1973 Houston Astros season

Offseason

• November 27, 1972: Rich Chiles and Buddy Harris were traded by the Astros to the New York Mets for Tommie Agee.
• January 10, 1973: Mike Stanton was drafted by the Astros in the 1st round (5th pick) of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft (secondary phase).

Regular season

Summary

April

The Astros played Opening Day on April 6 at Atlanta Stadium, where they defeated the Braves, 2–1. In the top of the 13th inning, César Cedeño doubled home Tommy Helms for the game-winning run batted in (RBI), one of his three extra-base hits. Jimmy Wynn slammed a game-tying home run in the sixth. Astros Opening Day starter Dave Roberts lasted the first nine innings, scattered eight hits, and allowed one run.

Starting April 9, Bob Watson authored a career-high 19-game hitting streak, batting .388. The streak lasted until April 27.

The first-ever Player of the Week Award was presented for the National League by president Chub Feeney to Astros left fielder Jimmy Wynn for the week ended April 16, 1973. Considering the 11 games played since Opening Day on April 6, Wynn connected for 6 home runs, 10 RBI, one double, one triple, and had carried a batting average of .313 (15-for-48).

May

Displeased with the result of a contest on May 15, Houston GM Spec Richardson resorted to sending his message through the scoreboard of the Astrodome, blaming umpires Augie Donatelli and Bruce Froemming for blown calls in a 4–1 loss to the Atlanta Braves. He charged the missed calls changed the outcome of the game; however, this instead resulted in a $500 fine.

Down 7–0 on May 20, the San Francisco Giants came all the way back to tie, 7–7. However, a solo home run from Jimmy Wynn gave Houston an 8–7 win, while also allowing them to take sole possession of first place.

Beginning May 30, and until June 21, Lee May put together a 21-game hitting streak to set a franchise record, punctuated by his performance during the final four days from June 17–21. On June 17, May went 3-for-5, including his 1,000th career hit.

June

May also proceeded to tie the club record with three home runs in one game on June 21, on the way to career day. It was the only three-home run game and four-run contest of May's career, and his only four-hit game of the campaign. Meanwhile, Ken Forsch hurled a complete game to lead a 12–2 win over the San Diego Padres. May delivered 5 RBI and Tommy Helms also connected for a grand slam.

During the final four games of Lee's hitting streak he collected 13 RBI. Over the entirety of the steak, Lee batted .407, going 35-for-86. One curiosity emerged as Lee did not draw any bases on balls from the streak's start to finish. His record displaced Rusty Staub's 20-game streak from June 30 to July 21, 1967, and remained until surpassed by teammate César Cedeño from August 25 to September 21, 1977, when Cedeño hit in 22 contests consecutively. On June 22, 1973, the day that Lee's streak ended, he went 0-for-2 while drawing two walks.

MLB All-Star Game

Center fielder César Cedeño and left fielder Bob Watson were both recognized as MLB All-Stars, representing the Astros, while the game was hosted at Royals Stadium. Cedeño was named starter at center field, his first time as starter, first Astro to start at the position, and first All-Star Game starter from the Astros since teammate Lee May at first base during the 1972 Classic. This was the second career selection for Cedeño and first for Watson. Cedeño collected a single and an RBI in three at bats while Watson was inserted as a defensive replacement in left field as the National League defeated the American League, 7–1.

August

A harbinger of their fortunes against this moundsman, J. R. Richard chucked his first major league shutout on August 1, a 5–0 triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Shaking a deep slump,

On August 20, Richard stymied the Pittsburgh Pirates on a complete game two-hitter as Houston bombed to a 10-2 triumph. He took a no-hit bid into the seventh until Al Oliver singled with two outs By that point, Lee May had blasted a three-run shot in the bottom of the fourth and Bob Watson followed up in the fifth by launching a grand slam. Richard ended up with nine strikeouts and a game score of 81.

Performance overview

Houston concluded the season with an record, in fourth place and trailing the division-champion Reds by 17 games. Though the Astros' record slipped from a then-franchise best by two victories and from second to fourth place, the 1972–1973 campaigns distinguished the first time in franchise annals with consecutive winning seasons. This was their third season of 81 wins or more (also 1969). Moreover, the 82 wins signified a fifth consecutive season of winning a minimum of 79 bouts, after having lost 90 or more contests in each of the first seven campaigns.

