


![]() Click here to go directly to the Astros' homepage |
As Of
Me and the Astros, a sort of explanation
I have a total of Exactly 29,766
baseball cards of the Colts,
Astros, and their minor-league affiliates
Or maybe you prefer the statement in its other direction: if Carlos Lee had Matt Downs' home run rate, Caballo would have 18 homers. Expressed either way, the story is told. Lee in actuality has five shots. As most of Houston and all of the rest of America spent its time last year bashing Carlos Lee in general and our signing of him in specific, I never once thought that he'd lost the ability to hit. Even as a fat old man, his approach is so sound. And after another horrible start, I'm betting that Lee returns to form averagewise and finishes over .300 this year. But on the other hand, as more and more of his flyballs expire at the track, it's pretty clear that his power is gone. Too bad he's not a second baseman, huh? As offense continues to decline throughout the majors, the value of a player who hits .300 and doesn't strike out, regardless of his place in the defensive spectrum, will be highlighted a little bit to those who'd forgotten during the bloated steroid years. But as Downs' numbers suggest, the difference between the actuality and the onetime expectation as regards Carlos will also continue to be readily apparent.
| |
| The Cards (updated February 8th) | |
| |
What I Said Last Time.
But What Else Is New?
| |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
|
| ||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
OPENING DAY STARTERS FOR HOUSTON IN CAPS
Minor League A/S Card Appearances in italics
Playing for Houston in an NL Game gets you an icon like this:
Look out for those implicated in the use of PED's 
Things would be so different if I could be a member of The One Hundred Club
WHIFF KING
icon,
and
you know what that means
CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
16
Fernando Abad Cards Pitcher Lefthander from La Romana spent four years in the Domincan Summer League, then made his debut with Rookie Greeneville in 2007, where he led the team in strikeouts and finished third on the club in WHIP. In '08 he pitched relief at Lexington, and had one of the best BB/9IP rates on the club. 79 strikeouts and 8 walks in 82-2/3 innings at High A Lancaster in 2009. Split 2010 between AA Corpus, AAA Round Rock, and Houston, where he was 0 - 1 with 2.84 in 22 games
9
Reggie Abercrombie Cards
Outfield Speedy outfielder who swings hard--and wildly--was one of the final Spring Training cuts, and began 2008 at AAA Round Rock. Got a one-month callup when the Astros released Jose Cruz, Jr. in June, but was back in AAA by the All-Star break. Struck out 159 times in 134 games for the '09 Round Rock Express.
115
BOB ABREU Cards Outfielder Hit an amazing 70 triples in his 7-year career as an Astros farmhand, before being lost in the D-Back/D-Ray expansion draft. Click here for a cool tobacco card replica
5
Erick Abreu Cards
Pitcher
Minor league free agent formerly in the Yankees organization pitched at Salem in 2008, and was 3 - 0 with a 2.06 at Corpus in '09. Repeated at CC in 2010, and was 4 - 5 with a 3.34. Pitching in the Texas League again for 2011, Abreu led the Hooks in K/BB at 4.11 
21
Anthony Acevedo Cards Outfield
Solid .295 first year with the 2000 Martinsville club got him a promotion to Michigan for 2001--then hit .302 for Lexington in 2002, earning a shot with Round Rock in 2003, where he continued to do well, hitting .283 with 11 homers. Played only ten games in 2004 due to knee surgery, and unable to return, he announced his retirement in the summer of 2005 
5
Freddy Acevedo Cards
Outfield

The Acevedo at Martinsville for 2001 repeated for 2002 and hit .284, and got the chance at Lexington for 2003, where he was named the organization's Defensive Player of the Month for June
2
Larry Acker Cards
Pitcher

