What happened today in team history?
1962 – Caravan gets started
With the help of Manager Harry Craft and General Manager Paul Richards, the Astros set off on their first Winter caravan trip, during which they went around to cities in Texas and Louisiana to meet and greet with fans. This is a tradition that still goes on today, with the 2025 Astros caravan going on earlier this month.
2014 – Berkman calls it quits
After an astounding 15-year career, Astros infielder Lance Berkman retires from the game of baseball. Spending 12 of those years in Houston, he ranks around the best Astros of all time, accumulating 326 home runs, 375 doubles, and over 1000 RBIs.
2020 – Astros hire Dusty Baker
After the firing of both manager AJ Hinch and GM Jeff Lunhow, Astros owner takes his first step in the rebuild, hiring 70-year-old Dusty Baker on a one-year contract. Coming off the COVID year in 2020, in Dusty’s one year in Houston, he led the team to a 95-win season and another trip to the World Series, but they fell in six games to the powerhouse Braves.
What else happened on this day?
1948
The MLB commissioner fined the Yankees, Cubs and Phillies each $500 dollars for signing high school players, which would not be allowed until 1965.