November does not belong to baseball, at least not by design. Yet, the Houston Astros time and time again have dominated the headlines throughout one of the games quietest months. Today we revisit the November moments that redefined the course of Astros history.
Championships.
November 1, 2017. Every Astros fan knows the date by heart. Houston was still rebuilding from Harvey and that night, the title meant something far beyond the white lines. The first championship took an astonishing 55 years to claim.
1,830 days later, they’d do it all over again, claiming title number two which validated their dynasty. If you close your eyes, you can see Yordan Alvarez’s monster 3-run 450-foot blast in Game 6 vs. the Phillies. November 5, 2022, would be the last, for now.
Blockbuster Trades.
November 29, 1971. Worst trade in team history.
The Astros sent future hall of famer Joe Morgan to Cincinnati it resulted in the final piece for what would become the Reds potent “Big Red Machine” From the early 70’s through 1979, the Reds would average 95 wins a season in route to a pair of World Series. All told, eight different players were part of the deal between the Reds and Astros.
26 years later, the Astros would land a star of their own. November 11th, 1997. Fresh off slugging three home runs in the 1997 World Series for the victorious (then-Florida) Marlins, the Astros acquired Moises Alou. Alou would play three seasons in Houston and was a 2x All-Star thanks largely to his power numbers.
Bombshell. November 12, 2019.
Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich publish a report chronicling the electronic sign-stealing system thanks to former teammate, Mike Fiers. That article would set the sports world on its ear, ultimately costing the Astros multiple draft picks, suspensions, firings and a $5 million fine.
Ownership Change. November 11th, 2011
Drayton McLane sold the Astros to Jim Crane and set the stage for the franchise’s move to the American League. MLB approved the $680 million dollar price tag on this date, ending McLane’s 19-year ownership run. Houston would have 14 winning seasons during that 19-year span.
Every November moment speaks for itself. It’s where history lives in this city. It’s the month that shaped the franchise, and once again, it’s back.