Lefthander led the 1984 Columbus Astros in wins and Innings Pitched, then led the 1985 Tucson Toros in losses
2
Jose Acosta Cards
Catcher
Dominican Summer League Product debuted stateside in 2003 with Martinsville 
21
Manny Acta Cards Infield/Manager
Light-hitting infielder makes good as coach and manager; after never hitting higher than .268 in seven minor league seasons, Acta has now climbed the professional ladder such that he is managing in the major leagues. In 1999, he led the Kissimmee Cobras to the only Florida State League championship an Astros affiliate ever won. 
3
Colt Adams Cards
Pitcher
Righthander was an 18th round pick in the June 2006 draft, but had trouble converting his 91 mph fastball into success at the lower levels through 2007. After pitching in only 7 games, placed on the DL in May of '08, and never came back.
4
Jason Adams Cards
Infield
1995 Second-Team All-American at Wichita State began at Auburn in '95 and topped out at Kissimmee three years later
1
Ricky Adams Card
Infield
Hit .215 in three major league seasons with the Angels and the Giants 
4
Dan Adamson Cards
Outfield
20th round pick of the Astros in the June 2010 draft led the NYPL champion Tri-City ValleyCats in homers and triples that summer. Led the 2011 Lexington Legends in hitting 
1
Tony Adler Card
Pitcher
1 - 0 with a 1.59 in 10 games for the 2004 inaugural Greeneville Astros
2
Dave Adlesh Cards
Catcher 
Set a minor-league record for catchers in 1964 with the AA San Antonio Bullets by catching an incredible 130 straight games. Caught Wilson's no -hitter 6/18/67
1
Buck Afenir Card
Catcher
Nephew of Troy Afenir was originally drafted by the Yankees but released in the Spring of 2010. Signed by the Astros in June, Afenir was the backup catcher on the Tri-City ValleyCats' NYPL championship team that summer
6
Troy Afenir Cards
Catcher 1983 first round pick went for six for twenty in ten games as a September call-up to the 'Stros in 1987. He didn't surface again in the bigs for three years--playing in 35 games, hitting .153, with the A's and Reds between '90 and '92

CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
3
Tommy Agee Cards
Outfield We gave up Rich Chiles and Buddy Harris to get him in November of '72; that's the "nothing ventured." We gave him up a bare nine months later to get Dave Campbell; that's the "nothing gained." Only Agee's elegant 73 Topps # 420 keeps the whole thing from being a pointless wash. . . . 
34
Juan Agosto Cards Relief Pitcher 
Once described as "rubber-armed"; appears three times on the Astros top ten list for single-season appearances
2
Edwin Aguilar Cards
Pitcher

Product of Venezuela didn't pitch due to injuries in the two years where he was shown on a card, and didn't get a card the year he pitched for Michigan Pittsfield and Martinsville

CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
2
Ruben Alaniz Cards
Pitcher
2009 NDFA led the 2010 Greeneville Astros in strikeouts and tied for the lead in starts. At lexington in 2011, led Legends starters in WHIP--and hit batsmen
6
Randy Albaladejo Cards
Catcher
Never got higher than single A Quad City 
31
Matt Albers Cards Pitcher Debuted at Martinsville for the 2002 season, and got better at Tri-City in 2003, going 5 - 4 with a 2.92. A Carolina League Top Prospect for the 2005 season, and a Houston Astro for four games in 2006, including one in which he wore the flowing rainbows. Sixth starter for Houston in 2007, to mixed results before being traded to the Orioles with Luke Scott and a bunch of others for Mitchell Report star Miguel Tejada
11
Ervin Alcantara Cards
Outifeld
2003 Martinsville Astro hit .344 with 18 doubles in 54 games to earn a spot on the Appy League postseason All-Star team. Lexington Legends offensive player of the month in June 2004. Finished second in hits on the 2005 Salem Avalanche, and topped the squad in doubles. Scored 61 times and stole 20 bases for the '06 Avs.
1
Troy Aleshire Card
Catcher
Fifth selection in the June 1985 draft 
8
Chad Alexander Cards
Outfield
99 Texas League Top Prospect
18
Don Alexander Cards Coach
Spent seven years (1990 - 1996) as a pitching coach in the low minors for the Astros, then returned to the organization in 2005 to do the same job, again at the Short-A level. Moved to High A Lancaster for 2009 and remained there in '10, graduating to Double A Corpus for 2011
7
Jason Alfaro Cards
Infield
His rise through the Astros organization landed him at the Dell Diamond for 2001 and 2002, and in Metairie for 2003 
2
Jose Alfaro Cards
Pitcher
'74 at Cedar Rapids and '75 at Dubuque, and as such, twice a teammate of household name Paulo De Leon. Despite the long shadow of DeLeon, Alfaro has a bit of renown himself, in that he pitched a 5 - 0 no-hitter vs. Cedar Rapids while pitching for the Packers in '75. 
1
Frank Alfieri Card
Infield
Third Baseman hit .237 for the 1999 Auburn Doubledays, before moving on to the Frontier League's Canton Crocodiles
3
Carlos Alfonso Cards
Coach/Manager

