1980 Houston Astros season

Offseason

• October 12, 1979: Signed pitcher J. R. Richard to a four-year extension.
• October 26, 1979: Keith Drumright was sent by the Astros to the Kansas City Royals as the player to be named later to conclude the exchange started on April 27, 1979, in which the Astros received George Throop from Kansas City.
• November 19, 1979: Nolan Ryan was signed as a free agent by the Astros, for four seasons at $4 million total. Thus, Ryan become baseball's first million-dollar player.
• January 31, 1980: Joe Morgan was signed as a free agent by the Astros. A reunion for the two sides, Morgan made his major league debut with the Colt .45s in 1963 and patrolled second base for them through the 1971 campaign.
• February 21, 1980: Frank Riccelli was released by the Astros.

Regular season

Summary

Opening Day

On April 10, the Astros hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers for Opening Day, with J. R. Richard serving as the starting pitcher for the Astros. Richard carried a personal 11-game winning streak over Los Angeles into the start. Leadoff hitter and the first batter of the season for Houston Terry Puhl cranked a home run in the bottom of the first inning. In the bottom of the second, José Cruz replicated Puhl's feat with a home run leading off, and later that frame, Alan Ashby singled home Art Howe to stake Houston to a 3–0 lead.

Meanwhile, Richard (1–0) started the new campaign in style by assembling a bid for a perfect game as the Dodgers took their at bat for the top of the seventh frame. He struck out Davey Lopes to retire the 19th consecutive batter and first of the seventh. Rookie Rudy Law then stroked a clean single to right field to simultaneously end perfect game and no-hit bids.

Rest of April

Homerless the year prior, on April 11, Craig Reynolds belted his first of the year on an offering from Don Stanhouse leading off the eighth to ignite a five-run rally. This is enough to topple Los Angeles. Making his major league debut, Dave Smith earned the win in relief. During the eighth inning rally, Luis Pujols singled in two runs with the bases loaded, while Enos Cabell scored on the same play via an error, and Art Howe followed by doubling in Pujols.

In his debut as a Houston Astro on April 12, Nolan Ryan slugged a three-run home off Don Sutton of the Dodgers for the first of his major league career. The shot also accounted for half of the runs batted in (RBI) Ryan would accumulate that year. Though the blast gave Houston the lead, it did not hold as the game went all the way to 17 innings before Los Angeles claimed a 6–5 triumph.

On April 15, Joe Niekro tossed a six-hit complete game victory over the Atlanta Braves, leading a 6–2 Astros win. His first win of the season, Niekro surrendered no bases on balls while striking out 6.

Richard fired a one-hitter of the Dodgers on April 19 in a 12-strikeout performance, notching his 13th consecutive triumph against the club. The lone hit surrendered to the Dodgers was an infield single by Reggie Smith during the fourth inning,

Ryan captured his first victory in an Astros uniform on April 22, leading an 8–0 shutout of the Cincinnati Reds at the Astrodome.He surrendered six hits, issued six walks, and whiffed seven over seven frames. Meanwhile José Cruz cranked three hits, including a double and a triple, while finishing a home run short of hitting for the cycle.This was also Cruz' fifth career bout of five runs batted in (RBI) or more.

Following a stellar month of April, J. R. Richard earned National League (NL) Pitcher of the Month honors. It was also his second consecutive accolade, dating to September at the conclusion of the 1979 season. During five April starts, Richard went 4–0, 1.67 earned run average (ERA), and induced 48 whiffs over innings pitched (IP). Additionally, he suppressed hitters' success to a .104 batting average against (BAA) while limiting baserunners to a 0.717 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) and no home runs surrendered.

May

With a 4–2 win on May 3, Astros manager Bill Virdon earned win number 356 as manager to take over the all-time franchise lead. The victory over the St. Louis Cardinals allowed Virdon to surpass Harry Walker, who led the club from 1968 to 1972.

Following a near-four hour rain delay on May 6 at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, the Astros left 8–4 winners over the Expos. José Cruz furnished four runs batted in (RBI) to propel the Astros' victory.

