Astroland K - L: The World's Most Complete Listing of Houston Astro Baseball Cards

ASTROLAND

Enron, I mean Minute Maid, as the sun goes down, taken by my lovely girlfriend

OPENING DAY STARTERS FOR HOUSTON IN CAPS

NL All-Stars in Gold

Playing for Houston in an NL Game gets you an icon like this:

Minor League A/S Card Appearances in italics

Don't bet the farm on a WHIFF KING

Look out for those implicated in the use of PED's

One in a Hundred get to join The One Hundred Club:

K

CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
2 David Kady Cards Catcher
NDFA hit .114 for the 2004 and 2005 Greenenville Astros in 26 games.

2 Keith Kaiser Cards Pitcher
Acquired with Butch Henry and Terry McGriff for Bill Doran on August 31, 1990. Kaiser pitched at Osceola and Jackson in 1991, compiling a ghastly 1 - 9 record with a 10.99 ERA. Also, the first (both alphabetically and chronologically) of three in the organization with the initials "KK."

1 Pat Kane Card Infield
Non-drafted free agent signed by Tim Purpura out of Villanova hit .203 at Martinsville in 1999

1 Chris Kann Card Pitcher

Righthander shown as "Kristopher" in the 2000 Media Guide was an 11th Round draft pick in 1999 who pitched at Martinsville
2 EDDIE KASKO Cards

Infield

Included in the TCMA the 1960's set-- Led off Opening Day in 1964, and later managed the Red Sox.
1 Matt Kata Card

Infield

Split 2009 between Houston and AAA Round Rock. Hit .200 with the Astros and .269 with the Express
1 Brad Kaufman Card Pitcher
After having been released by the Yankees organization (who acquired him along with ex-Astro farmhand Jim Bruske) at the end of 1999, this 16th round pick of the Padres in '93 pitched at New Orleans in 2000 after having been invited to spring trainer as a non-roster player.
3 Pat Keedy Cards 1st Base/Outfield
Signed as a minor league free agent on December 16, 1987, and invited to 1988 spring training. Sent to AAA Tucson (and pictured there in all three sets), he would spend the year there before getting his last call up to the Majors with the Indians in 1989
2 Buster Keeton Cards Pitcher
Actually shown as "Rickey" on his 1982 TCMA Tucson Toros # 13; won eight games and lost fourteen for Triple A Tucson in 1982 and '83
8 Frank Kellner Cards Infield

Free agent signed out of Louisiana Tech in '89 got as high as AAA Tucson within the organization. Was both a midseason and postseason all-star for AA Jackson in '93, when he hit .301 in 121 games for the Generals
10 Anthony Kelley Cards Pitcher
1986 Southern League All-Star was also featured in each of the three Tucson Jones Photo sets
3 Reid Kelly Cards Pitcher
33rd round pick in 2005 didn't pitch until 2006, but went 4 - 0 with a 3.66 at Rookie Greeneville that year. Much higher ERA at Lexington in 2007, but his peripherals (besides HR/9IP) were still solid and he won the Legends' Pitcher of the Month award for July. Assigned to Lexington again for '08, posted a 1.58 WHIP. 2 - 1 with a 5.23 at Lancaster in 2009, before he was released Mid-June

2 Bill Kelso Cards Coach
Pitching Coach for the 1992 Auburn Astros
1 Brian Kemp Card Centerfielder
19th round draft pick out of St. Johns was New York-Penn League midseason All-Star in his draft year of '09, and tied for the team lead in stolen bases
1 Russ Kemmerer Card

Pitcher

Acquired from Chicago for Dean Stone on June 22 of 1962. Kemmerer did well enough to earn his '63 Topps # 338
194

Jeff Kent Cards

Second Baseman

Hunsicker's biggest signing (prior to Clemens anyway) homered in his first game as an Astro, and now owns the club hit streak record at 24 games. Biggest hit, however, was probably the one that sent the 2004 NLCS back to St. Louis, a three-run homer that made a winner of Brad Lidge and a hero out of Brandon Backe.
1 Steve Kent Card Pitcher
Former major leaguer with Tampa Bay was signed by Houston as a minor league free agent on December 20, 2005, and appeared in 27 games for the Round Rock Express, going 1 - 0 with 2 saves with a 2.43 ERA.

1 Jeff Keppinger Cards

Infield

Right handed half of a major-league third-base platoon with Geoff Blum was acquired for a PTBNL on March 31, 2009
28 Charlie Kerfeld Cards

Relief Pitcher

Noted Jetsons fan
6 Kyle Kessel Cards Pitcher
Former Texas A & M point guard received by the 'Stros in the trade that netted them Roger Cedeño and Octavio Dotel and lost them Derek Bell and Mike Hampton.

