Astroland P: The World's Most Complete Listing of Houston Astro Baseball Cards

Astroland P: The World's Most Complete Listing of Houston Astro Baseball Cards

Stevie Ray Vaughan performs the National Anthem at the Houston Astrodome April 10, 1985

Opening Day Starters for Houston in Caps

Playing for Houston in A Major League Ballgame Gets You a Flashing Icon

. . .Whiff King!

John Paciorek Card

3 for 3 with 4 runs scored in his lone MLB appearance, September 29, 1963. Often presented as the owner of the greatest one game career in major league history, Paciorek walked twice to go with his 3 singles, and thus also had a career on base percentage of 1.000 and a career slugging percentage of 1.000.

Oscar Padron Card

Former pitcher in the Astros organization 1993 - 1994, unchronicled however by card appearances, was made pitching coach for the 2004 Appalachian League champion Greeneville Astros. Promoted to Single A Lexington when Charley Taylor was promoted to AAA New Orleans, Padron was killed in a car accident in his native Venezuela just prior to the start of the 2005 season.

Orlando Palmeiro Cards

Outfield/DH

Left-handed hitter whose major value to the 2004 Astros was frequently said to be his playoff experience with the 2002 world champion Anaheim Angels may actually have possessed that value: he hit .300 in the playoffs vs. the Braves and Cardinals. He was 2 for 12 during the more successful 2005 run, although he did drive in 3 runs. At any rate, OP was clearly Phil Garner's favoritest lefty off the bench in '04 and '05. By 2007, was ninth all-time in pinch-hits collected, with 120.

Jim Pankovits Cards

Not "Plankovits" as on his 1980 TCMA Tuscon Toros # 19 or "Planouits" as on 1981 Tuscon Tuscon Toros # 17 or even "Pankovitz" as on two other issues. Later, as a manager in the Astros' system, gained some small measure of renown as both the manager of the last ever Jackson Generals team, and the 2006 Carolina League Manager of the Year.

Luis Pardo Card

Ninth round pick in the June 2007 draft was 0 - 8 with a 5.35 for that season's Tri-City V-Cats. Oh well, at least he got a good-looking card.

Zac Paris Cards

Righthander was named a 1980 Florida State League All Star after he topped the Daytona Astros in wins with 14. Led the 1981 Southern League in games started with 29. Paris was called up to Houston after the 1982 season, but did not appear in a game, although he did gain major league service time. Invited to Spring Training in 1982 and 1983 as a member of the 40-man roster.

Bob Parker Cards

One of only two Asheville Tourists with over 25 at-bats to hit over .300 for the 1984 South Atlantic League champions (the other being Mark Reynolds). The front of his 1987 ProCards Columbus Astros # 853 identifies him as "Rob," and the back prints the name and stats of pitcher Mark Baker

Dan Parker Cards

Tied with Jimmy Barrett for the team high in victories on the 1999 Appalachian League champion Martinsville Astros

Rick Parker Cards

Don't know what more they might have wanted: Hit .323 in 319 at bats for the 1992 Tucson Toros, .308 in 120 AB's for the 1993 PCL champion Toros, and .333 in only 45 at bats for the '93 major league squad, yet was granted his free agency October 4, 1993

Rafeal Parks Card

29th round pick in the June 2006 draft became a draft and follow, and began his pro career with Greeneville in 2007.

Jordan Parraz Cards

Third Round pick in 2004 draft --who also pitched in college-- began his pro career at Greeneville that year, and led the team in triples. He then spent two years at Short A Tri-City, and in the second of those two years was named Tri-City MVP as he led the New York- Penn League in hitting, slugging and OBP. He went on to lead the Lexington legends in at bats, hits, and doubles for 2007

Josh Pascarella Card

62nd Round pick in the 1995 draft pitched a couple years at Gulf Coast and a couple years at Auburn, with a short stint at Kissimmee in 1998

Jason Pasculli Card

Clubhouse Manager

Lacking anything else of substance to say, the back of his 1997 Auburn Doubleday card notes that Mr. Pasculli had an interest in "Dolphins football."

Bob Pate Card

Recorded safeties at a .347 clip to lead the 1982 Tucson Toros

Bronswell Patrick Cards

18 - 9 in 106 games with 31 starts over three years with the Astros' triple A affiliates, two years in Tucson, and the other in New Orleans. Patrick was a non-roster invitee to Spring training in 1997, and was granted free agency following the Zephyrs' season, on October 17.