Cedeño proceeded to repeat the 20–50 club for the second consecutive season, with 25 home runs and 56 stolen bases, also accomplished that year by former Houston Astros teammate Joe Morgan, then a member of the Cincinnati Reds. Cedeño became the first player in major league history to repeat over consecutive seasons. In addition, Cedeño expanded on his status as the first Astro to attain 50 stolen bases for a second campaign, during a club-record span of six consecutive seasons through 1977.

Also for the first time, the Astros headlined three Gold Glove awardees. Third baseman Doug Rader captured a third sequential to extend his club record. Cedeño was recognized among outfielders for a second season, joining Rader as Astros who had won in multiplex seasons. Meanwhile, Roger Metzger drew his first, also becoming the first Astro to win for the position of shortstop.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

• July 31, 1973: Jesús Alou was purchased from the Astros by the Oakland Athletics.
• August 18, 1973: Tommie Agee was traded by the Astros to the St. Louis Cardinals for Dave Campbell and cash.

Draft picks

• June 5, 1973: 1973 Major League Baseball draft
  • Ken Landreaux was drafted by the Astros in the 8th round, but did not sign.
  • Mike Davey was drafted by the Astros in the 18th round, but did not sign.

Roster

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

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

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

Other pitchers

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

Relief pitchers

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

Awards and achievements

Grand slams

Offensive achievements

Awards

• Gold Gloves:
  • Outfielder—César Cedeño
  • Shortstop—Roger Metzger
  • Third base—Doug Rader
• Houston Astros Most Valuable Player (MVP): Roger Metzger
• MLB All-Star Game:
  • Starting center fielder—César Cedeño
  • Reserve outfielder—Bob Watson
• NL Player of the Week–April 16: Jimmy Wynn
• The Sporting News NL All-Star—Outfielder: César Cedeño

League leaders

NL batting leaders

• Triples: Roger Metzger (14, led MLB)

NL pitching leaders

• Bases on balls allowed: Jerry Reuss (117)
• Games started: Jerry Reuss (40)

Minor league system

Notes

References

References

1. "Tommie Agee stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
2. "Mike Stanton stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
3. (April 6, 1973). "Houston Astros (2) vs Atlanta Braves (1) box score". [[Baseball Almanac]].
4. "1973 Houston Astros uniform numbers". Baseball-Reference.com.
5. (April 5, 1973). "Los Angeles Dodgers (2) vs Houston Astros (5) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
6. Smith, David. "Houston Astros hitting streaks". Astros Daily.
7. (April 17, 1973). "Jimmy Wynn is Player of Week". [[The World (Coos Bay, Oregon).
8. Schwartzberg, Seth. (May 15, 2025). "Today in Astros history - May 15". [[SB Nation]].
9. Schwartzberg, Seth. (May 20, 2025). "Today in Astros history - May 20". SB Nation.
10. "3 home runs in a game". Baseball Almanac.
11. "Top performances for Lee May". Retrosheet.
12. Schwartzberg, Seth. (June 21, 2025). "Today in Astros history - June 21". SB Nation.
13. "Houston Astros All-Star player register". Baseball-Refererence.com.
14. (July 24, 1973). "1973 All-Star Game box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
15. Hulsey, Bob. "This date in Astros history". Astros Daily.
16. "J. R. Richard 1973 pitching game logs". Baseball-Reference.com.
17. (August 1, 1973). "Los Angeles Dodgers (0) vs Houston Astros (5) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
18. (August 20, 1973). "Pittsburgh Pirates (2) vs Houston Astros (10) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
19. "1973 National League team statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
20. "Houston Astros team history & encyclopedia". Baaseball-Reference.com.
21. "César Cedeño stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
22. "Joe Morgan stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
23. "Astros history – Timeline". [[MLB.com]].
24. "Player batting season & career stats finder–baseball". Sports Reference.
25. "MLB Gold Glove Award winners—National League". Baseball-Reference.com.
26. "Jesús Alou stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
27. "Ken Landreaux stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
28. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/daveymi01.shtml Mike Davey] at ''Baseball Reference''
29. (May 6, 1973). "Houston Astros (14) vs New York Mets (8) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
30. (June 21, 1973). "Houston Astros (12) vs San Diego Padres (2) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
31. (July 4, 1973). "Houston Astros (12) vs Atlanta Braves (8) box score—Game 2". Baseball-Reference.com.
32. "Gold Glove outfielders in the National League". Baseball Almanac.
33. "Gold Glove shortstops". Baseball Almanac.
34. "Gold Glove third basemen". Baseball Almanac.
35. McTaggart, Brian. (December 21, 2009). "Bourn highlights Astros' awards season". MLB.com.
36. "MLB Players of the Week Awards". Baseball-Reference.com.