantz (1–1) || – || 16,160 || 6–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 28 || Braves || 3–9 || Butler (1–0) || Giusti (0–2) || – || 22,501 || 6–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 16 || April 29 || Braves || 3–2 || Farrell (1–2) || McMahon (0–1) || – || 21,050 || 7–8 |- |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || May 1 || @ Cardinals || 4–6 || Washburn (2–0) || Stone (2–1) || Bauta (1) || 4,924 || 7–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || May 2 || @ Cardinals || 1–4 || Gibson (2–1) || Johnson (0–4) || – || 7,880 || 7–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || May 3 || @ Cardinals || 0–4 || Simmons (4–0) || Giusti (0–3) || – || 6,436 || 7–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 20 || May 4 || @ Braves || 7–4 || Bruce (1–0) || Hendley (2–2) || Farrell (2) || 7,811 || 8–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || May 5 || @ Braves || 5–6 (12) || Curtis (1–2) || Woodeschick (2–1) || – || 4,920 || 8–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || May 6 || @ Braves || 2–3 || Spahn (3–3) || Golden (1–1) || – || 12,635 || 8–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 23 || May 6 || @ Braves || 9–1 || Farrell (2–2) || Willey (0–2) || – || 12,635 || 9–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 24 || May 7 || Dodgers || 9–6 || Tiefenauer (1–0) || Richert (1–1) || – || 19,170 || 10–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 8 || Dodgers || 6–9 (10) || Perranoski (2–0) || Tiefenauer (1–1) || Roebuck (1) || 17,483 || 10–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 9 || Dodgers || 2–9 || Podres (2–2) || Richert (1–1) || – || 12,684 || 10–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 10 || Dodgers || 2–6 || Drysdale (5–1) || Bruce (1–1) || – || 15,076 || 10–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 28 || May 11 || Giants || 7–0 || Farrell (3–2) || Perry (2–1) || – || 19,003|| 11–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 12 || Giants || 0–11 || Marichal (6–2) || Woodeshick (2–2) || – || 26,311|| 11–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 13 || Giants || 2–7 || Sanford (4–2) || Johnson (0–5) || – || 19,879|| 11–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 15 || @ Dodgers || 7–10 || Perranoski (3–0) || Tiefenauer (1–2) || – || 18,675|| 11–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 16 || @ Dodgers || 2–5 || Moeller (2–3) || Farrell (3–3) || Roebuck (3) || 16,075|| 11–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 17 || @ Dodgers || 4–2 (10) || Roebuck (2–0) || Tiefenauer (1–2) || – || 17,639|| 11–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || May 18 || @ Giants || 3–2 (10) || Johnson (1–5) || Sanford (4–3) || – || 18,544|| 12–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 19 || @ Giants || 2–10 || McCormick (1–1) || Witt (0–1) || Larson (3) || 16,701 || 12–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 36 || May 20 || @ Giants || 6–5 || Bruce (2–1) || Marichal (7–3) || Farrell (3) || 40,932 || 13–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 20 || @ Giants || 4–7 || Pierce (6–0) || Woodeshick (2–3) || – || 40,932 || 13–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 38 || May 21 || Mets || 3–2 || Golden (2–1) || Mizell (1–2) || – || 16,317 || 14–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 39 || May 22 || Mets || 3–2 || Farrell (4–3) || Hook (3–3) || – || 11,980 || 15–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 40 || May 23 || Reds || 2–0 || Johnson (2–5) || Purkey (7–1) || – || 9,266 || 16–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 24 || Reds || 0–5 || Jay (6–4) || Witt (0–2) || – || 8,570 || 16–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 25 || Pirates || 3–4 (13) || Face (2–1) || Tiefenauer (1–4) || Sturdivant (1) || 11,350 || 16–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 43 || May 26 || Pirates || 2–0 || Golden (3–1) || Friend (4–6) || – || 13,909|| 17–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 27 || Pirates || 2–7 || Law (2–1) || Johnson (2–6) || – || 11,793|| 17–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 28 || @ Reds || 6–9 || Jay (7–4) || Farrell (4–4) || – || 8,979|| 17–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 46 || May 30 || @ Cubs || 8–6 (14) || Giusti (1–3) || Schultz (3–2) || – || 17,842|| 18–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 47 || May 30 || @ Cubs || 10–6 || McMahon (1–1) || Elston (2–2) || – || 3,722|| 19–27 |- |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || June 1 || @ Pirates || 4–8 || Face (3–1) || Golden (3–2) || – || 14,961|| 19–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 2 || @ Pirates || 2–9 || Law (3–1) || Farrell (4–5) || – || 11,703 || 19–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 50 || June 3 || @ Pirates || 10–6 || Tiefenauer (2–4) || Sturdivant (3–3) || McMahon (1) || 24,282 || 20–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 51 || June 3 || @ Pirates || 10–3 || Johnson (3–6) || McBean (5–2) || – || 24,282 || 21–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 52 || June 5 || Braves || 7–1 || Bruce (3–1) || Piche (3–1) || – || 11,593 || 22–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 6 || Braves || 3–6 || Burdette (3–4) || Golden (3–3) || – || 11,569 || 22–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 54 || June 7 || Braves || 3–2 || McMahon (2–1) || Spahn (6–6) || – || 14,818 || 23–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 8 || Dodgers || 3–4 (13) || L. Sherry (4–2) || McMahon (2–2) || – || 15,877 || 23–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 56 || June 9 || Dodgers || 13–1 || Bruce (4–1) || Williams (6–2) || – || 11,908 || 24–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 10 || Dodgers || 3–9 || Drysdale (10–3) || Golden (3–4) || – || 30,027 || 24–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 10 || Dodgers || 7–9 || Moeller (5–4) || Woodeshick (2–4) || Perranoski (7) || 30,027 || 24–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 11 || Mets || 1–3 || Jackson (3–7) || Farrell (4–6) || – || 8,920 || 24–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 60 || June 12 || Mets || 3–2 || Johnson (4–6) || Anderson (3–6) || – || 7,344 || 25–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 61 || June 14 || Mets || 10–2 || Bruce (5–1) || Hook (4–7) || – || 10,761 || 26–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 62 || June 15 || @ Dodgers || 2–0 || Golden (4–4) || Drysdale (10–4) || – || 22,709 || 27–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 63 || June 16 || @ Dodgers || 4–1 || Farrell (5–6) || Podres (3–6) || – || 51,530 || 28–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 17 || @ Dodgers || 2–6 || Roebuck (4–0) ||Johnson (4–7) || L. Sherry (5) || 47,397 || 28–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 65 || June 19 || @ Giants || 6–4 || Giusti (2–3) || O'Dell (7–6) || Farrell (4) || 18,749 || 29–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 66 || June 20 || @ Giants || 9–5 || Stone (3–2) || Miller (3–2) || McMahon (2) || 10,430 || 30–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 22 || @ Mets || 0–2 || Jackson (4–8) || Farrell (5–7) || – || 11,484 || 30–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 68 || June 22 || @ Mets || 16–3 || Golden (5–4) || B. Miller (0–5) || – || 11,484 || 31–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 23 || @ Mets || 2–13 || Hook (5–8) || Johnson (4–8) || – || 6,425 || 31–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 25 || @ Phillies || 3–4 || Green (2–2) || Woodeshick (2–5) || – || 8,087 || 31–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 26 || @ Phillies || 0–2 || Hamilton (5–5) || Farrell (5–8) || – || 18,707 || 31–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || June 26 || @ Phillies || 4–6 || Mahaffey (9–8) || Golden (5–5) || – || 18,707 || 31–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 29 || Reds || 0–4 || O'Toole (6–9) || Johnson (4–9) || – || 7,612 || 31–41 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 74 || June 30 || Reds || 7–3 (7) || Bruce (6–1) || Maloney (2–3) || – || 9,758 || 32–41 |- |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || July 1 || Reds || 1–6 || Jay (11–7) || Golden (5–6) || – || 6,666 || 32–42 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || July 2 || Pirates || 2–4 || Friend (8–8) || Woodeshick (2–6) || Face (14) || 11,760 || 32–43 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || July 3 || Pirates || 2–5 || Haddix (7–3) || Johnson (4–10) || Face (15) || 10,729 || 32–44 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || July 4 || Pirates || 0–7 || Law (7–3) || Bruce (6–2) || – || 20,005 || 32–45 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || July 4 || Pirates || 3–4 || Francis (5–5) || Golden (5–7) || Face (16) || 20,005 || 32–46 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 80 || July 6 || @ Reds || 2–0 || Woodeshick (3–6) || Jay (11–8) || – || 15,871 || 33–46 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 7 || @ Reds || 1–10 || Purkey (14–2) || Johnson (4–11) || – || 6,936 || 33–47 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 82 || July 8 || @ Reds || 8–12 || Maloney (4–3) || Farrell (5–9) || – || 18,332 || 33–48 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 83 || July 8 || @ Reds || 11–12 (13) || O'Toole (8–9) || Farrell (5–10) || – || 18,332 || 33–49 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 11 || @ Phillies || 1–6 || Mahaffey (11–9) || Woodeshick (3–7) || – || 3,441 || 33–50 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 85 || July 12 || @ Pirates || 4–6 || McBean (9–5) || Golden (5–8) || – || 14,784 || 33–51 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || July 13 || @ Pirates || 0–4 || Friend (9–9) || Farrell (5–11) || – || 15,376 || 33–52 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 87 || July 14 || @ Pirates || 2–4 || Law (8–4) || Bruce (6–3) ||- || 7,343 || 33–53 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 88 || July 15 || Cubs || 5–4 || Woodeshick (4–7) || Buhl (6–7) || McMahon (3) || 6,907 || 34–53 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 89 || July 15 || Cubs || 1–4 || Ellsworth (5–13) || Johnson (4–12) || – || 6,907 || 34–54 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 90 || July 17 || Phillies || 0–3 || Hamilton (6–7) || Kemmerer (0–1) || Baldschun (9) || 8,115 || 34–55 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 91 || July 17 || Phillies || 2–8 || McLish (6–2) || Farrell (5–12) || Bennett (1) || 8,115 || 34–56 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 18 || Phillies || 2–6 || Green (3–2) || Bruce (6–4) || – || 5,140 || 34–57 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 93 || July 19 || Phillies || 2–6 || Short (5–6) || Woodeshick (4–8) || Baldschun (10) || 5,017 || 34–58 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 94 || July 20 || Cardinals || 4–3 || Farrell (6–12) || McDaniel (2–5) || – || 15,422 || 35–58 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 95 || July 21 || Cardinals || 0–7 || Jackson (9–8) || Kemmerer (0–2) || – || 17,742 || 35–59 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 96 || July 21 || Cardinals || 7–3 || Johnson (5–12) || Simmons (8–6) || Golden (1) || 17,742 || 36–59 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 97 || July 22 || Cardinals || 1–3 || Gibson (13–6) || Bruce (6–5) || McDaniel (11) || 8,685 || 36–60 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 98 || July 23 || Giants || 1–5 || Bolin (6–0) || Woodeshick (4–9) || – || 12,096 || 36–61 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 99 || July 24 || Giants || 1–3 || Sanford (13–6) || Farrell (6–13) || Larsen (6) || 11,289 || 36–62 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 100 || July 25 || Giants || 2–3 || O'Dell (12–8) || Golden (5–9) || Miller (14) || 12,344 || 36–63 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 101 || July 27 || @ Cubs || 1–5 || Ellsworth (6–14) || Woodeshick (4–10) || – || 6,111 || 36–64 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 102 || July 29 || @ Cubs || 2–4 || Koonce (9–3) || Golden (5–10) || Cardwell (2) || 10,334 || 36–65 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 103 || July 29 || @ Cubs || 3–1 || Farrell (7–13) || Hobbie (3–10) || – || 10,334 || 37–65 |- |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 104 || August 1 || @ Braves || 0–3 || Shaw (12–8) || Woodeshick (4–11) || – || 10,829 || 37–66 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 105 || August 2 || @ Braves || 3–0 || Farrell (8–13) || Burdette (8–7) || – || 8.338 || 38–66 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 106 || August 3 || @ Cardinals || 8–3 || Johnson (6–12) || Gibson (13–8) || McMahon (4) || 11,853 || 39–66 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 107 || August 4 || @ Cardinals || 0–2 || Washburn (10–5) || Bruce (6–6) || – || 9,390 || 39–67 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 108 || August 5 || @ Cardinals || 7–4 || Kemmerer (1–2) || McDaniel (2–6) || McMahon (5) || 14,954 || 40–67 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 109 || August 5 || @ Cardinals || 4–7 || Toth (1–0) || Woodeshick (4–12) || – || 14,954 || 40–68 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 110 || August 6 || Reds || 0–1 (13) || Klippstein (4–2) || McMahon (2–3) || – || 