The 1971 Houston Astros season was the tenth season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their seventh as the Astros, tenth in the National League (NL), third in the NL West division, and seventh at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season having posted a record of 79âÂÂ83, for fourth place and 23 games behind the division-champion and NL pennant-winning Cincinnati Reds.
Pitcher Larry Dierker made his third Opening Day start for the Astros, who hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 5, and won, 5âÂÂ2. The Astros' first-round selection in the amateur draft was shortstop Neil Rasmussen, at 12th overall.
Dierker and fellow pitcher Don Wilson both represented the Astros and played for the National League at the MLB All-Star Game. This was second career selection for Dierker and first for Wilson.
The Astros played 75 games that were decided by a one run margin, which is an all-time MLB record. In those games, the Astros performed to a record.
The Astros concluded the season with a record of 79âÂÂ83âÂÂreplicating their performance from the year priorâÂÂwhile maintaining fourth place in the NL West, this time, tying with Cincinnati for 11 games behind the division-champion San Francisco Giants.
Third baseman Doug Rader won his second career Gold Glove Award.
The Astrodome hosted a 15-inning, exhibition "tripleheader" on April 2 between Houston, the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees. For the first five-inning contest, the Astros tripped the Yankees, 2âÂÂ1. During the middle five, the Twins toppled the Yankees, 4âÂÂ1, prior to getting ripped by the Astros during the last five frames, 5âÂÂ3.
Hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers for Opening Day on April 5, Denis Menke tripled in runs (RBI) of Joe Morgan and Bob Watson off Los Angeles' Bill Singer for a 2âÂÂ0 lead. The Astros never looked back, winning 5âÂÂ2, backed by complete game execution from Larry Dierker. Dierker diffused 10 hits, issued one base on balls and struck out four. Making his third Opening Day start for the Astros, Dierker at the time remained the only pitcher to start more than once on Opening Day for the club.
On April 28, César Gerónimo chipped in a walk-off triple, just the second in club history. This scored Jim Wynn during the bottom of the tenth frame for a decision of Houston 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3.
During a doubleheader on May 26 at San Diego Stadium, the Padres started Al Santorini for both contests, though during the first game, Santorini was deployed as an opener. Facing an order assembled with seven lefties, Santorini got the leadoff hitter out and was replaced by Dave Roberts. The Astros won, 2âÂÂ1, behind Wade Blasingame's effort. Bob Watson pinch hit for Blasingame (3âÂÂ5) in the top of the ninth and singled home Doug Rader for the game-winning run.
In the May 26 nightcap, Larry Dierker cruised to his first career one-hitter while outpitching SantoriniâÂÂwho, this time, hurled six inningsâÂÂin an 8âÂÂ0 Astros triumph. Ollie Brown's broken-bat single in the seventh foiled Dierker's bid for a no-hitter. Dierker issued three base on balls and struck out five to earn a game score of 87. Catcher Johnny Edwards tripled and collected three runs batted in (RBI). The Astros piled on 11 hits and worked 6 walks. It was also Dierker's fourth career complete game effort of two hits or fewer.
On June 6, for the first time in club history, the Astros logged 10 extra-base hits in a single game. Though Astros stacked eight doubles and two home runs, they fell short to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9âÂÂ8. Bob Watson homered (4), doubled (9) and collected four RBI. John Mayberry (2) also homered. Jesús Alou doubled twice, while Jack Hiatt, Doug Rader, and Johnny Edwards also doubled.
The Astros exploded for a season-high 18 runs on July 7, en route to an 18âÂÂ4 drubbing of the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park. Jimmy Wynn became the first player to attain 1,000 hits as a member the Houston Astros, also the 1,000th hit of his career, with a seventh inning double off left-hander Steve Hamilton. During an all-round memorable day, Wynn was 2-for-4 with 2 runs batted in (RBI), 2 runs scored, one stolen base and one base on balls.
On July 16, the Astros executed the first triple play in franchise historyâÂÂand first at the AstrodomeâÂÂduring the top of the third inning against New York Mets.
On September 2 at the Astrodome, César Cedeño stepped to the plate to face Claude Osteen with the bases loaded in the fifth in a 3âÂÂ2 deficit to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cedeño hit a blooper to shallow right field between Bill Buckner and Jim Lefebvre who collided while attempting to make the catch, and the ball dribbled into the corner. Meanwhile, the bases cleared ahead of Cedeño, who raced home for the Inside-the-park grand slam. His first career grand slam, Cedeño had blasted his first career major league home run off Osteen on July 6 of the prior year. On the day, Cedeño was 3-for-4 with 4 RBI and a double. Astros starter Don Wilson (13âÂÂ8) went the distance to pick up the victory, a 9âÂÂ3 score.
Astros pitching fired a record performance on September 5 during a doubleheader at Candlestick Park. In the opener, Jack Billingham tossed a five-hit, 1âÂÂ0 shutout with 11 strikeouts and a game score of 86 over the Gitants. Making his major league debut during the second game on September 5, J. R. Richard struck out 15 Giants on the way to firing another complete game. Richard's final strikeout victim was Hal Lanier, also the final out of the contest, to finish off a 5âÂÂ3 Astros triumph. This contest garnered a 75-game score for Richard. His 15-strikeout effort remained his permanent career-high, while tying a record for a Major League debut first established in 1954 by Karl Spooner of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The 26 combined strikeouts by Billingham and Richard during the twinbill set a new MLB record.
Facing a 4âÂÂ1 deficit to the Atlanta Braves on September 15, manager Harry Walker inserted right-handed prospect Larry Yount to pitch the ninth inning. His major league debut, Félix Millán was the first batter of the inning. Before he could throw his first pitch, Yount's elbow became sore, whom Walker replaced with veteran Jim Ray. Yount, who never made another major league appearance, became the first to appear in a game without any officially scored plays being completed.
The Astros turned their second triple play of the season on September 17, during the second inning while hosting the Cincinnati Reds.
With a record, Houston terminated the 1971 campaign tied for fourth place in the NL West with the Cincinnati, 11 games behind the division-champion San Francisco Giants.
The Astros played 75 games that were decided by a one run margin, which is an all-time MLB record. In those games, the team had a record of 32âÂÂ43.
Third baseman Doug Rader, who won his second consecutive Gold Glove Award, became the first Astro to win more than once.
As the Astrodome was reputed for suppressing the home run, three Astros combined to lead the league in extra-base hit categories. With 40 doubles, César Cedeño led the major leagues. He joined Rusty Staub in 1967 as the second Astro to lead both theNatioal League in doubles as well as all of baseball. Meanwhile, Houston's first-ever triples leadersâÂÂRoger Metzger and Joe Morgan jointly led the major leagues with 11 eachâÂÂforged a three-way tie with Freddie Patek of the Kansas City Royals in the American League.
Morgan also became first player in club history to record three 40-stolen base season, all consecutively. This was also the third of a franchise-record nine successive campaigns featuring at least one baserunner with 40 or more stolen bases.
Don Wilson became the first Astros pitcher to lead the NL in hits per nine innings (6.549 H/9).
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts