1983 Houston Astros season

Offseason

• December 10, 1982: Danny Heep was traded by the Astros to the New York Mets for Mike Scott.
• January 11, 1983: Troy Afenir was drafted by the Astros in the 1st round (11th pick) of the 1983 Major League Baseball draft (secondary phase).
• March 31, 1983: Alan Knicely was traded by the Astros to the Cincinnati Reds for Bill Dawley and Tony Walker.

Regular season

Summary

April

Reprising Opening Day just two seasons prior, the Astros hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers, as Houston featured right-hander Joe Niekro to oppose southpaw Fernando Valenzuela. The 16 runs surrendered on Opening Day was the season-most for runs allowed for the Astros. It also oriented their longest losing streak of the season, at nine games.

On April 17, Nolan Ryan struck out Andre Dawson for the 3500th strikeout in his career.

Nolan Ryan's career record-breaking strikeout

On April 27, Ryan struck out Brad Mills of the Expos to break Walter Johnson's all time mark for strikeouts in a career. Mills was the 3,509th strikeout of Ryan's career.

Ryan pitched eight innings overall. Alan Ashby served as Ryan's batterymate. Frank LaCorte closed out the ninth for the save.

May

Right-hander Mike Scott debuted for Houston on May 6, a start in which he tossed four scoreless innings but yielded five walks to the Atlanta Braves. Frank DiPino (1–1), who finished the bout by tossing five perfect innings and whiffed five, earned the victory in relief as Houston won, 6–0. DiPino also hit an RBI double during the top of sixth inning. Omar Moreno collected four hits, three RBI, and a stolen base, while Dickie Thon tallied three hits, two stolen bases, and scored twice.

June

On June 4, Alan Ashby homered twice, doubled and had six runs batted in (RBI) to back Mike Scott, who earned his first win as a Houston Astro. The final score was 13–0 over the Cincinnati Reds. Scott went the distance to simultaneously to garner his first complete game and shutout as an Astro.

Nolan Ryan went the distance on June 12, differentiated as the first complete game of his career without having issued any base on balls, and collectively, the power pitcher's 167th complete game. Ryan tossed a five-hit, 2–0 shutout masterpiece of the San Diego Padres in which he induced 11 whiffs and earned a game score of 88. Bill Doran plated Ashby with a single during the bottom of the second, and, in the third, Cruz doubled in Thon, who had two hits. Puhl also added two hits.

Shortstop Dickie Thon homered twice off Padres starter Eric Show on June 17. This generated enough offense for Ryan, as he struck out six in a 4–1 win. Ryan also ended the contest just one strikeout behind Philadelphia Phillies starter Steve Carlton for the all-time strikeout race.

July

On July 10, Cruz collected his 10th career four-hit game, slashing two doubles with two RBI. This was his first four-hit game of the season. Cruz doubled twice, scored twice, and drove in two, but the New York Mets overcame Houston, 7–5. Terry Puhl added three hits while Thon and Phil Garner each had two. Darryl Strawberry hit his ninth home run for New York.

On July 22, Cruz was 4-for-5 for his 11th career four-hit game and second of the campaign. He also scored twice.

August

On August 11, José Cruz went 2-for-4—including a triple—and produced his first game of the season with at least four RBI.

On August 15, Cruz went 3-for-5 and launched his fifth career multi-home run game, and his sixth career with 5 RBI.

José Cruz originated a career-best 29-game on-base streak from the nightcap of a doubleheader on August 23 until September 23. During the streak, Cruz hit for a .364 batting average, .412 on-base percentage (OBP) and .477 slugging percentage (SLG), garnering 39 hits and 9 bases on balls (BB).

September

On September 13, José Cruz received a hit by pitch for the seventh time—third as an Astro—and final time in his major league career.

Cruz collected four hits on September 16, his third four-hit contest of the campaign, and 12th of his career.

On September 18, Cruz posted his 14th career contest with at least three walks, otherwise going 0-for-2.

On September 20, Cruz realized his third career six-RBI game, going 2-for-3 with an intentional base on balls. which only got things warmed up as Houston ran away with a 15–2 drubbing of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Denny Walling also had a big game, going 3-for-5 with three RBI, and doubled twice. Nolan Ryan (14–8) allowed four hits and two runs over six innings with seven strikeouts, and Jeff Heathcock closed out the last three innings for his first save.