On May 18, Ryan hurtled both his first shutout and double-digit strikeout performance as an Astro, while reversing a personal three-game losing streak.

June—early July

In a 3–0 shutout of the Chicago Cubs on June 11, Astros starter J. R. Richard extended a scoreless innings streak to . The win capped the first-ever homestand sweep for the Astros after having swept 3 games each in series against the San Francisco Giants and Cubs. Richard's streak broke the franchise record, which stood until September 11, 2008, when Roy Oswalt went to innings after a 6–0 shutout win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Despite battling the flu, on June 16, Nolan Ryan hurled seven one-hit innings before reliever Joe Sambito closed out a 2–0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals' only hit was a double in the third inning. Offensively, José Cruz plated both of the Astros' runs.

Richard yielded his first two home runs of the season on July 3 to the Atlanta Braves—which would also be the final two served of his career—hence, commencing the season without having surrendered any over the first 110 innings. Dale Murphy and Chris Chambliss took Richard deep back-to-back with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, for the first since Ray Knight on September 21, 1979. The Astros won, 5–3, and Richard obtained his 10th victory of the season, which would be the concluding of his career as well.

Nolan Ryan's 3,000th strikeout

At Riverfront Stadium on July 4, Ryan became the fourth pitcher in major league history to record 3,000 strikeouts, joining Walter Johnson, Gaylord Perry, and Bob Gibson. During the bottom of the second inning, César Gerónimo of the Cincinnati Reds whiffed on a high inside fastball for the right-hander's historic marker. However, Cincinnati prevailed, 8–1. Over four innings, Ryan fanned six but walked seven.

Gerónimo was Ryan's third victim of the evening. In the first inning, Ken Griffey Sr. and Dan Driessen whiffed. In the second, Ray Knight worked a base on balls to turn over to Gerónimo. The center fielder fouled off an offering, took a ball, took a strike, then was retired swinging. The game momentarily paused as catcher Alan Ashby presented the ball to Ryan while 37,047 onlookers acknowledged the accomplishment with a standing ovation.

Ryan concluded the outing with 3,003 strikeouts, but with 1,173 bases on balls. His 13-year career record stood at 172–165.

MLB All-Star Game

J. R. Richard was named the starting pitcher for the National League at the 51st All-Star Game, hosted at Dodger Stadium. There, Richard owned a career 7–2 record, and, on the season going into the break, had produced a 10–4 record, 1.96 ERA and 115 punchouts in frames. Richard became the Astros' first-ever pitcher to start an All-Star Game. He proceeded to toss two scoreless innings, fanned three hitters while navigating nine total batters faced. He also surrendered one hit and issued two bases on balls.

Cruz was also an All-Star selectee but did not enter the contest. The NL squad prevailed, 4–2.

Rest of July—August

Richard made what turned out to be his final major league appearance on July 14 at the Astrodome, hosting the Braves. He departed during the top of the fourth inning having surrendered just 1 hit to a scoreless tie. Richard doubled off Phil Niekro his final plate appearance leading off the bottom of the third, but Niekro came back to strike out the side, retiring Landestoy, Leonard and Cruz. During the top of the fourth, Richard issued a walk to Dale Murphy, who was leading off, then induced Chambliss to hit into a groundball force out. Chambliss would be Richard's final major league batter faced. Gordie Pladson relieved and proceeded to toss innings. The Braves scored first, when Bruce Benedict doubled in Jeff Burroughs in the top of the fifth off Pladson. In the seventh, Bob Horner took Pladson deep. The Astros could not muster any offense, however, dropping the contest, 2–0.

Niekro went 3-for-3 while batting on July 27 to lead a 6–3 triumph over the Montreal Expos and pick up his 11th victory of the season.

While working out at the Astrodome on July 30, J. R. Richard collapsed from stroke. Rushed to Houston Methodist Hospital, surgical intervention saved his life. His distracted teammates dropped the contest, 6–4, later that day to the Phillies. Following recovery, Richard would never regain the coordination required to resume his playing career.

Richard, who at that point had realized full control over his arsenal, had finished the 1979 campaign as the league leader with fewest hits per nine innings surrendered (6.8 H/9) and highest strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.19 K/BB).