12 Tim Kester Cards Pitcher

His 2.06 ERA for Auburn in '93 was second in the New York-Penn that year. Kester started the 1995 Midwest League All-Star Game. He finished '95 with a 12 - 5 record and a 2.97 ERA--good for eighth in the Midwest League--and got as high as AA Jackson in 1997.
9 Doug Ketchen Cards Pitcher
Led Asheville in starts, wins and innings pitched for 1991, then went 8 - 3 with a 2.79 for the '92 Osceola Astros. Doug -- identified as "J.B. Ketchen" on his 1990 ProCards Auburn Astros # 3415 and as "Doug J.B. Ketchen" on his '90 Best Auburn Astros # 8--got as high as AA Jackson in 1993 and 1994.
2 Dallas Keuchel Cards Pitcher
Lefthander from the University of Arkansas was the Astros' seventh pick in the June '09 draft. Finished third on the '09 V-Cats in innings pitched, strikeouts, and WHIP
2 Brooks Kieschnick Cards Pitcher
Former NCAA Player of the Year at UT and Cubs' first round draft pick remade himself as a sort of two-way player in the first years of the new century, and after an audition at Corpus Christi, hit .304 with a 5.72 ERA for AAA Round Rock in 2005.

193

Darryl Kile Cards

Pitcher

A Darryl Kile Timeline, with links to other stuff
3 Eric King Cards 2nd Base
13th round pick out of the University of Tennessee in 2005 hit .305 with a .362 OBP and very low isolated power that summer at Tri-City. A strong start to the 2006 campaign at Lexington got him the nod as a midseason All-Star, but he finished the year at .244/.309/.320. May have hit his ceiling at Salem in 2007, when he hit .200 with a .599 OPS, but should have a chance in 2008.

1 HAL KING Card

Catcher

Opening Day backstop in '68, and catcher for each and every inning of the the longest shutout by innings in major league history.

1 Craig Kizer Card Pitcher

1 - 2 with a 4.96 for the 1982 Auburn Astros
2 Klinton Klass Cards Outfield
Krazy, Kooky, Klinton Klass was the Astros' 28th round pick in the June '93 draft, and hit .204 in 35 games for that year's Auburn squad
3 Danny Klassen Cards Infield

Rookie League ball in Chandler, Arizona in 1993 for Mr. Klassen, then (in order) Helena, Beloit, Stockton, El Paso, Arizona of the National League, Tucson, back up to the D-Backs, back down to Tucson, up again to Arizona, back down to Tucson, El Paso once more, the major leagues in Detroit, Toledo, and then, in 2005, what we're concerned with here, a season in Round Rock, Texas, where he hit .319 and slugged .535. After being injured all of 2006, he returned to the Express for 2007, and hit .293 in 105 games. Only .219 when he returned in 2008, though.
1 Phil Klimas Card Infield

1976 Appalachian League All-Star for the last ever Covington Astro team was pictured in the 1977 Cocoa Astro set. After departing the Astro organization in 1979 after two years spent at Columbus, his greatest year was probably his last: in 1982, he led the AA Eastern League in batting average and hits, while playing for the Glens Falls White Sox.
1 David Klinefelter Card Pitcher
Tenth round pick in the June '88 draft went 2 - 3 with a 4.42 for the Auburn Astros
76 Bob Knepper Cards

Pitcher

Astrokillah brought in from the Giants with throw-in Chris Bourjos for Enos Cabell went 93 - 100 for the Astros over nine seasons. During his best years--1981 and 1988, when he went 9 - 5 with a 2.18 and 14 - 5 with a 3.14, respecively--he was a quality number two or three starter. But Knepper also led the club in losses four times, while leading in innings pitched once. His legacy also includes a one-hitter he threw 9/21/88 vs. the Braves--and a pattern of mysoginistic statements made to the press.
7 Alan Knicely Cards

Catcher

A Knice pair
19 RAY KNIGHT Cards

1st Base

Received straight up for Cesar Cedeño on 12/18/81; Would make the '82 All-star team during his .294-6-70 season. Actually led the NL in hitting at the break in '83, but was not similarly honored that year. Traded to the Mets for Gerald Young, infielder Manny Lee, and pitcher Mitch Cook on August 28, 1984.
1 Alan Knobel Card Pitcher
NDFA from Valparaiso went 2- 0 with a save for the 2005 Tri-City squad`

1 Randy Knorr Card

Catcher

Anemic-hitting catcher spent most of his time at New Orleans in '99 and also played in the bigs with the Blue Jays

3 Mark Knudson Cards

Pitcher

1 - 7 with a 5.20 in a Houston uniform, but a winning pitcher while wearing a Brewers cap.
4 Ryan Kochen Cards Infield
Team MVP for the 2001 Martinsville Astros--leading the club in average, runs, total bases, and RBI's. Hurt his shoulder April 12, 2002 while playing for Lexington, and was out for the rest of that year, but returned for 2003, and was something of a disappointment, hitting .248 for the light-hitting Legends. Given another crack with Salem in 2004, he hit .254 with 52 K's and 19 walks.

2 Lance Koenig Cards 2nd Base
Hit .275 for the 2003 Martinsville Astros in his first pro year and .270 in only 20 games for the 2004 Tri-City Valleycats in his second

2 Brock Koman Cards Infield
Led the New York Penn League in doubles for 2003 with 25 for the Tri-City Valleycats, then hit the same amount for the 2004 Lexington Legends

3 Doug Konieczny Cards

Pitcher

1971 non-drafted Free Agent signed by Jim Walton would be named Southern League All-Star in 1973, when he led that league in strikeouts. Brief callups that year and the following did not go well, nor did his full-fledged shot in 1975. Still, a place in my heart, as Konieczny's was my first Astro card.
1 Mike Koons Card Pitcher
Signed as an NDFA in 2007, Koons pitched in nine games for Tri-City that year, with four starts. 39 games as a reliever at Lexington in '08 yielded a 57:19 K/BB ratio, and his release from the organization. Last seen pitching for the independent Space Coast Surge of the Florida Winter Baseball League
4 Zak Krislock Cards Pitcher
Reliever at Auburn in 1992 had a 11.2 K/9IP and led the club in saves. Brought back for 1993, he split his time between Asheville and Quad City, and managed 107 K's in 110 innings.
2 Andrew Kroeker Cards Catcher
Only 8 at-bats for the 2005 Tri-City ValleyCats; got 54 more in 2006, homering twice with 6 RBI

1 Gary Kroll Card

Pitcher

Acquired from the Mets for Johnny Weekly and cash on 1/6/66, Kroll compiled a 3.80 ERA with no record in 1966. Optioned to Oklahoma City out of spring training in 1967, Kroll was sent to Cleveland for cash on July 27, 1967. His lone Astro artifact remains a high number.
1 Rusty Kryzanowski Card Outfield
Nice Irish Boy
1 Joe Kwolek Card Infield
Played at Asheville in '85 and '86 and at Osceola in '86, with the partial season at Asheville in '86 yielding his career best line: .319-5-28

La

CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
4 Dave Labossiere Cards Trainer
Before his retirement following the 2008 season, Labossiere had been the Astros' Head Trainer for 26 seasons, and trainer for the AAA Tucson Toros the four before that.
3 Carlos Laboy Cards Outfield

Non-drafted free agent out of Yubocoa, Puerto Rico played four years for the Astros system between'86 and '89--and saw his average drop in each of them.
17 Frank Lacorte Cards

Relief Pitcher

Righthander compiled a 1 - 1 record with a 1.35 ERA in four postseason games for the'Stros--but had a habit of losing his cranium when rocked.
13 Mike Lacoss Cards

Relief Pitcher

One of the most unflattering photos to grace an Astros card ever?
1 Pete Ladd Card

Pitcher

The star of our 1981 TCMA Tucson Toros #19, acquired from Boston with Bobby Sprowl for Bob Watson, also appeared on the '80 Topps Rookie Stars # 678; Went 1 - 1 with a 2.92 ERA in 12-1/3 innings for the 'Stros.
3 Carlos Ladeuth Cards Pitcher
Venezuelan League graduate was 1 - 1 with 1.58 as a reliever for the '06 Greeneville Astros, then put up a 2.42 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP for Tri-City in '07. Both the WHIP and the ERA were upat Lexington in 2008, but Ladeuth was second on the Legends' staff in K's.

1 Kenneth LaHonta Card Outfield

Hit a home run a year between 1974 and 1976: one at Covington in 1974, one at Covington in 1975, and his last at Dubuque (for whom he's pictured, of course) in 1976. Mike Lally, a teammate in the Appalachian League for 1975, recalls that LaHonta "could motor."
1 Steve Lake Card Catcher
Cracked out an even 100 hits for the 1982 Tucson Toros, then went on to play 476 games in the majors for the Cubs, Cardinals, and Phillies. Went two for four in major league postseason at bats.
32 Mike Lamb Cards

3rd Base/
1st Base/
Left Field

Streaky utilityman was beloved by Jimy Williams, who used him--often without justifcation--in platoon with Morgan Ensberg. Despite being more suited to the infield, used in left at beginning of 2005 campaign when rookies Luke Scott and Chris Burke did not get the job done. Well worth the shaky defense in my opinion, such as when he hit the salami off Mark Prior.

1 Randy Lamb Card Infield
Best year was for the team with whom he's pictured, the 1977 Cocoa Astros, when he hit .279 with 12 ribbies.

4 Layne Lambert Cards Shortstop
Led the Auburn Astros and finished eighth in the New York-Penn League in 1990 with a .303 average. Briefly reached AA Jackson in his last pro year of 1992.
4 Lawrence Lamphere Cards 2nd Base

South Atlantic League Midseason All-Star in 1989, when, despite hitting only .223, he led the league in stolen bases with 67 and threw in 65 walks and 24 doubles.
10 Dave Landaker Cards Shortstop
Eight of his ten cards have something to do with his status as the Astros' number two pick in the June 1992 draft. Didn't play in 1992 due to injury (?), then only got into ten games at Gulf Coast in 1993. Played decently as a 20-year old at Gulf Coast in '94, but flunked out after his .206-18-0 year at Kissimmee in 1995. Almost incontrovertibly one of the worst draft picks in Astros' history.

9 Rafael Landestoy Cards

2nd Base
/Shortstop

Received by the Astros with future NLCS MVP Jeff Leonard in exchange for Joe Ferguson on July 1, 1978. Landestoy's best year for the Astros was probably 1979, when he hit .270 and had a slightly better-than-League-average .338 On Base percentage. He scored the winning run in Game Three of the 1980 NLCS, then drove in the first run in the eighth inning of the fifth game. Landestoy was traded to the Reds for Harry Spilman on June 8, 1981. He returned to the organization in 1985, when he played a year for AAA Tucson. Click to see his nine cards.
2 Jim Landis Cards

Outfield

Defensive specialist playing his last season in Houston in 1967 made 50 putouts in 50 games with no errors, but only had a moderate Range Factor of 1.27
1 Ira Lane Cards Outfield
Hit .093 for the '82 Daytona Beach Astros
155

JASON LANE Cards

Outfield

After years of having opportunities dangled in front of him, only to be pulled away, the early going of 2005 seemed as if Lane were finally emerging as the OPS monster we knew lurked within. 2006, despite an increase in plate discipline, changed our minds about this, though, and Lane was traded to San Diego for cash towards the end of 2007.
Pity, really.
8 Kevin Lane Cards Relief Pitcher

Most remarkable line's gotta be his 3 - 10 record to go with the 2.69 ERA for the '93 Osceola Astros

4 Raphael Lanfranco Cards Catcher
Three of his four cards call him "Raphael" with a ph, rather than "Rafael," with an f, so I'm going with that. Got as high as Burlington in 1992, where he hit his one professional homer.
10 Gregg Langbehn Cards Manager/Coach

Came into the Astros system in '99 as Pitching Coach with Auburn, graduated to Lexington, managed at Tri-City for three years, and is currently managing at Lexington. His 2004 and 2006 teams at Tri-City both won the Stedler division and advanced to the New York-Penn League finals, but each fell short, and finished as league runners up.
2 Allen Langdon Card Outfield
Tenth round pick in the June 2005 draft played only 11 games for the 2005 Greeneville Astros due to injury. Repeating at Greeneville in 2006, he finished fourth on the club with a .343 OBP. Released in June 2007
1 Clarke Lange Card Infield

Hit .217 with three homers and 24 RBI for the 1985 Osceola Astros
13 Hal Lanier Cards

Manager

1986 National League Manager of the Year, and was JR Richard's final strikeout victim in that fireballer's first major-league start.

2 Cory Lapinski Cards Pitcher

Lefthander was an 11th round pick in the 2005 June draft and walked 38 in 33 innings for Tri-City that year. Showed improvement at Tri-City in 2006, striking out 45 and walking 29 in 37-1/3 innings with a 2.41 ERA, but was released in March of 2007
4 Norm Larker Cards

First Base/Outfield

In his only year with the club, Larker led the 1962 Colt .45's in walks, doubles, and OBP. Cardwise, Larker's is the only '62 Bazooka I've got
3 Steve Larose Cards Pitcher

Pitched for the Jackson Mets in 1990, then the Jackson Generals in 1991, after coming to the Houston organization in a trade that also acquired Nick Davis in exchange for Dan Schatzeder.
3 Don Larsen Cards

Pitcher

Sure the World Series perfecto, but also owner of three other World Series victories. 4 - 8 with a 2.40 in 108-2/3 innings for (mostly) the '64 Colts.
1 Dan Larson Cards

Pitcher

Pitcher received with another for Claude Osteen had a deceptive 5 - 8 record in 1976, and a very informative 1 - 7 record in '77
2 Kirk Larson Cards Shortstop
28th round pick in the June '91 draft hit a buck-sixty at Auburn in 1992

1 Ryan Larson Card 3rd Base

38th Round Pick of the Astros in 2002 played at both Martinsville and Tri-City that year, hitting a homer with 17 RBI before his eventual release. He extended his professional career somewhat with two years in the independent Frontier League
6 Larry Lasky Cards Trainer

First took a job with the Astros organization at Sarasota in 1978, and was still working at Osceola County Stadium in 1996.
1 Jason Latham Card Pitcher

Free Agent pick pitched at Martinsville in 1999

3 Barry Latman Cards

Pitcher

According to JewsInSports.org, Latman felt strongly enough about his Jewish heritage and religion, that he honeymooned in Israel. Latman went 13-5 (including nine straight victories) in 1961 for the Indians, and made the All-Star team. He joined the Houston Astros in 1966, and the website notes that Latman had three Jewish teammates on that team: Norm Miller, Larry Sherry, and Bo Belinsky. Though that's kind of a misleading statement: I can't really imagine a devout guy like Latman having much to say to certified whacko Belinsky. But anyway. . . .Latman retired after the 1967 season, finishing 20-16 lifetime, with 16 saves. He was 5 - 13 with one save as a 'Stro.

1 Andy Launier Card 1st Base

2006 49th round pick from Sierra College in California was signed for 6th - 9th round money as a Draft and Follow, then made his debut at Greeneville in '07. He there put up a better-than-league average slugging percentage, and was named Greeneville Offensive and Defensive Player of the Month for June. Released in May 2008, however.
2 George Lauzerique Cards Pitcher

The Cuban-born Lauzerique reached the majors at the age of 19 with the Athletics, but was playing in Mexico by his 25th birthday. After two years out of baseball, returned to give it a whirl with the 1975 and 1976 Dubuque Packers squads, for whom he got a couple cards, and coached a year.
1 Scott Lawler Card Catcher

Played in the Cape Cod League before being picked as a free agent and assigned to Auburn in 1997, but went no further.
1 Tom Lawless Card Manager
Managed the 2009 Lexington Legends to a 68 - 72 record
1 Carlos Lazu Card
Pitcher

Pitched in 13 games, finishing 8, for the 2007 Greeneville Astros before his 50-game suspension. Pitched in 3 games at Greeneville after his return in August 2008, posting a 5.40 ERA

Le

CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
2 Ramon Leader Cards Outfield

Played on the last ever Covington Astro team, and finished with the 1978 Daytona Beach Astros

3 Del Leatherwood Cards Pitcher

Got as high as Tucson in 1980 and '81, but his best year was for the 1979 Columbus Astros, for whom he was 15 - 11 with a 3.07. There does seem to be some doubt about the spelling of his name--each of his three cards shows a different version--but Pat Doyle has it as shown here.
1 Luis Ledesma Card Outfield

After hitting .317 in 1998 for the Dominican Summer League Astros, they brought him to the States and Martinsville for 1999. After he hit in .183 in 26 games, they musta sent him back. . .
228 CARLOS LEE Cards

Left Field

100-Million dollar free agent outfielder was Houston team MVP in his first year of 2007, and became fifth player in team history to post a .300-30-100 season. Much better defensively than you'd expect from a fat man, too! His injury late in the 2008 season sealed the Astros fate.
1 Chris Lee Card Pitcher

After going 5 - 2 with a Gulf Coast League-leading 1.15 for Sarasota in '87, Lee advanced to Asheville for'88
1 David Lee Card Pitcher

Major leaguer with the Rockies, Padres, and Indians was 1 - 1 with a 4.35 in 31 innings for the 2006 Round Rock Express
2 Eric Lee Cards Outfield

Lee's unnumbered 2000 Grandstand Auburn Doubleday card notes, somewhat cryptically: "He is the owner of Minuteman Press in Baytown, TX."
1 John Lee Card Pitcher

6' 3" 190 righthander was drafted out of Memphis State and assigned immediately to single A Dubuque in 1976, where he went 1 - 2 with a 5.73. Briefly pitched for the '77 Cocoa Astros with no record before leaving baseball.
1 Chase Lehr Card Pitcher
49th round draft pick, Class of '08, was 0 - 1 with a 6.52 in 7 games for that season's Tri-City Valley Cats squad
3 Stan Leland Cards Pitcher

Broke in with Gulf Coast and Cocoa in 1977, and got as high as Tucson in 1981, but his best season was probably with Columbus the year previous, when he was 8 - 11 with a 3.49
11 Denny Lemaster Cards

Pitcher

NL All-Star in 1967 with the Braves, LeMaster--given name "Denver"-- is owner of the 16th best single season in Astros history--minimum 20 starts-- for ERA/IP X 100, which if you get my drift kind of tells you who pitched the best, the most.
LeMaster's somewhat luckless
1968 season:
Yr ERA IP W L GS CG H BB K
'68 2.81 224 10 15 32 7 231 72 146

3 Mark Lemongello Cards

Pitcher

Acquired in a December '75 deal that sent (among others) Dave A Roberts to the Tigers, Lemongello is considered to have flunked out (and was traded to Toronto for Alan Ashby in the winter of '78), but was actually better than Roberts' last season in both of his. . . .

3 Fehlandt Lentini Cards Outfield

No we are not making this up: "Fehlandt Lentini" was the actual name of a once-legitimate Astros' prospect. Signed as a non-drafted free agent after the season had already started in 2001, he played at three levels that year and finished up at Lexington, where he hit .295. In 2002, Lentini was a Midwest League All Star for the Michigan BattleCats, and in 2003 he drove in 48 for Salem, and got a cup of coffee at AA Round Rock. In 2004, he played in the independent Frontier League
4 Arcenio Leon Cards Pitcher

Grandstand proclaimed him an Appalachian League Top Prospect in 2007 despite an 0 - 7 record that summer at Greeneville. 3 - 1 with a 3.33 when he repeated at Greeenville in 2008, and a 1.85 WHIP at Lexington in '09
7 Jeff Leonard Cards

Outfield

Received from the Dodgers with Rafael Landestoy and cash for Joe Ferguson on September 11, 1978, and later moved with Dave Bergman in one of the more horrible deals the club has ever made to the Giants for Mike Ivie. Leonard was also the principal player in an interesting ending to a game vs. the Mets.
2 Jacob Leonhardt Cards Pitcher

Righthander from Nacogdoches, TX, also known as Robert, walked more than he struck out at Tri-City in 2007. After a 4 - 14 year at Lexington in 2008, was released in November 2008.
3 Dan Lewis Cards Outfield

Third round pick in the 1986 January draft whose best year was probably at Asheville in 1988, when despite hitting .239, chipped in with 11 doubles and 12 homers in 107 games. Also went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a saving defensive play in Dean Hartgraves' no-hitter for Asheville that year.

2 Eddie Lewis Cards Pitcher

11th round selection in the June 1993 draft spent a year at Quad City
12 Jimmy Lewis Cards Pitcher

Second round pick in 1991 Draft was overworked at Florida State and never even had a 100-inning season in the minors for Houston. His 1994 Classic Osceola Astros # 13 is a wrongback that shows Lewis instead as teammate Doug McGraw
4 Mica Lewis Cards Shortstop

UCLA graduate hit .280 with 10 doubles and 15 stolen bases for the '88 Auburn club, but never really built on that and was gone after 1990

Li

CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
112

Brad Lidge Cards

Pitcher

Amazing first half of 2003--exemplified by his part in the six-pitcher no-hitter of the Yankees--had Houston fans forgetting all about the arm problems of previous years. The last two months of 2004--the end of a year during which he averaged an astounding 14.93 strikeouts per nine innings--made him a star. Some people say he ain't the same since he gave up a homer to a certain Cardinal slugger in a certain important game, but what came first, the chicken or the egg? Either way, the team gave up, and traded Lidge to the Phillies in November 2007 with Eric Bruntlett for Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary, and Mike Costanzo.

4 Cameron Likely Cards Outfield

Drafted out of South Alabma in the 24th round of the 2001 draft, Likely debuted at Pittsfield that year, hitting .291 in forty games. Promoted to Michigan for 2002, he walked 50 times in 100 games, and stole 26 bases, fifth best in the organization. He played at Lexington in 2003 and at Salem in 2004.

18 BOB LILLIS Cards

Shortstop/Manager

Opening Day in '63 and '65, then managed from '82 - '85
85 Jose Lima Cards

Pitcher

All-Star, winner of 21 Games in '99, and holder of the team record for Most Single-Season Homers Allowed for some time to come, Lima is still much more than a one-season wonder
5 Mario Linares Cards Catcher

University of Florida product had a promising start to his career at Auburn in '91, when he hit .274 in 51 games, but tailed off from there, and his last team was the '93 Quad City River Bandits
6 Rodney Linares Cards Coach
Hitting Coach in the Dominican Summer League since 1999, Linares was introduced stateside as coach with the 2004 Tri-City ValleyCats, and in 2005 moved to Lexington. 2007 saw him introduced as the new manager at Greeneville, replacing Ivan DeJesus. Returning to Lexington for the 2010 season.
1 Jack Lind Card

Manager

7th Round pick in the 1967 June draft spent 1969 and 1970 at AAA Oklahoma City before playing out his minor league string elsewhere, then returned to the organization 36 years later to manage the 2006 Lexington Legends
1 Jim Lindeman Card

Outfield

Although he went 8 for 23 in 9 games for the 'Stros in '93, the ex-Cardinal and Phillie spent most of the year at AAA Tuscon, where he won the PCL batting crown
3 Scott Linebrink Cards

Pitcher

Last game for the Astros was also his first victory as an Astro: Two days after beating the first-place Cubs with 5 innings of 4-run ball, on May 23, 2003, Linebrink was placed on waivers by the Astros, and claimed by the last-place Padres

1 Tom Lipari Card Pitcher

Minor League Free Agent out of the Padres organization pitched in nine games for Salem in 2004, winning none, losing one
2 James Lira Cards Pitcher

Triple A Rule 5 acquisition from the Devil Rays in 2000 led the Michigan Battlecats in saves for 2001 and was a Midwest League All-Star, then pitched 18 innings for the Lexington Legends in 2002 without giving up a run. Double A ball was, however, a harder nut to crack for Lira, as his 0 - 5, 6.04 season at Round Rock in 2003 showed.
8 PAT LISTACH Cards

Shortstop

Ex ROY for the Brewers (in 1992) was a spectacular flop for the Astros (in 1997)
2 Martin Lister Cards Pitcher

4 - 3 with a 4.00 ERA in 15 games for the 1995 Jackson Generals after being acquired with Ross Powell for Ed Taubensee
1 Christopher Little Card Pitcher

12th Round pick in June 2001 draft and led the '01 Martinsville Astros in appearances, but was not back for 2002
2 Jeff Livin Cards Pitcher

Best season of four-year career in Astros' system was probably in 1985 for the Asheville Tourists, when he was 15 - 7 with a 3.48 in 27 games. As of August 2003, employed as head baseball coach at Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas.

14 Shawn Livsey Cards Outfield

Sandwich pick in the June 1991 draft (and the top one who signed) spent two years in the complex league, and only got as high as single A Kissimmee

Lo

CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
1 Chia-Jen Lo Card Pitcher
The first Taiwanese player ever signed by the Astros made his pro debut in 2009 and pitched a month at High A Lancaster before getting promoted to AA Corpus and finishing the year there. Overall, Lo was 1 - 2 with a 2.10 in 42 games, with a 1.13 WHIP
5 Dan Lock Cards Pitcher

Second Round Pick, June 1994, out of Yale, of all places
1 Joe Locke Card Pitcher

Right handed pitcher drafted in the fourth round of the June '87 draft out of high school pitched 59 innings at Sarasota in 1987, then 59 innings at Asheville in 1988
3 Paul Lockhart Cards Outfield

After beginning his career with Auburn in 2000, switch-hitter batted .247 in 99 games for the 2001 South Atlantic League champion Lexington Legends. Lockhart was released by Houston 3/26/03.
27 Kenny Lofton Cards