Performance overview

Houston concluded the 1983 season with an record, in third place in the NL West divions and six games behind the division-champion Dodgers. The Astros also had the fourth-best record in the National League. For the third instance in franchise annals, the club reached the 85-win threshold (previously, the 1979 and 1980 squads), and for the fifth time, a .525 winning percentage—including the former, along with the 1972 and 1981 strike-shortened campaigns. Moreover, since 1972, this was the eighth campaign with a record at .500 or above.

Left fielder José Cruz remained in contention for the batting championship until the final day, winding up third. Cruz led the National League in hits (189), becoming the first Astro to accomplish this feat.

For the seventh time, an Astros pitcher claimed the title for hits per nine innings surrendered: Nolan Ryan at 6.143 H/9. The major league leader in this category for the third consecutive season (all as an Astro), Ryan followed Don Wilson in 1971 (6.549 H/9), and J. R. Richard (thrice—6.835 in 1976, 6.278 in 1978, and 6.773 in 1979).

Cruz and Thon both won their first career Silver Slugger Awards for their respective positions, while becoming the first Astros to receive the honor.

Moreover, Cruz won his third Houston Astros' team Most Valuable Player Award (MVP), having previously received the honor for the 1977 and 1980 campaigns. As a third-time winner, Cruz surpassed Rusty Staub for the club record, who won in 1966 and 1967.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

• June 6, 1983: Robbie Wine was drafted by the Astros in the 1st round (8th pick) of the 1983 Major League Baseball draft.
• June 17, 1983: Danny Boone was released by the Astros.