With the contest on August 23 so far having gone scoreless, Niekro entered and took the mound in the 16th inning versus the Chicago Cubs.

September—October

On September 6, Art Howe's eighth consecutive hit, a two-run single, matched the club record and paced a 9–5 triumph over St. Louis during the first game of a doubleheader. Pitcher Joe Niekro chipped in two hits with a double. Cruz' blast, off John Martin in third inning, ignited the crucial margin for victory in a 6-4 final for the twinbill sweep which drew the Astros to within one game of the NL West-leading Dodgers. Vern Ruhle, who went the distance for the second game, continued his emergence as a clutch performer in place of J. R. Richard after his stroke to fuel the Astros in the pennant race.

Cruz blasted an extra innings, walk-off home run on September 10 off Rick Sutcliffe to cap a furious 6–5 final over Los Angeles, pulling the two clubs into a tie for first place in the NL West. The drive redeemed two previous Astros runners who were cut down attempting to score, while Cruz had stoked two rallies in regulation to bring the contest to a 3–3 tie. César Cedeño clustered four hits;

Joe Morgan stung his former club on September 18 with a tie-breaking two-run home run, punctuating a 10–2 beatdown of Cincinnati.

On September 21, Vern Ruhle heaved innings pitched of a no-hit bid to grasp a 5–1 win in San Francisco while reclaiming the division lead from the Dodgers. Jim Wohlford desisted the bid but Ruhle (10–4) could not be halted from polishing off a complete game three-hitter to outduel Vida Blue, and post a game score of 81. Art Howe homered and Gary Woods drove in two for Houston.

Ruhle tossed a crucial four-hit, 2–0 shutout of Cincinnati on September 26 to move Houston to two games ahead of the Dodgers for the division lead. The following day, Niekro teamed with Dave Smith to author yet another 2–0 victory of Cincinnati. equaling the prior year's edition for most in franchise history.

On October 1, Ruhle shot his third consecutive complete game to up his record to 12–4 as Terry Puhl stroked a bases-loaded double to key a 5–2 triumph over Atlanta. Following a 3–2 victory over the Braves on October 2, the Astros accrued one of the largest divisional leads that they had held all season, going up 3 games on Los Angeles prior to voyaging to Dodger Stadium in a rematch for the final series of the regular season.

However, the Astros lost each of their final three regular-season games to the Dodgers to fall back into a tie for first place in the NL West on the final day of the regular season.

Hence, a tie-breaker was scheduled for October 6, also at Dodger Stadium, as an addendum to the regular season to determine the division winner and NL West club who would qualify for the playoffs.

NL West tie-breaker game

To secure their first-ever playoff entrance, the Astros commissioned Joe Niekro as starting pitcher for the tie-breaker game on October 6. This additional regular season contest ceded Niekro another opportunity at a personal milestone, as he had concluded the original 162-game gamut with 19 victories. Niekro delivered, leading the Astros to a 7–1 triumph via a complete game six-hitter, while unlocking his 20th win.

Hence, the Astros finally claimed both their first division title and first playoff berth. However, Astros catcher Alan Ashby sustained a rib fracture in a violent collision at home plate during the fourth inning with the knee of his counterpart Joe Ferguson. The injury forced Ashby to miss any remaining action for the season, including the National League Championship Series (NLCS).

Performance overview

The wait was over: during their 19th season in 1980 the Astros qualified for the first-ever playoff tournament in franchise history.

With their 93rd regular-season victory, the Astros established yet another then-club record for wins, having just superseded that achievement the season prior. This record held for just six seasons, until another playoff charge in 1986.

As a team, the Astros golfed 67 triples, usurping the club record of 60 set in 1977. This Astros team also formerly held the stolen base record with 194, having surpassed the record of 190 set just the year before, until 1988.

After going 21–11 in 1979, Joe Niekro followed up with a 20–12 record to became the first Houston Astro to produce back-to-back 20 game-winning seasons. Niekro augmented his performance at the plate by batting .275 (22-for-80), with 5 doubles, 10 RBI, 4 bases on balls and 18 sacrifice hits, the latter of which ranked second in the league.