Long time minor league manager and coach skippered the 1981 Daytona Beach Astros to a FSL championship, and as a player, was also part of the deal in 1975 that brought the Astros noted space case Joaquin Andujar
6
Karl Allaire Cards
Shortstop
Click here for a cool story 
1
Blake Allen Card
Pitcher
Rule 5 pick up from the Indians organization in the AA phase of the 2004 draft pitched at Salem and Corpus in 2005, then returned to Whataburger Field for 2006, and won four times while losing twice. 
5
Dave Allen Cards
Pitcher

Pitched 10-1/3 innings for the Phillies' NYPL entries in 1987 and 1988 before catching on with the 'Stros, and pitching at Gulf Coast, Auburn and finally at Burlington, where he got 18 starts in 1992
11
Harold Allen Cards
Pitcher

Lefthander who got as high as AAA Tucson occupied himself as a housepainter in the offseason
3
Gary Allenson Cards
Manager
Managed the Nationals in the 97 AA All Star game
2
Roberto Alleyne Cards
Outfield
.331-.409-.530 at Gulf Coast in 1996; the .291-.344-.461 he put up in his last professional year, in 1999 at Michigan, ,wasn't bad either ![]()
1
Benjamin Ally Card
Pitcher
After playing with Batavia in the Phillies organization in 2001, was signed by the Astros as a NDFA and pitched a year at Martinsville in 2002 
3
Frank Almonte Cards
Left Field
NDFA from the Dominican Republic came stateside with Greeneville in 2008, and was named Appy League Player of the Week on July 14, 2008. Repeated at Greeneville for 2009 and hit .300 vs lefties, but only .231 vs. righthanders. Hit .188 at Tri-City in 2010
2
Dave Aloi Cards
Pitcher
CLICK HERE to see a good example of an early TCMA minor league card, and read about a very well-pitched game by Mr. Aloi
19
JESUS ALOU Cards Outfield Led off Opening Day in '69
271
MOISES ALOU Cards Outfielder Monster years whenever he played, strikeout avoidance plus power like no-one in franchise history, and by far the club's career leader in batting average--so why didn't the guy capture the love of Houston fans? His departure to the Cubs may have provided a clue. 
12
Jose Altuve Cards
Second Base Venezuelan infielder was named an Appy League postseason All-Star and Greeneville MVP for 2009 after his second season at the Rookie level. Split 2010 between Lexington and High A Lancaster, OPSIng .805. OPSed 1.057 at Lancaster and .958 at Corpus before getting called up to the majors July 19. Became the third player after Ken Caminiti and Orlando Miller to record 11 hits in his first 7 games with the 'Stros
3
Andrew Alvarado Cards
Pitcher
Seventh round pick in 2004 was 4 - 3 with a 3.58 for the 2004 Tri-City ValleyCats, then only pitched 9 innings in 2005.
1
Arnaldo Alvarado Card
Infield
1 for 5 with two ribbies in Jose Alfaro's 1975 no-hitter for Dubuque. 
1
Oscar Alvarado Card
Catcher

Debuted for Pittsfield in 2001
1
Jose Alvarez Card
Infield

76 Dubuque Packers
1
Jose Alvarez Card
Pitcher
'84 Tucson Toro pitched in 98 games for the Atlanta Braves over four seasons, compiling an 8 - 9 won/loss with a 2.99 ERA. Last pitched for the '95 Richmond Braves, at the age of 39. 
2
Luis Alvarez Cards
Catcher
Played 17 games for the Rookie Greeneville Astros in 2009, hitting .271 with a homer. Didn't play due to an injury in 2010, then returned to Greenevile for 2011, where he hit an identical .271 while OPSing .729
2
Wilner Alvarez Cards
Outfield
DSL product skipped Martinsville for his first season stateside, instead beginning at Lexington, and may have paid, hitting .215 
4
Wander Alvino Cards
Pitcher

Dominican had a 33:7 K/BB ratio at Greeneville in 2008, but also had a 5.79 ERA and a .320 BAA. Promoted to Tri-City for 2009, the ratio was down, but so was the batting average against. Second in games and third in ERA for the 2010 Lexington Legends. 1.62 WHIP at Lancaster in 2011
2
JOE AMALFITANO Cards
Second Base With a name like that, you knew Joey was a wiseguy 
3
Adan Amezcua Cards
Catcher
Don't call him Adam 
2
Ed Andersen Cards
Pitcher