Roster

Game log

Regular season

|-style="background:#fcc;" | 1 || April 5 || || Dodgers |-style="background:#fcc;" | 2 || April 6 || || Dodgers |-style="background:#fcc;" | 3 || April 7 || || Pirates |-style="background:#fcc;" | 4 || April 8 || || Pirates |-style="background:#fcc;" | 5 || April 9 || || Pirates |-style="background:#fcc;" | 6 || April 10 || || Pirates |-style="background:#fcc;" | 7 || April 11 || || @ Dodgers |-style="background:#fcc;" | 8 || April 12 || || @ Dodgers |-style="background:#fcc;" | 9 || April 13 || || @ Dodgers |-style="background:#cfc;" | 10 || April 15 || || Expos |-style="background:#fcc;" | 11 || April 16 || || Expos |-style="background:#cfc;" | 12 || April 17 || || Expos |-style="background:#cfc;" | 13 || April 19 || || Reds |-style="background:#fcc;" | 14 || April 20 || || Reds |-style="background:#cfc;" | 15 || April 21 || || Reds |-style="background:#fcc;" | 16 || April 22 || || Phillies |-style="background:#fcc;" | 17 || April 23 || || Phillies |-style="background:#cfc;" | 18 || April 24 || || Phillies |-style="background:#cfc;" | 19 || April 26 || || @ Expos |-style="background:#cfc;" | 20 || April 27 || || @ Expos |-style="background:#cfc;" | 21 || April 29 || || @ Phillies |-style="background:#fcc;" | 22 || April 30 || || @ Phillies |- |-style="background:#fcc;" | 23 || May 1 || || @ Phillies |-style="background:#cfc;" | 24 || May 2 || || @ Mets |-style="background:#cfc;" | 25 || May 3 || || @ Mets |-style="background:#cfc;" | 26 || May 4 || || @ Mets |-style="background:#fcc;" | 27 || May 5 || || @ Braves |-style="background:#cfc;" | 28 || May 6 || || @ Braves |-style="background:#fcc;" | 29 || May 7 || || @ Braves |-style="background:#fcc;" | 30 || May 8 || || @ Braves |-style="background:#cfc;" | 31 || May 9 || || Mets |-style="background:#cfc;" | 32 || May 10 || || Mets |-style="background:#fcc;" | 33 || May 11 || || Mets |-style="background:#cfc;" | 34 || May 12 || || Braves |-style="background:#cfc;" | 35 || May 13 || || Braves |-style="background:#fcc;" | 36 || May 14 || || Braves |-style="background:#fcc;" | 37 || May 15 || || Braves |-style="background:#fcc;" | 38 || May 17 || || @ Cardinals |-style="background:#fcc;" | 39 || May 18 || || @ Cardinals |-style="background:#fcc;" | 40 || May 20 || || @ Pirates |-style="background:#cfc;" | 41 || May 21 || || @ Pirates |-style=background:#bbb | — || May 22 || || @ Pirates || colspan="8" | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: August 23) |-style="background:#cfc;" | 42 || May 23 || || Cubs |-style="background:#fcc;" | 43 || May 24 || || Cubs |-style="background:#cfc;" | 44 || May 25 || || Cubs |-style="background:#fcc;" | 45 || May 26 || || Cardinals |-style="background:#fcc;" | 46 || May 27 || || Cardinals |-style="background:#cfc;" | 47 || May 28 || || Cardinals |-style="background:#fcc;" | 48 || May 29 || || Cardinals |-style="background:#cfc;" | 49 || May 30 || || @ Cubs |-style="background:#cfc;" | 50 || May 31 || || @ Cubs |- |-style="background:#fcc;" | 51 || June 1 || || @ Cubs |-style="background:#fcc;" | 52 || June 3 || || @ Reds |-style="background:#cfc;" | 53 || June 4 || || @ Reds |-style="background:#cfc;" | 54 || June 5 || || @ Reds |-style="background:#cfc;" | 55 || June 7 || || Giants |-style="background:#cfc;" | 56 || June 8 || || Giants |-style="background:#cfc;" | 57 || June 9 || || Giants |-style="background:#cfc;" | 58 || June 10 || || Padres |-style="background:#fcc;" | 59 || June 11 || || Padres |-style="background:#cfc;" | 60 || June 12 || || Padres |-style="background:#cfc;" | 61 || June 13 || || Padres |-style="background:#cfc;" | 62 || June 14 || || @ Giants |-style="background:#fcc;" | 63 || June 15 || || @ Giants |-style="background:#cfc;" | 64 || June 16 || || @ Giants |-style="background:#cfc;" | 65 || June 17 || || @ Padres |-style="background:#fcc;" | 66 || June 18 || || @ Padres |-style="background:#fcc;" | 67 || June 19 || || @ Padres |-style="background:#fcc;" | 68 || June 20 || || Braves |-style="background:#cfc;" | 69 || June 21 || || Braves |-style="background:#cfc;" | 70 || June 22 || || Braves |-style="background:#fcc;" | 71 || June 24 || || @ Dodgers |-style="background:#fcc;" | 72 || June 25 || || @ Dodgers |-style="background:#cfc;" | 73 || June 26 || || @ Dodgers |-style="background:#cfc;" | 74 || June 28 || || @ Braves |-style="background:#fcc;" | 75 || June 29 || || @ Braves |-style="background:#fcc;" | 76 || June 30 || || @ Braves |- |-style="background:#fcc;" | 77 || July 1 || || Dodgers |-style="background:#cfc;" | 78 || July 2 || || Dodgers |-style="background:#cfc;" | 79 || July 3 || || Dodgers |-style="background:#cfc;" | 80 || July 4 || || Dodgers |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbcaff;" |-style="background:#cfc;" | 81 || July 8 || || @ Mets |-style="background:#cfc;" | 82 || July 9 || || @ Mets |-style="background:#fcc;" | 83 || July 10 || || @ Mets |-style="background:#cfc;" | 84 || July 