Nolan Ryan led the major leagues in walks (98) to extend his major-league record to a seventh season, and for the first time as a National Leaguer. As a member of the California Angels, Ryan had already broken the American League record with six, from 1972–1974, and 1976–1978.

Left fielder José Cruz was recognized with the Houston Astros' team Most Valuable Player Award (MVP), the second time receiving this honor since his performance during the 1977 campaign. Cruz became the second repeat winner, joining Rusty Staub in 1966 and 1967.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Roster

Game log

Regular season

|-style="background:#cfc;" | 1 || April 10 || 7:35p.m. CST || Dodgers || W 3–2 || Richard (1–0) || Hooton (0–1) || Sambito (1) || 2:03 || 33,270 || 1–0 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 2 || April 11 || 7:35p.m. CST || Dodgers || W 10–6 || Smith (1–0) || Stanhouse (0–1) || – || 2:58 || 30,701 || 2–0 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 3 || April 12 || 3:15p.m. CST || Dodgers || L 5–6 (17) || Howe (1–0) || Smith (1–1) || Hooton (1) || 5:35 || 24,609 || 2–1 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 4 || April 13 || 2:05p.m. CST || Dodgers || W 4–2 || Forsch (1–0) || Goltz (0–1) || LaCorte (1) || 2:19 || 33,676 || 3–1 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 5 || April 14 || 7:35p.m. CST || Braves || W 5–4 || Sambito (1–0) || Garber (0–1) || – || 3:15 || 15,017 || 4–1 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 6 || April 15 || 7:35p.m. CST || Braves || W 6–2 || Niekro (1–0) || McWilliams (0–2) || – || 2:14 || 15,712 || 5–1 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 7 || April 17 || 3:00p.m. CST || @ Dodgers || L 4–6 || Reuss (1–0) || Smith (1–2) || – || 3:06 || 45,476 || 5–2 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 8 || April 18 || 9:30p.m. CST || @ Dodgers || W 7–4 || Forsch (2–0) || Goltz (0–2) || Andújar (1) || 3:20 || 41,112 || 6–2 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 9 || April 19 || 9:00p.m. CST || @ Dodgers || W 2–0 || Richard (2–0) || Welch (0–1) || – || 2:40 || 50,112 || 7–2 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 10 || April 20 || 3:00p.m. CST || @ Dodgers || L 2–4 || Reuss (2–0) || Niekro (1–1) || – || 2:27 || 39,442 || 7–3 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 11 || April 21 || 7:35p.m. CST || Reds || L 5–6 || LaCoss (3–0) || Ruhle (0–1) || Hume (3) || 3:09 || 29,067 || 7–4 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 12 || April 22 || 7:35p.m. CST || Reds || W 8–0 || Ryan (1–0) || Pastore (2–1) || – || 2:45 || 30,094 || 8–4 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 13 || April 23 || 7:35p.m. CST || Reds || L 2–3 (12) || Hume (2–0) || Andújar (0–1) || Bair (1) || 3:39 || 29,828 || 8–5 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 14 || April 25 || 7:35p.m. CST || Mets || W 7–4 || Richard (3–0) || Falcone (1–1) || – || 2:52 || 24,140 || 9–5 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 15 || April 26 || 7:35p.m. CST || Mets || W 6–0 || Niekro (2–1) || Glynn (0–1) || LaCorte (2) || 2:42 || 44,540 || 10–5 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 16 || April 27 || 2:05p.m. CDT || Mets || W 4–3 (12) || LaCorte (1–0) || Allen (0–3) || – || 3:37 || 20,828 || 11–5 || W3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 17 || April 29 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Reds || W 3–0 || Forsch (3–0) || Leibrandt (1–2) || – || 2:14 || 18,092 || 12–5 || W4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 18 || April 30 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Reds || W 5–1 || Richard (4–0) || Seaver (1–1) || – || 2:21 || 19,821 || 13–5 || W5 |- |-style="background:#cfc;" | 19 || May 1 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Reds || W 9–3 || Niekro (3–1) || LaCoss (3–2) || – || 3:00 || 18,215 || 14–5 || W6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 20 || May 2 || 7:38p.m. CDT || @ Cardinals || L 1–9 || Hood (1–1) || Ryan (1–1) || Kaat (1) || 2:39 || 23,009 || 14–6 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 21 || May 3 || 7:10p.m. CDT || @ Cardinals || W 4–2 || Ruhle (1–1) || Martínez (1–2) || Sambito (2) || 2:10 || 23,292 || 15–6 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 22 || May 4 || 1:19p.m. CDT || @ Cardinals || W 4–2 || Forsch (4–0) || Sykes (1–3) || LaCorte (3) || 2:37 || 