John Patton Cards

Trainer for the 2003 Martinsville Astros and for the Tri-City ValleyCats after 2004. He seems to be missing a card for the '05 V-Cats. . . .

Troy Patton Cards

Pitcher who gets it up to 94--and threw three no-hitters his senior year in high school--signed late, and though assigned to Greeneville, was not included in the Choice team set. Then he went 2 - 2 with a 1.93 with 32 K's and 5 walks for the Appy League champions, and was named Baseball America's fifth-highest rated prospect in the organization. After becoming the second youngest player in the Futures Game in 2005, Patton had jumped to # 2 on that list for 2006, behind only Jason Hirsh. 6 - 6, 2.99 for the Corpus Christi Hooks in 2007, Patton was called up to replace an injured Roy Oswalt in the Astros rotation, and he made his major league debut August 25 vs. the Pirates. Pitched in three games, losing two with a no-decision before being shut down for the season with a strained biceps.

Felipe Paulino Cards

Reputed owner of 100-mph fastball has been clocked at 97 and had 10.41 K/9IP for the 2004 Greeneville Astros. In 2006, the improving K/BB ratio took a beating at High A Salem, and Paulino led the Avs in homers allowed. After going 6 - 9 with a 3.62 for the '07 Hooks, was made a part of the 40-Man roster when rosters expanded in September of 2007, Paulino was initially hit hard, but got better to the point where he won two games, including his start on the last day of the season vs. the Braves, in which he threw six shutout innings, giving up only two hits.

Pat Peavey Cards

Led the '02 Tri-city ValleyCats in homers, and was second in total bases and third in RBI on the 2004 Salem Avalanche

Al Pedrique Cards

Manager at Michigan in 1999 and 2000 led the BattleCats to a Midwest League championship in 2000. Interim manager of the 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks, the team was 43 - 83 under his direction, and he was not retained for 2005.

Frank Pedrique Card

Hit .227 with 9 RBI and a homer for the 2003 Tri-City ValleyCats

Darwin Peguero Cards

NDFA was second among qualifiers to Roy Oswalt in ERA for the 1998 Auburn Doubledays

Jailen Peguero Cards

No relation to Darwin as far as I can tell led the 2002 Tri-City ValleyCats in saves with six and was second in games. Pitcher of the month for Salem in July of 2004, and spent most of 2005 and 2006 as closer for AA Corpus Christi. Got the promotion to AAA Round Rock in August of 2006.

Brian Pellegrini Cards

1st Base/Outfield

12th round pick in June 2007 was just 1 for 14 for that summer's Tri-City ValleyCats before a back injury took him down for the season. His Choice baseball card from that year tells us the person Pellegrini admires most is Julio Franco, so perhaps good diet will bring Pellegrini back well for 2008.

Bert Peña Cards

First player to wear the number "1" on his Astros uniform when he did so on September 14, 1981. Invited to Spring Training each year from '82 to '87, the slick-fielding Peña never made the Opening Day roster, and spent most of his later career at Tucson, but also had call ups to Houston in every year but 1982. Three times this was to replace Dickie Thon on the Houston roster as Thon battled the effects of the Mike Torrez beaning. Peña also must be at least somewhat remarkable for the fact that he played in 88 games in the major leagues, yet other than a .500 average he carried across a two at-bat cup of coffee in '82, he never hit .300 during any season at any level.

Francisco Peña Cards

Despite a positive 1.58 K/BB ratio through 2004, Peña managed just a 22 - 28 record in his journey through the Astros minor league system that began in the Dominican Summer League in 1997 and ended at Salem in 2004

George Peña Card

Because his one TCMA card does not specify a position, all I can say is that Mr. Peña played an unspecified role for the 1975 Iowa Oaks

Tony Peña Cards

Catcher/Manager

Finished career of 1950 games caught with Stros in 1997, then after a year managing the White Sox' entry in the Arizona complex league, was made manager at AAA New Orleans on October 30, 1998.
In three years guiding the Zephyrs, Peña was 205 - 216, but because he led the Z's to a PCL co-championship in 2001, Peña was considered by many--including those here at Astroland--to be the best candidate for the chair in Houston that had opened up with the dismissal of Larry Dierker.
But while Jimy Williams certainly did not distinguish himself at the helm for the Astros, the sorry way in which Peña abdicated the job he eventually took in Kansas City shows that he would not have been the man for the job in the Bayou City, after all.