12 || || Expos |-style="background:#cfc;" | 85 || July 13 || || Expos |-style="background:#cfc;" | 86 || July 14 || || Expos |-style="background:#cfc;" | 87 || July 15 || || Mets |-style="background:#cfc;" | 88 || July 16 || || Mets |-style="background:#fcc;" | 89 || July 17 || || Mets |-style="background:#cfc;" | 90 || July 18 || || @ Phillies |-style="background:#cfc;" | 91 || July 19 || || @ Phillies |-style="background:#fcc;" | 92 || July 20 || || @ Phillies |-style="background:#fcc;" | 93 || July 21 || || @ Expos |-style="background:#cfc;" | 94 || July 22 || || @ Expos |-style="background:#fcc;" | 95 || July 23 || || @ Expos |-style="background:#fcc;" | 96 || July 24 || || @ Expos |-style="background:#fcc;" | 97 || July 26 || || Phillies |-style="background:#fcc;" | 98 || July 27 || || Phillies |-style="background:#fcc;" | 99 || July 28 || || Phillies |-style="background:#cfc;" | 100 || July 29 || || Reds |-style="background:#fcc;" | 101 || July 30 || || Reds |-style="background:#cfc;" | 102 || July 31 || || Reds |- |-style="background:#fcc;" | 103 || August 1 || || @ Padres |-style="background:#cfc;" | 104 || August 2 || || @ Padres |-style="background:#cfc;" | 105 || August 3 || || @ Padres |-style="background:#fcc;" | 106 || August 4 || || @ Padres |-style="background:#fcc;" | 107 || August 5 || || @ Giants |-style="background:#cfc;" | 108 || August 6 || || @ Giants |-style="background:#cfc;" | 109 || August 7 || || @ Giants |-style="background:#fcc;" | 110 || August 9 || || Padres |-style="background:#cfc;" | 111 || August 10 || || Padres |-style="background:#cfc;" | 112 || August 11 || || Padres |-style="background:#cfc;" | 113 || August 12 || || Giants |-style="background:#cfc;" | 114 || August 13 || || Giants |-style="background:#fcc;" | 115 || August 14 || || Giants |-style="background:#cfc;" | 116 || August 15 || || @ Reds |-style="background:#cfc;" | 117 || August 16 || || @ Reds |-style="background:#cfc;" | 118 || August 17 || || @ Reds |-style="background:#fcc;" | 119 || August 18 || || @ Cardinals |-style="background:#fcc;" | 120 || August 19 || || @ Cardinals |-style="background:#fcc;" | 121 || August 20 || || @ Cardinals |-style="background:#fcc;" | 122 || August 21 || || @ Cardinals |-style="background:#cfc;" | 123 (1) || August 23 || || @ Pirates |-style="background:#cfc;" | 124 (2) || August 23 || || @ Pirates |-style="background:#cfc;" | 125 || August 24 || || @ Pirates |-style="background:#fcc;" | 126 || August 25 || || @ Pirates |-style="background:#cfc;" | 127 || August 26 || || Cubs |-style="background:#fcc;" | 128 || August 27 || || Cubs |-style="background:#cfc;" | 129 || August 28 || || Cubs |-style="background:#fcc;" | 130 || August 29 || || Cardinals |-style="background:#cfc;" | 131 || August 30 || || Cardinals |-style="background:#cfc;" | 132 || August 31 || || Pirates |- |-style="background:#cfc;" | 133 || September 1 || || Pirates |-style="background:#cfc;" | 134 || September 2 || || @ Cubs |-style="background:#fcc;" | 135 || September 3 || || @ Cubs |-style="background:#fcc;" | 136 || September 4 || || @ Cubs |-style="background:#fcc;" | 137 || September 5 || || @ Braves |-style=background:#bbb | — || September 6 || || @ Braves || colspan="8" | Postponed (Rain; Site change) (Makeup date: September 28) |-style="background:#fcc;" | 138 || September 7 || || @ Padres |-style="background:#cfc;" | 139 || September 8 || || @ Padres |-style="background:#cfc;" | 140 || September 9 || || @ Giants |-style="background:#cfc;" | 141 || September 10 || || @ Giants |-style="background:#fcc;" | 142 || September 11 || || @ Giants |-style="background:#fcc;" | 143 || September 13 || || Dodgers |-style="background:#cfc;" | 144 || September 14 || || Dodgers |-style="background:#fcc;" | 145 || September 15 || || Dodgers |-style="background:#fcc;" | 146 || September 16 || || @ Reds |-style="background:#cfc;" | 147 || September 17 || || @ Reds |-style="background:#cfc;" | 148 || September 18 || || @ Reds |-style="background:#fcc;" | 149 || September 19 || || @ Dodgers |-style="background:#cfc;" | 150 || September 20 || || @ Dodgers |-style="background:#fcc;" | 151 || September 21 || || @ Dodgers |-style="background:#fcc;" | 152 || September 23 || || Giants |-style="background:#cfc;" | 153 || September 24 || || Giants |-style="background:#fcc;" | 154 || September 25 || || Giants |-style="background:#cfc;" | 155 || September 26 || || Padres |-style="background:#cfc;" | 156 || September 27 || || Padres |-style="background:#fcc;" | 157 (1) || September 28 || || Braves |-style="background:#cfc;" | 158 (2) || September 28 || || Braves |-style="background:#fcc;" | 159 || September 29 || || Braves |-style="background:#cfc;" | 160 || September 30 || || Reds |- |-style="background:#fcc;" | 161 || October 1 || || Reds |-style="background:#cfc;" | 162 || October 2 || || Reds |- |- style="text-align:center;" | Legend: = Win = Loss = Postponement Bold = Astros team member