17,262 || 16–6 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 23 || May 5 || 12:35p.m. CDT || @ Expos || L 1–10 || Palmer (1–0) || Richard (4–1) || – || 2:41 || 5,477 || 16–7 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 24 || May 6 || 12:35p.m. CDT || @ Expos || W 8–4 || Niekro (4–1) || Grimsley (1–2) || – || 2:33 || 5,503 || 17–7 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 25 || May 7 || 12:35p.m. CDT || @ Expos || L 0–3 || Sanderson (2–2) || Ryan (1–2) || Fryman (3) || 2:29 || 7,386 || 17–8 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 26 || May 9 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || L 4–5 || McWilliams (2–2) || Forsch (4–1) || Bradford (1) || 2:21 || 11,111 || 17–9 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 27 || May 10 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || W 3–2 (11) || LaCorte (2–0) || Garber (1–2) || Sambito (3) || 3:15 || 13,798 || 18–9 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 28 || May 11 || 1:15p.m. CDT || @ Braves || L 4–7 || Niekro (2–4) || Niekro (4–2) || – || 2:25 || 10,871 || 18–10 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 29 || May 13 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Expos || L 2–3 || Palmer (2–0) || Ryan (1–3) || – || 2:42 || 24,835 || 18–11 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 30 || May 14 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Expos || L 0–1 || Sanderson (3–2) || Forsch (4–2) || Fryman (5) || 2:19 || 20,636 || 18–12 || L3 |-style="background:#fcc;" |-style="background:#fcc;" |-style="background:#cfc;" |-style="background:#cfc;" | 34 || May 20 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Mets || W 3–2 || Forsch (5–2) || Swan (2–3) || – || 2:29 || 8,466 || 20–14 || W2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 35 || May 21 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Mets || L 1–5 || Falcone (3–2) || Richard (4–3) || Allen (7) || 2:37 || 4,233 || 20–15 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 36 || May 22 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Mets || W 8–5 || Niekro (5–3) || Kobel (0–4) || LaCorte (4) || 2:55 || 7,812 || 21–15 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" |-style="background:#fcc;" |-style="background:#fcc;" |-style="background:#cfc;" | 40 || May 26 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Padres || W 4–1 || Richard (5–3) || Curtis (3–4) || Sambito (4) || 2:59 || 18,242 || 22–18 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 41 || May 27 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Padres || W 4–3 || LaCorte (3–0) || Fingers (5–5) || – || 2:47 || 18,246 || 23–18 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 42 || May 28 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Padres || W 1–0 || Ryan (3–4) || Wise (2–3) || – || 2:30 || 19,697 || 24–18 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 43 || May 30 || 9:38p.m. CDT || @ Giants || L 2–3 || Blue (8–2) || Forsch (5–4) || – || 2:19 || 10,511 || 24–19 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 44 || May 31 || 3:09p.m. CDT || @ Giants || W 5–0 || Richard (6–3) || Montefusco (2–4) || – || 2:15 || 11,649 || 25–19 || W1 |- |-style="background:#fcc;" | 45 || June 1 || 3:09p.m. CDT || @ Giants || L 2–6 || Knepper (4–6) || Niekro (5–4) || – || 2:35 || 19,801 || 25–20 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 46 || June 2 || 9:00p.m. CDT || @ Padres || L 0–3 || Wise (3–3) || Ryan (3–5) || Rasmussen (1) || 2:16 || 27,176 || 25–21 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 47 || June 3 || 9:00p.m. CDT || @ Padres || W 3–2 || Ruhle (2–1) || Jones (4–4) || LaCorte (5) || 2:20 || 12,363 || 26–21 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 48 || June 4 || 9:00p.m. CDT || @ Padres || W 4–3 || Forsch (6–4) || Fingers (5–6) || Sambito (5) || 2:27 || 13,619 || 27–21 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 49 || June 6 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Giants || W 2–0 || Richard (7–3) || Knepper (4–7) || – || 2:02 || 26,822 || 28–21 || W3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 50 || June 7 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Giants || W 3–0 || Niekro (6–4) || Whitson (2–7) || – || 2:05 || 42,263 || 29–21 || W4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 51 || June 8 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Giants || W 5–4 || Sambito (2–0) || Minton (2–3) || – || 2:30 || 28,327 || 30–21 || W5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 52 || June 9 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Cubs || W 6–2 || Forsch (7–4) || Lamp (6–2) || – || 2:31 || 19,022 || 31–21 || W6 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 53 || June 10 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Cubs || W 5–2 || Ruhle (3–1) || Krukow (3–7) || – || 2:22 || 21,201 || 32–21 || W7 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 54 || June 11 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Cubs || W 3–0 || Richard (8–3) || Reuschel (5–6) || – || 2:18 || 31,599 || 33–21 || W8 |-style="background:#bbb;" |–|| June 12 || || Cubs || colspan=8 | Postponed (Schedule change) (Makeup date: June 9) |-style="background:#fcc;" | 55 || June 13 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || L 3–5 || Solomon (4–0) || Niekro (6–5) || Tekulve (9) || 2:35 || 31,854 || 33–22 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 56 || June 14 || 6:05p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || W 7–3 || Ryan (4–5) || Robinson (2–2) || LaCorte (6) || 3:08 || 33,922 || 34–22 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 57 || June 15 || 12:35p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || L 1–4 || Candelaria (4–5) || Forsch (7–5) || – || 2:08 || 49,541 || 34–23 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 58 || June 16 || 1:30p.m. CDT || @ Cubs || W 2–1 || Ruhle (4–1) || Hernández (1–5) || Smith (1) || 2:35 || 15,289 || 35–23 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 59 || June 17 || 1:30p.m. CDT || @ Cubs || W 7–1 || Richard (9–3) || McGlothen (3–4) || Andújar (2) || 2:54 || 19,480 || 36–23 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 60 || June 18 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Cardinals || W 3–0 || Niekro (7–5) || Kaat (1–4) || – || 2:08 || 24,459 || 37–23 || W3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 61 || June 19 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Cardinals || W 2–0 || Ryan (5–5) || Sykes (1–6) || Sambito (6) || 2:02 || 24,663 || 38–23 || W4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 62 || June 20 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Pirates || W 6–4 || Forsch (8–5) || Candelaria (4–6) || Sambito (7) || 2:14 || 35,955 || 39–23 || W5 |-style="background:#cfc;"tps://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1980/B06200HOU1980.htm | 63 || June 21 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Pirates || W 4–2 || Ruhle (5–1) || Blyleven (2–7) || Sambito (8) || 2:30 || 45,867 || 40–23 || W6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 64 || June 22 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Pirates || L 1–2 || Bibby (8–1) || Niekro (7–6) || Jackson (3) || 2:33 || 46,213 || 40–24 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 65 || June 23 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Dodgers || L 0–3 || Sutcliffe (2–4) || Andújar (0–3) || – || 2:29 || 29,753 || 40–25 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 66 || June 24 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Dodgers || W 5–4 (12) || LaCorte (4–0) || Beckwith (3–1) || – || 4:13 || 34,388 || 41–25 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 67 || June 25 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Dodgers || L 2–9 || Welch (8–2) || Forsch (8–6) || – || 2:50 || 34,416 || 41–26 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 68 || June 27 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Reds || W 5–4 || Niekro (8–6) || Pastore (9–4) || Sambito (9) || 2:31 || 36,648 || 42–26 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 69 || June 28 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Reds || L 5–8 || Price (1–0) || Richard (9–4) || Hume (11) || 3:08 || 44,025 || 42–27 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 70 || June 29 || 5:00p.m. CDT || Reds || W 12–10 || LaCorte (5–0) || Soto (0–3) || Sambito (10) || 3:20 || 38,408 || 43–27 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 71 || June 30 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || L 4–5 (11) || Hrabosky (4–1) || Sambito (2–1) || – || 2:53 || 8,208 || 43–28 || L1 |- |-style="background:#fcc;" | 72 || July 1 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || L 4–13 || Alexander (6–3) || Niekro (8–7) || – || 2:47 || 9,546 || 43–29 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 73 || July 2 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || L 0–14 || Niekro (6–10) || Ruhle (5–2) || – || 2:27 || 21,908 || 43–30 || L3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 74 || July 3 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Braves || W 4–3 || Richard (10–4) || Boggs (3–4) || LaCorte (7) || 2:44 || 15,769 || 44–30 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 75 || July 4 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Reds || L 1–8 || Leibrandt (8–4) || Ryan (5–6) || – || 2:42 || 37,047 || 44–31 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 76 || July 5 (1) || 4:37p.m. CDT || @ Reds || L 6–8 || Soto (1–3) || Forsch (8–7) || – || 2:46 || N/A || 44–32 || L2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 77 || July 5 (2) || 7:58p.m. CDT || @ Reds || L 2–3 || LaCoss (5–7) || Andújar (0–4) || Hume (12) || 2:34 || 44,083 || 44–33 || L3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 78 || July 6 || 1:15p.m. CDT || @ Reds || W 3–2 || Niekro (9–7) || Pastore (10–5) || LaCorte (8) || 2:37 || 30,045 || 45–33 || W1 |-style=background:#bbbfff |-style="background:#fcc;" | 79 || July 10 || 9:30p.m. CDT || @ Dodgers || L 3–4 || Howe (3–4) || Ryan (5–7) || – || 2:52 || 49,692 || 45–34 || L1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 80 || July 11 || 7:10p.m. CDT || @ Dodgers || L 2–3 || Reuss (10–2) || Forsch (8–8) || Howe (8) || 2:30 || 42,754 || 45–35 || L2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 81 || July 12 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Braves || W 9–5 || Niekro (10–8) || McWilliams (5–6) || Smith (2) || 2:54 || 38,610 || 46–35 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 82 || July 13 (1) || 5:35p.m. CDT || Braves || W 6–5 || Sambito (3–1) || Garber (2–5) || LaCorte (9) || 2:48 || N/A || 47–35 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 83 || July 13 (2) || 8:58p.m. CDT || Braves || W 6–1 || Ruhle (6–2) || Boggs (3–5) || – || 2:28 || 31,230 || 48–35 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 84 || July 14 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Braves || L 0–2 || Niekro (7–11) || Pladson (0–1) || – || 2:19 || 20,247 || 48–36 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" |-style="background:#fcc;" |-style="background:#fcc;" |-style="background:#fcc;" | 88 || July 18 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Expos || L 4–5 (11) || Fryman (4–4) || Smith (1–3) || Norman (4) || 3:24 || 26,389 || 49–39 || L3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 89 || July 19 (1) || 5:35p.m. CDT || Expos || W 4–2 || Andújar (1–4) || Lea (2–4) || Smith (3) || 2:44 || 40,499 || 50–39 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 90 || July 19 (2) || 8:54p.m. CDT || Expos || L 2–5 || Gullickson (1–2) || Pladson (0–2) || – || 2:35 || 39,507 || 50–40 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 91 || July 20 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Expos || W 4–3 || Sambito (5–1) || Norman (0–1) || – || 2:16 || 28,513 || 51–40 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 92 || July 21 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Mets || W 3–2 || LaCorte (6–1) || Allen (4–6) || – || 2:23 || 20,548 || 52–40 || W2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 93 || July 22 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Mets || W 6–5 || Roberge (1–0) || Glynn (3–3) || Smith (4) || 3:02 || 26,815 || 53–40 || W3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 94 || July 23 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Mets || L 3–4 || Reardon (5–5) || LaCorte (6–1) || Allen (16) || 2:44 || 30,236 || 53–41 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 95 || July 25 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Expos || W 9–8 || LaCorte (7–1) || Sosa (5–4) || – || 3:31 || 50,217 || 54–41 || W1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 96 || July 26 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Expos || L 1–2 (12) || Sahnsen (7–4) || LaCorte (7–2) || – || 3:46 || 42,400 || 54–42 || L1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 97 || July 27 || 12:35p.m. CDT || @ Expos || W 6–3 || Niekro (11–8) || Lee (3–5) || Smith (5) || 3:02 || 41,107 || 55–42 || W1 |-style="background:#cfc;" |-style="background:#fcc;"

Detailed records

Postseason game log

|-style="background:#fcc;" |-style="background:#cfc;" |-style="background:#cfc;" |-style="background:#fcc;"

Composite box

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; S0 = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

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

National League Championship Series

Main article: 1980 National League Championship Series

Game 1

October 7: Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

Ken Forsch started the first-ever playoff game in Astros history.

Game 2

October 8: Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

Game 3

October 10: Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game 4

October 11: Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game 5

October 12: Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game 5 capped the series in fitting fashion, with seemingly endless surprises and excitement. The Astros jumped to an early lead in the first on a run-scoring double by José Cruz. Philadelphia bounced back to take the lead on a two-run single by Bob Boone in the second. The Astros saw Luis Pujols and Enos Cabell thrown out at the plate in the second and fifth, but finally broke through to tie the game 2–2 on an unearned run in the sixth, thanks to an error by Philadelphia's less than surehanded left fielder Greg Luzinski.

Houston took what seemed like a solid 5–2 lead in the seventh on an RBI single by Denny Walling, a wild pitch from Phillies reliever Larry Christenson, and a run-scoring triple by Art Howe. A three-run deficit in the eighth inning against Nolan Ryan seemed insurmountable. But the Phillies would not die. They loaded the bases with nobody out on three straight singles, including two infield hits, and then got two runs on a walk to Pete Rose and a groundout by Keith Moreland. An RBI single by Del Unser tied the game 5–5, and then Manny Trillo put the Phillies ahead with a two-run triple.

The Astros promptly came back to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, with Rafael Landestoy and José Cruz each singling in a run. Neither team scored in the ninth, but the Phillies got doubles from Unser and Garry Maddox in the tenth to take an 8–7 lead. Philadelphia's Dick Ruthven retired the Astros in order in the bottom of the tenth, and the Phillies had won their first pennant since 1950. They went on to defeat the Kansas City Royals four games to two in the World Series.

Composite Box

1980 National League Championship Series (3–2): Philadelphia Phillies over Houston Astros

Awards and achievements

Grand slams

Awards

• Associated Press (AP) All-Star—Outfielder: César Cedeño
• Houston Astros Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award: José Cruz
• MLB All-Star Game:
  • Starting pitcher—J. R. Richard
  • Reserve outfielder—José Cruz
• National League (NL) Pitcher of the Month—April: J. R. Richard
• NL Player of the Week:—August 24: Joe Sambito
• The Sporting News Executive of the Year: Tal Smith
• The Sporting News Manager of the Year: Bill Virdon
• The Sporting News NL All-Star—Outfielder: César Cedeño

League leaders

• Bases on balls (batting): Joe Morgan (93)
• Bases on balls (pitching): Nolan Ryan (98)

Minor league system

References

;Footnotes

;Sources

References

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8. "1980 Houston Astros uniform numbers". Baseball-Reference.com.
9. Bush, Frederick C.. (April 10, 1980). "Astros’ J. R. Richard flirts with perfection on Opening Day". [[Society for American Baseball Research]] (SABR).
10. (April 10, 1980). "Los Angeles Dodgers (2) vs Houston Astros (3) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
11. "Houston Astros Opening Day starters". Baseball-Reference.com.
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