What happened today in team history?
1965 – Astrodome opens its doors
In the first baseball game ever played indoors, an exhibition game between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. Ron Brand records the Astros first hit in the dome with a triple to help lead the Astros to a 2-1 win. The first run to be scored was on a homer to dead-center by Mickey Mantle.
1985 – Thon returns
Just over a year after getting hit in the eye by a fastball and having to sit out the entire season, Astros shortstop Dickie Thon makes his return in a game against the Dodgers, going 1-4 in a 2-1 win. Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela would be the one to give up the hit to Thon.
After this game, Thon would go on to hit just .202 the entire season, claiming that his vision is ruined from the eye injury.
1999 – Goodbye season begins
On opening day on the Astrodome’s final anniversary, Houston wins 3-2 over the Milwaukee Brewers after infielder Tim Bogar drove in outfielder Richard Hidalgo for the winning run, giving the Astros the win.
2013 – Offensive explosion
After a six-game losing streak, the Astros exploded for over 15 runs in a 16-9 win over the Colorado Rockies. Chris Carter had the first two-homer game of his career, along with J.D. Martinez, Marwin Gonzalez and Jose Altuve each went yard themselves for the first time in the season.
What else happened on this day?
1912
In the first game ever played at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox play an exhibition game against Harvard University and win 2-0.
1913
The first game is played at Ebbets Field between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. Despite it being their new ballpark, 10,000 fans crowd in to watch the Phillies win 1-0.
1962
JFK throws out the ceremonial first-pitch at the new ballpark built in the heart of Washington D.C.
1989
Rickey Henderson, as a member of the New York Yankees, becomes the fourth player in MLB history to steal 800 bases.
1994
After retiring and taking a break from basketball, Michael Jordan makes his MLB debut for the Chicago White Sox’s Double-A team, the Birmingham Barons, going hitless in three at-bats.