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

Awards

• Baseball Digest Rookie All-Star—Second baseman: Bill Doran
• Houston Astros Most Valuable Player (MVP): José Cruz
• Hutch Award: Ray Knight
• MLB All-Star Game
  • Reserve pitcher—Bill Dawley
  • Reserve infielder—Dickie Thon
• Silver Slugger Award:
  • Outfielder: José Cruz
  • Shortstop: Dickie Thon
• Topps All-Star Rookie Team—Second baseman: Bill Doran

League leaders

;Batting leaders

• Hits: José Cruz (189)

;Pitching leaders

• Games started: Joe Niekro (38—led MLB)
• Hits per nine innings pitched (H/9): Nolan Ryan (6.1—led MLB)

Minor league system

Notes

References

References

1. "Danny Heep stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
2. "Troy Afenir stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
3. "Alan Knicely stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
4. (April 5, 1983). "Los Angeles Dodgers (16) vs Houston Astros (7) box score". [[Baseball Almanac]].
5. "1983 Houston Astros uniform numbers". Baseball-Reference.com.
6. Scheller, Jason. (April 9, 1981). "The birth of Fernandomania on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium". [[Society for American Baseball Research]] (SABR).
7. "Houston Astros Opening Day starters". Baseball-Reference.com.
8. (April 5, 1983). "Los Angeles Dodgers (16) vs Houston Astros (7) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
9. "1983 Houston Astros schedule". Baseball-Reference.com.
10. "The Nolan Ryan Express {{!}} The Strikeout King".
11. Hand, Kenny. (April 27, 1983). "Ryan: 3,509 strikeouts: Johnson's record falls in Montreal". [[Houston Post]].
12. "Mike Scott 1983 pitching game logs". Baseball-Reference.com.
13. (May 6, 1983). "Houston Astros (6) vs Atlanta Braves (0) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
14. Schwartzberg, Seth. (June 4, 2025). "Today in Astros history - June 4". [[SB Nation]].
15. "Nolan Ryan {{!}} player pitching game stats finder". [[Sports Reference]].
16. (June 12, 1983). "San Diego Padres (0) vs Houston Astros (2) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
17. Schwartzberg, Seth. (June 17, 2025). "Today in Astros history - June 17". [[SB Nation]].
18. "Top performances for José Cruz". [[Retrosheet]].
19. (July 10, 1983). "Houston Astros (5) vs New York Mets (7) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
20. "José Cruz {{!}} player batting streak stats finder". Sports Reference.
21. (September 16, 1983). "Houston Astros (3) vs Cincinnati Reds (8) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
22. (September 20, 1983). "Houston Astros (15) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (2) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
23. "1983 National League team statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
24. "Houston Astros team history & encyclopedia". Baaseball-Reference.com.
25. "Astros history – Timeline". [[MLB.com]].
26. "Yearly league leaders & records for hits". Baseball-Reference.com.
27. "Yearly league leaders and records for hits per 9 IP". Baseball-Reference.com.
28. "Silver Slugger Award". Baseball Almanac.
29. McTaggart, Brian. (December 21, 2009). "Bourn highlights Astros' awards season". MLB.com.
30. "Robbie Wine stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
31. "Danny Boone stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
32. "Hutch Award". Baseball Almanac.
33. (July 6, 1983). "All-Star Game box score".