Outfield

The One That Got Away
8 Kyle Logan Cards Outfield

Left-handed hitter from Hattiesburg, MS batted over .290 three times in a minor-league career that started at Auburn in 1997 and appears to have ended at New Orleans in 2004. Member of the 2000 Texas League Champion Round Rock Express, and named MVP of the 2001 Texas League All Star game.
2 Rich Loiselle Cards Pitcher

Reliever picked up from San Diego with Jeff Tabaka for Phil Plantier pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates later on, going 9 - 18 over six seasons with a 4.38.
1 Niuman Loiz Card Pitcher

Threw a seven-inning no-hitter for the Gulf Coast Astros on August 19, 1994, defeating the GCL Cubs, 2 - 0. Pitched seven years in the Astros organization, at Kissimmee, Auburn, and Quad City, but only once did he appear on a card--in 1996 for the River Bandits
4 Steve Lombardozzi Cards

Infield

Anybody else remember this some-field, no-hit second baseman on the Letterman show?
1 Brent Long Card Pitcher

1 - 3 with a 7.99 for Martinsville in 2002
13 Dave Lopes Cards

Outfield

Lopes stole 25 bases for the 'Stros in 1986, which Topps said was a record. We attempt to untangle the truth of that statement.
3 Aristides Lopez Cards Outfield

Hit .303 for the 1998 Venezuelan Summer League Astros, but could only muster a .220 with Martinsville in '99. Promoted to Auburn with unknown results for 2000, then released
8 Aurelio Lopez Cards

Pitcher

Señor Smoke actually had a better screwball than a fastball. Midseason free agent pick up went 3 - 3 during the '86 regular season, but took the loss in Game Six

5 Johann Lopez Cards Pitcher

Product of Agua Negra, Venezuela was barely 17 when he pitched his first game stateside, and had made it to AAA New Orleans just after his 23rd birthday, in time to win the '98 AAA World Series with them. Last seen in 2000, pitching for the Oklahoma RedHawks

4 Jose Lopez Cards Catcher

No relation we think to the famed Piña Colada mix magnate debuted stateside at Tri-City in 2005 and hit .268 with a .420 SLG in 33 games. Began 2006 in extended Spring Training until promoted to Lexington upon the injury to Eric Cavers. Backup catcher at High A Salem in 2007. Backup again at AA Corpus in 2008, he also got a short promotion to AAA Round Rock

2 Juan Lopez Cards Catcher

His 1988 Best Columbus Astros # 10 has the following to say:

"Juan is an excellent defensive catcher who has a strong arm and a quick release and a knack for keeping opposing baserunners honest. He spent three years in the Cleveland organization before being signed by the Astros as a free agent. Juan has impressed all with his ability handle pitching staffs, and especially his handling of younger hurlers."
Split '87 between Asheville and Osceola, before beiong promoted to Double A Columbus for '88.
2 Luis Lopez Cards Outfield

Had nearly three times as many strikeouts as walks for the '99 Michigan Battle Cats

1 Mendy Lopez Card

2nd Base

Bounced between AAA
and the majors in 2001:
Got into 10 games mid 2001, spelling Biggio, then was lost for the waiver price to Pittsburgh. Through Mid 2003, was on the Royals' major league roster
1 Pancho Lopez Card Pitcher

The man who Pat Doyle identifies as Francisco went 7 - 3 with a 2.06 for the 1973 Cedar Rapids Astros
2 Pedro Lopez Cards Catcher

Nine-year minor leaguer was signed as a minor league free agent in the early parts of '97, then played three more in the Astros' chain. Played 168 games for the Jackson Generals between 1997 and 1999, plus another 44 for single A Kissimmee and triple A New Orleans during that time, accumulating a total of 88 RBI and 251 total bases
1 Wilton Lopez Cards Pitcher
Waiver pickup from the Padres before the 2009 season pitched for at AA that year and made 14 starts and 15 relief appearances for Corpus Christi, finishing second on the club in IP. Had a nice 69:13 K/BB ratio to go with his 1.32 WHIP
43 Mark Loretta Cards

Infield

Deadline pickup in 2002 hit .424 in 66 AB's, but wasn't re-signed, so spent four years as the franchise career leader
in batting, min. 75 PA. Came back for 2007, and while he hit .287, distinguished himself primarilly by playing 72 games at short, despite lacking the necessary range.
And needless to say, he's no longer the team's career batting leader, min. 75 PA.
1 Michael Lorsbach Card Outfield

34th round Pick in June 2002 out of Rice finished third on the 2002 Martinsville Astros in OBP with a .395
4 Scott Loucks Cards

Outfield

Switch-hitter played in 69 games for the early '80's Astros, looking good in a couple limited previews but hitting .224 with 17 K's in 49 AB's when they gave him an extended 44-game tryout in 1982. Best season in the minors was probably for the 1985 Tucson club, when he hit .287 with 8 homers and 58 ribbies.