Pat Penafeather Card

Administrative Assistant

Kid who loved baseball, and especially the Auburn Astros, was named the club's administrative assistant at the age of 18--and was dead at 19.

Hunter Pence Cards

Second round draft pick out of Texas Arlington in July of 2004 was named Tri-City's defensive Player of the Month in August '04, then went on to finish second in the New York-Penn League in slugging. Hit 31 home runs at two levels in 2005, and hit another 28 at AA Corpus Christi in 2006. By 2007, fans were clamoring for Pence to be placed on the Astros' roster, and on April 28, he was. Pence went on to have one of the best rookie seasons in team history, leading the club in batting average, while hitting 30 doubles and 17 homers, and ended up finishing third in the Rookie of the Year voting.

JIM PENDLETON Cards

Infield/Outfield

The first left fielder in team history played in 117 games for the Colt .45's during the inaugural season, then split 1963 between Grady Hatton's Oklahoma City squad and Lou Fitzgerald's club at San Antonio

Darwin Pennye Cards

Former Pirates farmhand and NY-Penn League All-Star served as hitting coach for the 1997 and 1998 Auburn Doubledays

Gene Pentz Cards

Right handed reliever threw nine wild pitches in a mere 87 innings in 1977, "good" enough to finish sixth in the league in that dubious category. And while you'd think that a season in which you threw a wild pitch every nine innings just about would also be "good" enough to head up a franchise all-time list, you'd actually find that 17 pitchers--most of them much better than Pentz--actually did worse during one season or the other..

JOE PEPITONE Cards

Acquired from the Yankees for Curt Blefary in December of 1969, you'd be hard pressed to find any player less suited to play baseball in Texas. Mocked by Jim Bouton for having not just one but two toupees, Pepitone announced to the New York media that he intended to retire on July 22, 1970, and had been picked up by the Cubs on waivers by the end of the month. Rumors that he tried to have Bob Watson's legs broken are probably unfounded.

Francisco Perez Cards

Only Shane Reynolds and Donne Wall had better ERAs for the 1989 Auburn Astros than Perez. Reynolds was promoted to Double A Columbus for 1990 and went 9 - 10 with a 4.81, and was in Houston by the end of 1992. Perez, on the other hand, was promoted to Single A Asheville for 1990, went 6 - 4 with a 5.35, and was released after the season.

Gorky Perez Cards

You just know that if he'd made the majors Chris Berman would've called him Gorky "Park" Perez. But alas, he hit .175 at Osceola in 1990 and was released.

Jay Perez Cards

Second round pick in the June 1999 draft co-led Martinsville in 1999 with 36 RBI and was named an Appy League top prospect, but hit .237 at the same level in 2000 and disappeared.

Jhonny Perez Cards

He spelled it that way long before Jhonny Peralta did: Perez hit .319 at the Gulf Coast complex league in 1994 and was recognized as a top prospect by the Upper Deck company as early as 1995. After tying for the Kissimmee club lead in homers with 12 in 1996, Baseball America saw fit to pronounce Perez the number seven prospect in the organization for 1997. But he showed that power neither at Kissimmee nor at AA Jackson in 1997, and was never really considered a serious prospect again thereafter.

Martin Perez Card

Captured on cardboard while pitching for the 1976 Dubuque Packers, Perez also pitched for Covington in 1974 and 1975. All told, he was 15 - 15 in three years of action in the Astros organization, with remarkably similar 5.00+ ERAs each year

Pastor Perez Card

The only Cocoa Astro to hit over .300 in 1972, Pastor Perez also finished third on the team with 49 RBI. Pictured on a card for the 1974 Cedar Rapids Astros, who were also his last stop in the Astros organization. After a five-year layoff, played for Maracaibo in the doomed and ill-fated Inter-American League in 1979

Ramon Perez Cards

Debuted at Rookie Covington in 1971 and hit .250. Closed the decade and his career by hitting .234 at AAA Charleston in 1979. Best year was probably at Columbus in 1974, when he hit .283 with 37 RBIs. Hit a grand total of four home runs during his nine seasons in the organization. 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored in the Bob Dean/Paulo DeLeon co-no-hitter on July 25, 1973

Sergio Perez Cards

Second pick in the 2006 draft signed late, and only got into 11 games for that year's Lexington Legends, but won three and lost zero with a 2.20 ERA. Assigned to High A Salem for '07, Perez went 7 - 10 with a 4.00, and gave up a hit an inning.

Yorkis Perez Card

Received from the Phillies in return for Trever Miller on March 29, 2000. Posted a 5.16 ERA in 22-2/3 innings before manager Larry Dierker and Pitching Coach Burt Hooton had seen enough, and gave him his release July 24th.

Ray Perkins Card

Contrary to what you might be thinking, did NOT coach the New York Football Giants between 1979 and 1982. Instead, he pitched in the 'Stros' system between 1982 and 1984, debuting at Auburn and finishing two years later at Daytona Beach with a 16 - 17 record in the organization.

Andrew Perry Card

36th round pick in the 2001 June draft out of Cal Poly-Pomona went 1 - 6 with a 5.79 at Pittsfield that summer.

Pat Perry Card

Lefthander was the second pick for the Astros in the June '78 draft, and was working his third year at AA Columbus when, on June 24, 1983, while possessed of a 5 - 2 record with a 4.04 ERA, he was released. Despite the fact that he never pitched above AA with Houston, Perry would go on to appear in the majors for four teams, and at Triple A for five others. Finally retired in 1995, after an 18-year career.

Mark Persails Card

Received by the Astros in the deal that sent Brad Ausmus and CJ Nitkowski to the Tigers on January 14, 1999, Persails pitched well at Kissimmee and Jackson that year, then pitched poorly, but won a Texas League championship at Round Rock in 2000.

Reinaldo Pestana Cards

Product of the Venezuelan Academy first played stateside at Greeneville in 2006, and the results were less than spectacular as he hit .146 and OPSed .539. Repeating at G-ville in 2007, however, brought real progress, as the average was brought up to .266, which was good enough for fifth place on that rather offensively-challenged team.

Roberto Petagine Cards

Product of the Venezuelan Academy led the 1993 Texas League in batting, doubles, and walks, while chalking up a .442 OBP and garnering the League MVP award. Traded to San Diego with Caminiti, Cedeno, Finley, and Brian Williams for seven players in December of 1994. After moving through the Padres', Mets' and Reds' organizations without much success, Petagine went to Japan in 1998, and was extremely successful, winning three Gold Gloves, two home run titles, and an MVP.

Rick Peters Cards

Manager/Coach

Managed the 1990 Auburn Astros to a last place finish in the McNamara West Division of the New York-Penn League, then coached two years in the Midwest League for the Astros' Burlington club.

Mark Peterson Card

Left-handed control guy wasn't at his best during his short stint in the Astros organization, going 0 - 0 with a 5.40 (and walking 2 over 6 innings) for the 1997 Jackson Generals

Nate Peterson Cards

Left-handed hitter from Melbourne, Australia led the 1993 Auburn Astros in doubles, and was third on the 1995 Kissimmee Cobras in OPS

Mark Petkovsek Card

Pronounced Pet-KYE-zek I do believe. Pitched a no-hitter as a UT Longhorn, and also threw one in his only year as a Tucson Toro, blanking the Colorado Springs Sky Sox 5 - 0 on May 16, 1994.
It was his only complete game of the year, and one of ten wins. The ten winning decisions made him (along with Donne Wall) one of only two Toros to reach double-digit victories that year. Granted his free agency by the Astros after the year, by the time Petkovsek was done, he had won 46 major league games, most notably with St. Louis and Anaheim.

Andy Pettitte Cards


Pitcher

Big free agent signing brought in from the Yankees (and not just to aid in luring Roger Clemens) was injured in first game as an Astro, and only made 15 appearances in his first year of 2004. He missed only one start through the All-Star break of 2005, but pitched in considerable bad luck, and to a certain degree, down to his opponent. But by the end of the season, and after a remarkable second-half hot streak, he was Houston's Pitcher of the Year for 2005.
Pettitte posted a terrible 5.28 ERA and 1.59 WHIP during the first half of 2006, and no second-half rally could keep the season from being a disappointment. Seemingly without recollection of the statements he'd made about home and hearth when he came to Houston in 2004, Pettitte skedaddled back to New York during the offseason after the '06 season when the Yanks offered him a player option year.

Craig Petulla Card

Only the third player ever drafted by the Astros out of Slippery Rock University was taken in the 25th round of the June 2000 draft. Pitched for the Martinsville Astros that summer, and was 0 - 1 with a 4.66 over 13 games and 19-1/3 innings.

Willie Nelson Plays After the Last Regular Season Baseball Game in Astrodome History

Jon Phillips Cards

As of 2007, the only player the Astros have ever drafted out of St. Bonaventure University. 19th round pick in 1993 pitched in 25 games for Gulf Coast and Auburn, winning three and losing two between '93 and '95.

JR Phillips Cards

Bagwell insurance who in two different stints with the organization played most of his games at AAA New Orleans. Led the 1997 New Orleans Zephyrs in batting, homers and strikeouts. Became the only player in organizational history to hit four home runs in a game on May 21, 1997 at Omaha.
One of three Zephyrs in 1998 (with Incaviglia and Ward) to hit 20 homers. But even with all this service time logged in the Crescent City, Phillips was still able to play in the sixth-most games at first base for Houston during the decade beginning in 1991.

Montie Phillips Cards

Minor league free agent previously in the Giants organization led the 1991 Osceola Astros in saves, and was named an FSL midseason All-star

Hipolito Pichardo Card

So bad on Tuesday that he retired on Thursday: free agent signing in February of '02 was placed on the DL March 22.
But the first appearance after his activation went dreadfully. After his 1/3 of an inning, 3 hits, 2 walks, and three earned runs given up to the Phillies on May 7, Pichardo decided to retire rather than go on in such mediocrity.
And in doing so, Pichard became just one of seven pitchers in Astro history to have exactly one Game Pitched and exactly 0 At Bats, and one of only two (with Philip Barzilla) to end his Astros careeer with a grand total of 1/3 of an inning pitched.

Larry Pierson Card

Introduced as the pitching coach for the Salem Avalanche in 2007, and he guided Salem's hurlers that year to a third place finish in Carolina League team ERA.

Agustin Pinales Card

Dominican Academy graduate came to America in 2007, and pitched for Rookie Greeneville, producing a 1 - 4 record and an 8.24 ERA

Jairo Pineda Cards

Led the 1998 Gulf Coast League in strikeouts while pitching for the GCL 'Stros; reached High A Michigan within the Astros organization before he was lost in the AA portion of the 1999 Rule V draft to Detroit. Would go on to pitch for his native Nicaragua in the 2003 Baseball World Cup, and pitch in the Mexican League to close his pro career in 2004.

Greg Pines Card

Signed by the Astros as a minor league free agent in June of 2002, Pines went 1 for 15 in 13 games for that year's MWL playoffs-bound Michigan BattleCats squad.

Don Pisker Cards

South Jerseyite finished second in batting for the 1975 Covington Astros, then led the 1976 Dubuque PackersPackers--and the entire Midwest League--in average, and was named a League All-Star. Finished second to Jim O'Bradovich in both homers and RBI for the 1978 Charleston Charlies. Never got a major league at bat or solo card appearance with Houston, but he WAS featured on the 1979 Topps "Astros prospects" card, along with Bruce Bochy and Mike Fischlin. Traded to Toronto for Gary Woods on December 5, 1978.

Colton Pitkin Card

Lefthander threw 7-2/3 innings for the 2007 Greeneville Astros

Joe Pittman Cards

Outfield/2nd Base/Coach

Fifth round draft pick in 1975--and the second player the Astros had ever drafted out of Southern University--hit .278 at Dubuque in 1976 and .283 at Columbus in 1979, but had his best year at Tucson in 1980, when he hit .314 with 23 doubles, 10 triples, and 54 stolen bases.
Debuted as a major leaguer on April 25, 1981, and collected 40 hits including 5 doubles for Houston before getting traded to the Padres for Danny Boone on June 8, 1982.

Jared Pitts Card

28th round pick in June 2007 hit .205 in 36 games, but played errorless ball

Gordy Pladson Cards

Righthanded reliever most famous for winning AstrosConnection's mythical tobacco-chewing contest also became, on July 14, 1980, the last major league pitcher ever to relieve JR Richard. Richard had thrown 3-1/3 innings of one-hit shutout ball (and hit a double, which shouldn't surprise you) vs. Phil Niekro and the Braves, but walked off the hill complaining of what we now know to be an ominous dizziness. Pladson didn't pitch horribly in relief, but 2 runs and 3 hits given up over 3-2/3 was enough to lose the game when Niekro was pitching a two-hit complete game shutout. It was Pladson's first major league loss; he never would get a win.