Andersen's career makes me wish the old Appalachian League Covington Astros had gotten a team set or two done
36
Larry Andersen Cards Relief Pitcher 
Wiseacre best remembered as being TRADED FOR JEFF BAGWELL, but also remember he's still third on the Astros list for career ERA at 2.57. And that's no joke.
1
Drew Anderson Card
Second Base
22nd Round pick in the June '07 draft struggled some that summer at Greeneville and was released in May of '08
1
Eric Anderson Card
Infield
Neither TCMA, who manufactured his 1982 Auburn Astros baseball card, nor I, who chronicle it, have anything to say about Eric Anderson 
2
John Anderson Cards
Pitcher

Another Anderson whose one-year career was spent at Auburn. John's year was 1994.
36
Josh Anderson Cards Pitcher 
2003 New York-Penn League All-Star, 2004 Sally League All-Star pick, and 2006 Texas League All-Star Game MVP made his major league bebut in September of '07, and sizzled, hitting .358 with a .413 OBP in 21 games. Traded to the Braves for the dreadful Oscar Villareal in November of 2007.
7
Tom Anderson Cards
Pitcher
This Anderson, while starting at Auburn, DID progress, and got as far as High A Osceola, pitching there in '93 and '94, and an All-Star in '93 
6
Travis Anderson Cards
Pitcher
Owner of two 5.00+ ERA seasons and a 4.40+ season in single A was sent to the Drubs as a player to be named with Mike Nannini to complete the deal that also moved Russ Rohlicek to acquire Flash Gordon. 
6
ROB ANDREWS Cards
Second Base Picked up in the Lee May/Enos Cabell deal; Opening Day for Houston in '75, but never thereafter, as Rob quite simply played himself out of a job, or rather DID NOT play himself out of same 
2
Jon Andrianoff Cards
Infield

Played 94 games at Martinsville Pittsfield and Michigan, but never tripled and never homered
20
Joaquin Andujar Cards Pitcher Flakiest Astro ever?
2
Anthony Angel Cards
Infield


4
Don Angotti Cards
Catcher/Coach

Played in three single A towns in 1991, then coached at AAA Tucson in 1992
18
Willie Ansley Cards Oufield
Can't Miss Prospect who did. He and Andujar Cedeno were in the '89 Asheville Tourists ProCards set. Needless to say, the set was once worth a good bit. Only Ansley's appearance in the 1989 South Atlantic All-Star set even slightly redeems. 
112
ERIC ANTHONY Cards Outfield Huge hype guy who reached the Dome's right field upper deck with one and got a star on a seat for his effort. When the 'Stros finally gave up, they got Mike Hampton for him. Eric then hit the first home run in Jacobs Field history for the M's. Still, it's hard to disagree with Kev and Scott on the dude. 

CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
11
Ricardo Aponte Cards
Pitcher/Coach
San Pedro De Macoris product pitched in the Astros minor league system, and got as high as AAA Tucson in 1981, then began coaching at Rookie League Sarasota the following year. He coached for 10 more years in the States, before taking the job as the pitching coach for the Dominican Summer League Astros after his 1992 season at Burlington, and Aponte held that post through 2006. Aponte was hired by the Washington Nationals, and made their bullpen coach, for 2007. But after that ran its course, he came back to the Astros and coached the 2009 Greeneville Astros, the 2010 Lexington Legends, and was back at Greeneville in 2011 
1
Josh Appell Card
Pitcher
Lefthanded pitcher acquired from the New York Mets in November of 2007 for Ralph Henriquez pitched at Salem in 2008, at least until his release in August
2
Reno Aragon Cards
Pitcher