6 Mark Loughlin Cards Pitcher

Lefthander went 8 - 2 with a 2.01, striking out 78 and walking 32, for the 1991 Auburn Astros, and was named a league All-Star. Plus, ProCards said he was one of Tomorrow's Heroes. He was 6 - 8 with a 5.94 at Asheville in 1992, but rebounded with a 4 - 6, 3.57 campaign in 19 games at Quad City in 1993. Still, he was not back in the Astros' farm for '94.
1 Farley Love Card Pitcher

Righthander from Eight Mile, Alabama, went 4 - 2 with a 0.90 ERA for the 1998 Quad City River Bandits, and pitched with no record at two other stops that year
1 Jeff Love Card Pitcher

His 1999 Multi-Ad Kissimmee Cobras Unnumbered has the following to say:
Jeff was signed by the Astros in March 1998 to a free agent contract. He led the Kissimmee bullpen with 90.1 relief innings and was second on the club with a 2.89 ERA.
He was 3 - 2 that year, but followed in 1999 with a 2 - 3 record with a 6.66, and was released.
4 Mike Loynd Cards Pitcher

Florida State graduate Loynd was acquired from the Texas Rangers in exchange for catcher Robbie Wine, Jr., on March 25, 1998. Loynd pitched at AAA Tucson in 1988 (thus playing with the guy --Craig Biggio--who made the player he'd been traded for expendable), and at AA Columbus in '89

Lu - Ly

CARDS I HAVE PLAYER POSITION REMARKS
1 Arbrey Lucas Card Pitcher

Another player on the FSL Central Division Champion '85 Osceola Astros, for whom he was 4- 2 with a 1.76

4 Gary Lucas Cards Coach
Pitching Coach for the 1993 and 1994 Quad City River Bandits led the National League in appearances with 57 for the 1981 San Diego Padres
4 Matt Lucas Cards Catcher
NDFA out of Cal State Fullerton had his best year in 2000 for the Auburn Doubledays; he hit .303 with 27 hits in 29 games
1 Andrea Lucati Card Pitcher
NDFA from Ponzano Veneto, Italy threw seven innings at Greeneville in 2008
3 Roger Luce Cards Catcher
Acquired from the Texas Rangers on May 18, 1995 for prospect-gone bust Domingo Jean, Luce caught some at AA Jackson in '95, and split '96 between Jackson and Tucson
6 Nate Lucero Cards Trainer
Trainer in the Astros organization between 1993 and 2000

4 Ken Luckham Cards Pitcher

Rule Five selection from the Dodgers in '89 was probably best at Osceola in 1991, going 8 - 12 as a starter with a 3.89
2 Arquimedes Lugo Cards Pitcher
1 - 2 with a 3.64 in 22 games for the 1993 Auburn Astros
73 Julio Lugo Cards Shortstop
43rd Round Pick in the June 1994 draft remains the lowest-round draft pick to have ever reached Houston. And I will not defend wife-beaters, but I'm still not sure Lugo might not have been railroaded out of Houston.
3 Ruddy Lugo Card Pitcher
Julio Lugo's brother was received from the Dodgers on January 25, 2003 in exchange for Daryle "Heavy D" Ward, and released one year later. Threw 85 innings for the 2006 Tampa Bay Devil Rays, with OK results.
2 Santo Luis Cards Pitcher

Righthander from La Romana, DR led the 2006 Greeneville Astros in Saves and Games Finished, and pulled off the same quiniella at Lexington in 2007, while pulling off a team strikeout title as well.
1 Tyler Lumsden Card Pitcher
Minor league free agent lefty began 2009 at Round Rock, then was demoted to AA Corpus on July 1st. Overall, a 4.94 ERA and a .300 BAA
4 Joe Lydic Cards Infield
Led the 2000 Auburn Doubledays in doubles, total bases and SLG, then started the 2001 Midwest League All Star game , but has plunged since: hit .246 for Michigan in 2002 and .203 for Salem in 2003
1 Scott Lydy Cards Outfield
Another superprospect who didn't make it; played for the Zephyrs in 2001, his 12th minor league season. Doubled and drove in a run in Brian Powell's no-hitter

5 Jordan Lyles Cards Pitcher
First round pick in the June 2008 draft led Greenville pitchers who threw more than ten innings that summer in WHIP. Pitching for Lexington in '09, he led the Legends, and finished third in the Sally League in strikeouts. Didn't win Lexington's Pitcher of the Month Award, but was nevertheless named the organizations Pitcher of the Year for 2009
4 Jim Lynch Cards Pitcher
28th Selection in June 1994 draft had best year in 1998, when, used for the first time as a starter, and splitting his time between single A Quad City and High A Kissimmee, he had a 13 - 8 record with a 3.23 ERA over 156 innings

2 Barry Lyons Cards Catcher
Biloxi, MS, native was the heir apparent to Gary Carter for the late-80's Mets, but after only one year they let him go and went with the immortal Mackey Sasser instead. Houston signed Lyons as a free agent in January of 1992, and he spent that year as Tucson's primary catcher, hitting .300 with 45 RBI's
1 Rick Lysander Cards Pitcher
10 - 7 with a 4.05 for the 1982 Tucson Toros; the following two years were spent in Minneapolis as the Twins' primary (and best) righthanded reliever

Jump to Player Pages by Initial

"A" Page and Astroland Home, including a rationale and some numbers

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I - J

K - L

M

N - O

P

Q - R

S

T

U - V

W

X Y Z

Pocket Schedules

Down on the Farm year by year

My wantlist--Can you help?

My Doubles/Cards for Sale

Links to all sorts of cool Astro and baseball card stuff on the net

Jump to the top of this page