PHIL PLANTIER Cards

One-time phenom for the Red Sox, and possessor of a stance even more radical than Bagwell's, had, by December of 1994, lost both the 'future star' tag and the ridiculous crouch. Acquired from the Padres in the Derek Bell/Caminiti megadeal, Plantier started 20 games and hit four homers for the Astros before being traded back to the Pads for Rich Loiselle and Jeff Tabaka in July of '95.

George Ploucher Card

First of only two draft picks the Astros have ever taken from Middle Tennessee State University was a ninth round pick in the June 1976 draft after having led the MTSU Blue Raiders in strikeouts the previous season. Had a better ERA than Dave Smith for the '76 Covington Astros, and as many losses as Gordy Pladson for the 1977 Cocoa Astros.

Anthony Pluta Cards

Third round pick in the June 2000 draft signed late, but hit 99 mph in front of Bert Hooton during the instructional league sessions after the season. Was 12 - 4 at Lexington in 2001 while striking out 9.41 men per nine innings, and was named the SAL Pitcher of the Week for July 22 - 28. Baseball America then named Pluta their fifth-best prospect in the Astro organization for the 2002 season. But a high walk rate remained the same while strikeouts dropped at Michigan in 2002, and 2003 was cut short on April 20 when he blew out his elbow after only 12-1/3 IP. Missed all of 2004 after Tommy John surgery, and had trouble regaining his velocity when he returned at Tri-City in 2005. Released by the Astros in March of 2006, though he has pitched in the Rangers organization since.

AARON POINTER Cards

The World Famous Houston Astros Shooting Star ~ Late '60's

Righthander from the University of San Francisco (and brother to the Pointer Sisters) played first base for Single A Salisbury in 1961, where he led the Western Carolina League in batting (at .402), runs (at 117) and hits (at 129), gaining league MVP honors.
Pointer is thus the only player in Astros organizational history to hit .400 over a season at any level while qualifying for his league's batting title, and is in fact the last player in any full-season stateside league to hit .400 over a full season.
After hitting .277 with 10 homers for the AAA Oklahoma City '89ers in 1966, Pointer made the Houston ballclub out of Spring Training in '67, and was Houston's Opening Day leftfielder on April 11, 1967 vs. the Braves, when his two-run double helped make a winner of Mike Cuellar. Optioned back to Oklahoma for good after 27 games in '67, Pointer began 1968 at OKC, and was traded to the Cubs in May. Although he never had a baseball card to his very lonesome, Pointer did appear on the 1967 Astros Rookie Stars # 564.

Celson Polanco Cards

Native of El Limon, DR pitched at Greeneville in 2005 and at Tri-City in '06, finishing 11 games and notching two saves for the V-Cats

Roger Polanco Card

Long before the rise of Andres Reiner's Venezuelan Academy, this righthander from Maracay, Venezuela, played three years in the low minors, having his best year when he hit .260 for the 1974 Covington Astros. Polanco drove in 21, but didn't homer--just like teammate Terry Puhl . Went 1 for 2 with an RBI in Dave Aloi's no-hitter on August 22, 1973.

Steve Polverini Card

One of four players drafted by the Astros out of Cal State Los Angeles in the two-year span beginning in 1987, Polverini was drafted 17th in '87, and pitched at Auburn that year, posting a W-L (3 - 1) and an ERA (3.80) that both looked pretty OK, while also finishing second-to-last on the team in hits allowed per nine innings.

Ed Ponte Cards

1988 NDFA from Sarasota, FL threw middle relief for the 1989 Asheville Tourists and led the team in wins with 11. Propelled himself to mid-level prospect status (and a Tomorrow's Heroes card appearance) with an even better season at High A Osceola in 1991.
Ponte was only 7 - 6 as a middle reliever and sometimes closer for the O-Astros, but he posted a 1.78 ERA, and a WHIP of 0.78, to go with a K/BB ratio of 3.90. Began '92 at Osceola, and after 7 poorly-pitched games, Ponte found himself demoted to single A Burlington, after which he was not taken seriously as a prospect again. Pitched some (and pitched well) at AA Jackson at the end of '92, but ended his Astro career as a Quad City River Bandit in 1993.

Brian Porter Cards

Pitcher/Asst. GM

3 - 4 with a 3.28 for the 1989 Auburn Astros, before bone chips in his elbow ended his short playing career. Came back for Auburn the following year as their Assistant General manager, and held that position for the 1990 season before leaving the organization.

Colin Porter Cards

1999 Midwest League All-Star at Michigan, when he led the BattleCats in stolen bases