Miami Dade Juco product pitched at Dubuque and Cocoa '76 and '77
1
Danny Ardoin Card
Catcher
Acquired from the Nationals in March '07 to play backup at Round Rock after the injury to Hector Gimenez, and played in 52 games for the Express. 
11
Douglas Arguello Cards
Pitcher
Resident of Managua, Nicaragua began his ascent through the organization with a 4- 0 record with a 5.26 ERA for the 2003 Martinsville Astros. 1 - 0 with a 2.92 at Martinsville in '04, but the ERA was high again at Tri-City in 2005. Led the 2006 Tri-City ValleyCats in strikeouts. Threw two shutouts and led the Salem Avalanche in innings pitched in 2008. Texas League midseason All-Star for Corpus in '09. Co-led the 2010 Corpus Christi Hooks in innings pitched with Jordan Lyles, and bested him in ERA 
1
Alberto Arias Card
Pitcher Dominican righthander came out of the bullpen with some success in 2009 for Houston, and also pitched at AAA Round that year and the year before. Though expected to make Houston's 2010 roster, missed all of 2010 with a rotator cuff issue
2
Jonnathan Aristil Cards
Pitcher
Received from the Rockies in December 2010 in the deal that sent Matt Lindstrom to Colorado. Pitched at AA Corpus in 2011, where he was 4 - 8 with a 6.31, but led the club in strikeouts
1
Chris Armstrong Card
Catcher
Played 22 games for the 1999 Auburn Astros, hitting .325 before his release
2
Tim Arnsberg Cards
Pitcher
Was 5-1 with a 2.28 the part of '85 he spent at Auburn, but was overmatched elsewhere 
1
Rene Arocha Card
Pitcher
One-time Cuban defector
3
Miguel Arrendell Cards
Infield
Used mostly as a DH at Greeneville in 2009, Arrendell posted a .394 OBP--but only a .235 average. Hit .228 at Lexington in 2010. Hit .264 in a season split between Tri-city and Lancaster in 2011, then was released November 17
2
JT Arteaga Cards
Pitcher
University of Miami grad picked up from the Mets in the 2000 Rule 5 Draft played at New Orleans 

CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
1
Miguel Asencio Card
Pitcher
Received in December of '06 with Jason Jennings in the trade that sent away Jason Hirsh, Taylor Buchholz, and Willy Taveras, then very quickly assigned for the '07 season to Round Rock, where he posted a 1.85 WHIP and spent time on the DL. Waived shortly after the season's conclusion. 
15
Jonny Ash Cards
Infield
11th Round pick in June 2004 was fourth in hitting on the 2004 Tri-City Valley Cats. In 2005, as one of a slew of Lexington Legends given midseason callups to Salem (including Hunter Pence, Troy Patton, and Ash's college teammate Mario Garza), Ash hit .320 as a Legend in 67 games, and an identical .320 as a member of the Avalanche, in 59. OBPed .370 at AA Corpus in 2006, despite seeing his double play mate in Zobrist traded away in the Aubrey Huff deal. Hit .300 at Corpus in '07, but ended the season on the disabled list. Began '08 at AAA Round Rock, but was demoted to Corpus Christi in July after hitting .224.
85
ALAN ASHBY Cards Catcher/Coach Caught 3 no-hitters (Forsch, Ryan, Scott) 
24
BOB ASPROMONTE Cards 3rd Base Most home runs at Colt Field; Most Grand Slams by an Astro
4
Ezequiel Astacio Cards
Pitcher
Acquired with Taylor Buchholz for Billy Wagner on November 3, 2003, Astacio won 15 games for the Phillies' FSL affiliate in 2003, but had mixed results in his promotion to AA in 2004, despite a K/BB walk ratio that got as high as 4:1. In 2005, found steady work as the major league's sixth starter, working the back ends of doubleheaders, and pitching every fifth day while Brandon Backe was out. The ERA was high at 5.67, but the ratio (66/25) promised good things. Good things that never happened. 
5
Pedro Astacio Cards
Pitcher
Collected a paycheck while injured, then split. . . Gotta like Hunsicker for making the move, though. 
2
Mike Aubel Cards
Outfield

92 at Auburn and goodbye
2
Don August Cards
Pitcher
Long Career with Brewers 
8
Sam August Cards
Pitcher
Once misidentified as Jeff Juden
2
Dave Augustine Cards
Outfield

West Virginia native was close to home in '78 and '79 with the AAA Charleston Charlies
168
BRAD AUSMUS Cards Catcher Caught more games than anyone else in Astros history. In honor of the man who singlehandedly forced nine innings of excruciatingly futile playoff baseball, Astroland is proud to present Ausmus Goes Apeshit
21
Jay Austin Cards Centerfield
Second round draft pick in the June 2008 draft struggled in his first pro year that summer at Greeneville, but was more representative in his sophomore year, when he got a promotion to Single A Lexington. Still only 19 during the 2010 season, he tied for the lead in triples for the High A Lancaster Jethawks, being named a midseason CAL League All-Star, and League Player of the Week on May 10. Hit .247 at Lancaster for 2011
1
Brandon Averill Card
Infileld
1
Esteban Avila Card
Infield

Venezuelan came to the states and played at Martinsville in 2001
2
Abraham Ayala Cards
Catcher

They liked him so much at Martinsville in 2000, they brought him back for 2001
Astroland:
Search Engine Home Page
Numbered Card Counter
Doubles For Sale or Trade Doubles Search Engine Autographed Card Counter
Parallel Want Finder