8,507 || 40–69 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 111 || August 7 || Reds || 0–3 || Jay (17–9) || Johnson (6–13) || – || 6,523 || 40–70 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 112 || August 8 || Reds || 0–4 || Nuxhall (2–0) || Bruce (6–7) || Brosnan (8) || 7,350 || 40–71 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 113 || August 9 || Reds || 3–7 || O'Toole (12–12) || Woodeshick (4–13) || – || 5,196 || 40–72 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 114 || August 10 || Braves || 6–7 || Spahn (12–11) || Brunet (0–1) || Raymond (5) || 7,047 || 40–73 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 115 || August 11 || Braves || 1–3 || Shaw (14–8) || Farrell (8–14) || Raymond (6) || 14,630 || 40–74 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 116 || August 12 || Braves || 8–5 || Bruce (7–7) || Burdette (9–8) || Kemmerer (1) || 4,902 || 41–74 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 117 || August 14 || Cardinals || 4–3 (10) || McMahon (3–3) || Gibson (14–9) || – || 9,604 || 42–74 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 118 || August 15 || Cardinals || 3–1 || Woodeshick (5–13) || Washburn (10–6) || Kemmerer (2) || 8,843 || 43–74 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 119 || August 16 || Cardinals || 1–3 || Jackson (10–10) || Farrell (8–15) || – || 9,159 || 43–75 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 120 || August 17 || Cubs || 3–2 || Kemmerer (2–2) || Anderson (2–6) || – || 6,539 || 44–75 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 121 || August 18 || Cubs || 2–1 || Brunet (1–1) || Koonce (9–6) || – || 12,243 || 45–75 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 122 || August 18 || Cubs || 5–6 || Elston (4–7) || McMahon (3–4) || Cardwell (4) || 12,243 || 45–76 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 123 || August 19 || Cubs || 3–4 || Buhl (9–9) || Woodeshick (5–14) || Anderson (4) || 4,543 || 45–77 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 124 || August 20 || @ Phillies || 1–7 || Green (6–5) || Farrell (8–16) || – || 14,601 || 45–78 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 125 || August 21 || @ Phillies || 3–5 || Mahaffey (17–10) || Bruce (7–8) || – || 5,489 || 45–79 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 126 || August 21 || @ Phillies || 4–7 || Hamilton (7–11) || Golden (5–11) || – || 5,489 || 45–80 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 127 || August 22 || @ Pirates || 0–3 || Sturdivant (6–3) || Brunet (1–2) || – || 10,553 || 45–81 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 128 || August 23 || @ Pirates || 0–4 || Law (10–6) || Johnson (6–14) || – || 10,742 || 45–82 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 129 || August 24 || @ Reds || 2–4 || Purkey (20–4) || Woodeshick (5–15) || – || 18,879 || 45–83 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 130 || August 25 || @ Reds || 6–7 || Jay (20–10) || Farrell (8–17) || Brosnan (10) || 12,680 || 45–84 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 131 || August 26 || @ Reds || 2–1 || Brunet (2–2) || Maloney (8–5) || – || 25,808 || 46–84 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 132 || August 26 || @ Reds || 6–4 || McMahon (4–4) || Wills (0–2) || Umbricht (1) || 25,808 || 47–84 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 133 || August 28 || @ Cardinals || 4–2 || Bruce (8–8) || Broglio (10–7) || McMahon (6) || 9,510 || 48–84 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 134 || August 29 || @ Cardinals || 3–2 || Farrell (9–17) || Gibson (15–10) || – || 8,295 || 49–84 |- |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 135 || September 1 || @ Cubs || 3–4 || Ellsworth (8–17) || McMahon (4–5) || Schultz (3) || 9,887 || 49–85 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 136 || September 2 || @ Cubs || 3–1 || McMahon (5–5) || Buhl (10–10) || – || 13,088 || 50–85 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 137 || September 3 || Phillies || 2–3 || Mahaffey (18–11) || Farrell (9–18) || – || 17,302 || 50–86 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 138 || September 3 || Phillies || 3–5 || Hamilton (8–11) || Woodeshick (5–16) || Bennett (3) || 17,302 || 50–87 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 139 || September 4 || Phillies || 4–1 || Bruce (9–8) || McLish (9–5) || – || 4,537 || 51–87 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 140 || September 5 || Pirates || 5–3 || Umbricht (1–0) || Law (10–7) || McMahon (7) || 4,593 || 52–87 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 141 || September 6 || Pirates || 4–3 || Kemmerer (3–2) || Face (8–7) || – || 5,196 || 53–87 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 142 || September 7 || Pirates || 4–2 || Golden (6–11) || Jackson (8–18) || McMahon (8) || 6,208 || 54–87 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 143 || September 8 || Mets || 4–3 || Kemmerer (4–2) || Anderson (3–17) || – || 1,638 || 55–87 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 144 || September 8 || Mets || 6–5 (10) || Umbricht (2–0) || Craig (7–23) || – || 6,568 || 56–87 |- align="center" | 145 || September 9 ||Mets || 7–7 (8) || – || – || – || 3,630 || 56–87 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 146 || September 12 || Dodgers || 0–1 || Roebuck (10–0) || Johnson (6–15) || Perranoski (19) || 28,669 || 56–88 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 147 || September 14 || @ Braves || 1–3 || Hendley (11–12) || Farrell (9–19) || – || 5,505 || 56–89 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 148 || September 15 || @ Braves || 8–9 || Nottebart (2–2) || Kemmerer (4–3) || – || 6,872 || 56–90 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 149 || September 16 || @ Braves || 4–5 || Burdette (10–9) || McMahon (5–6) || – || 5,477 || 56–91 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 150 || September 18 || @ Mets || 6–2 || Johnson (7–15) || Jackson (8–19) || – || 3,670 || 57–91 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 151 || September 18 || @ Mets || 8–6 || Drott (1–0) || Foss (0–1) || Umbricht (2) || 3,670 || 58–91 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 152 || September 20 || @ Mets || 7–2 || Golden (7–11) || Hook (8–18) || Kemmerer (3) || 1,481 || 59–91 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 153 || September 20 || @ Mets || 5–4 (12) || Kemmerer (5–3) || Daviault (1–5) || – || 1,481 || 60–91 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 154 || September 21 || Giants || 5–11 || Perry (3–1) || Brunet (2–3) || Miller (18) || 12,180 || 60–92 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 155 || September 22 || Giants || 6–5 || Umbricht (3–0) || Miller (4–8) || – || 17,125 || 61–92 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 156 || September 23 || Giants || 3–10 || O'Dell (19–13) || Bruce (9–9) || – || 9,623 || 61–93 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 157 || September 25 || @ Dodgers || 3–2 (10) || Farrell (10–19) || Roebuck (10–1) || – || 25,036 || 62–93 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 158 || September 26 || @ Dodgers || 1–13 || Podres (15–12) || Brunet (2–4) || L. Sherry (11) || 25,813 || 62–94 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 159 || September 27 || @ Dodgers || 8–6 || Umbricht (4–0) || Perranoski (6–5) || – || 29,855 || 63–94 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 160 || September 29 || @ Giants || 5–11 || Sanford (24–7) || Johnson (7–16) || Miller (19) || 26,268 || 63–95 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 161 || September 29 || @ Giants || 4–2 || Bruce (10–9) || Marichal (18–11) || – || 26,268 || 64–95 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 162 || September 30 || @ Giants || 1–2 || Miller (5–8) || Farrell (10–20) || – || 41,327 || 64–96 |-

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases Positional abbreviations: C = Catcher; 1B = First base; 2B = Second base; 3B = Third base; SS = Shortstop; LF = Left field; CF = Center field; RF = Right field

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Awards and achievements

Grand slams

Awards

• Houston Colt .45s Most Valuable Player (MVP): Bob Lillis
• Gold Glove Award—Pitcher: Bobby Shantz
• 2× MLB All-Star—Reserve pitcher Turk Farrell (Game 1, Game 2)

League leaders

;National League pitching leaders

• Earned run average (ERA): Turk Farrell — 3.02 — 7th
• Fielding independent pitching (FIP):
  • Ken Johnson — 2.80 — 2nd
  • Turk Farrell — 2.81 — 3rd
• Strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB):
  • Ken Johnson — 3.870 — 1st
  • Turk Farrell — 3.691 — 3rd
• Strikeouts (SO or K):
  • Turk Farrell — 203 — 4th
  • Ken Johnson — 178 — 6th
• Walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP): Turk Farrell — 1.097 — 2nd

Farm system

1962 minor league affiliates

Notes

;Sources

References

References

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