From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

View of a baseball stadium, taken from the upper deck and looking out over the field from right field. Open roof
Minute Maid Park, home field of the Astros since the 2000 season.

This is a list of seasons completed by the Houston Astros, originally known as the Houston Colt .45s, a professional baseball franchise based in Houston, Texas; they played in the National League from their inception in 1962 to the 2012 season; in 2013, the team was moved to the American League.

The Astros in total have completed 61 seasons in Major League Baseball, qualifying for the postseason sixteen times and reaching the World Series five times (2005, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022) with two world championships (2017, 2022). The team was established as an expansion franchise in 1962, one of eight teams that was created in the decade. The team's first winning season was in 1972. In 1980, the Astros made their first postseason appearance. From 1997 to 2005, the team made postseason appearances in six out of nine seasons. From 2006 to 2013, the franchise experienced a steady decline, bottoming out with three consecutive 100-loss seasons in 2011, 2012, and 2013. In 2015, the team defeated the New York Yankees in the 2015 American League Wild Card Game. This was the Astros' first postseason appearance as an American League team, and first overall since 2005. It was also the Astros' first playoff win since Game 6 of the 2005 National League Championship Series. Houston would qualify for the playoffs again in 2017, defeating the Boston Red Sox in the 2017 American League Division Series and the New York Yankees in the 2017 American League Championship Series. The team would go on to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 World Series, winning the championship for the first time in team history. Two years later it was revealed the 2017 Houston Astros used cameras in center field in order to steal signs from their opponents. This was later known as the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal.They are only team to have qualified for the World Series as a member of both leagues, and one of two to have qualified for the League Championship Series in both leagues (the Milwaukee Brewers being the other). As of 2019, the Astros are one of just a few teams in MLB history to post three consecutive 100-win seasons, a record oddly symmetrical with the three consecutive 100-loss seasons posted several years prior during their rebuild. During this esteemed era of baseball from 2015 to 2024, they have reached the playoffs seven times in eight seasons (after having appeared in the postseason nine times total from 1962 to 2005), going 56–36 in postseason play since 2015.

Through 61 seasons of baseball (57 while known as the Astros), the Astros have recorded 34 seasons at .500 or better, thirty of which have been winning campaigns, and have qualified for the playoffs sixteen times; of the fourteen expansion teams that have been created since 1961, their sixteen appearances are the most for any team. They are the only team in the history of Wild Card era baseball to play in seven consecutive League Championship Series and also the only expansion era team with an all-time record above .500.

Regular season record-by-year

World Series Champions
(1903–present) †
NL/AL Champions
(1901–present) [1] *
Division Champions
(1969–present) ^
Wild Card Berth
(1994–present) ¤
Winning Season
Season Team Level League Division Finish [2] Wins [2] Losses [2] Win% [2] GB [2] Playoffs Awards
Houston Colt .45s
1962 1962 MLB NL 8th 64 96 .400 36½
1963 1963 MLB NL 9th 66 96 .407 33
1964 1964 MLB NL 9th 66 96 .407 27
Houston Astros
1965 1965 MLB NL 9th 65 97 .401 32
1966 1966 MLB NL 8th 72 90 .444 23
1967 1967 MLB NL 9th 69 93 .426 32½
1968 1968 MLB NL 10th 72 90 .444 25
1969 1969 MLB NL West 5th 81 81 .500 25
1970 1970 MLB NL West 4th 79 83 .488 23 Doug Rader ( Gold Glove)
1971 1971 MLB NL West T-4th 79 83 .488 11 Doug Rader ( Gold Glove)
1972 1972 MLB NL West T-2nd 84 69 .549 10½ César Cedeño ( Gold Glove)
Doug Rader ( Gold Glove)
1973 1973 MLB NL West 4th 82 80 .506 17 César Cedeño ( Gold Glove)
Roger Metzger ( Gold Glove)
Doug Rader ( Gold Glove)
1974 1974 MLB NL West 4th 81 81 .500 21 César Cedeño ( Gold Glove)
Doug Rader ( Gold Glove)
1975 1975 MLB NL West 6th 64 97 .398 43½ César Cedeño ( Gold Glove)
1976 1976 MLB NL West 3rd 80 82 .494 22 César Cedeño ( Gold Glove)
1977 1977 MLB NL West 3rd 81 81 .500 17
1978 1978 MLB NL West 5th 74 88 .457 21
1979 1979 MLB NL West 2nd 89 73 .549
1980 1980 MLB NL West ^ 1st [A] 93 70 .571 Lost NLCS ( Phillies) 3–2
1981 [B] 1981 MLB NL West 3rd 28 29 .491 8 Lost NLDS ( Dodgers) 3–2
1st ^ 33 20 .566
1982 1982 MLB NL West 5th 77 85 .475 12
1983 1983 MLB NL West 3rd 85 77 .525 6 José Cruz ( Silver Slugger)
1984 1984 MLB NL West T-2nd 80 82 .494 12 José Cruz ( Silver Slugger)
1985 1985 MLB NL West T-3rd 83 79 .512 12
1986 1986 MLB NL West ^ 1st 96 66 .593 Lost NLCS ( Mets) 4–2 Mike Scott ( CYA, NLCS MVP)
Hal Lanier ( MOY)
Glenn Davis ( Silver Slugger)
1987 1987 MLB NL West 3rd 76 86 .469 14
1988 1988 MLB NL West 5th 82 80 .506 12½
1989 1989 MLB NL West 3rd 86 76 .531 6 Craig Biggio ( Silver Slugger)
1990 1990 MLB NL West T-4th 75 87 .463 16
1991 1991 MLB NL West 6th 65 97 .401 29 Jeff Bagwell ( ROY)
1992 1992 MLB NL West 4th 81 81 .500 17
1993 1993 MLB NL West 3rd 85 77 .525 19
1994 1994 MLB NL Central 2nd 66 49 .574 ½ Playoffs cancelled [C] Jeff Bagwell ( MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove)
Craig Biggio ( Silver Slugger, Gold Glove)
1995 [D] 1995 MLB NL Central 2nd 76 68 .528 9 Craig Biggio ( Silver Slugger, Gold Glove)
1996 1996 MLB NL Central 2nd 82 80 .506 6 Craig Biggio ( Gold Glove)
1997 1997 MLB NL Central ^ 1st 84 78 .519 Lost NLDS ( Braves) 3–0 Craig Biggio ( Silver Slugger, Gold Glove)
Jeff Bagwell ( Silver Slugger)
1998 1998 MLB NL Central ^ 1st 102 60 .630 Lost NLDS ( Padres) 3–1 Larry Dierker ( MOY)
Moisés Alou ( Silver Slugger)
Craig Biggio ( Silver Slugger)
1999 1999 MLB NL Central ^ 1st 97 65 .599 Lost NLDS ( Braves) 3–1 Jeff Bagwell ( Silver Slugger)
Mike Hampton ( Silver Slugger)
Billy Wagner ( Rolaids Relief Man)
2000 2000 MLB NL Central 4th 72 90 .444 23
2001 2001 MLB NL Central ^ 1st 93 69 .574 Lost NLDS ( Braves) 3–0 Brad Ausmus ( Gold Glove)
2002 2002 MLB NL Central 2nd 84 78 .519 13 Brad Ausmus ( Gold Glove)
2003 2003 MLB NL Central 2nd 87 75 .537 1
2004 2004 MLB NL Central 2nd ¤ 92 70 .568 13 Won NLDS ( Braves) 3–2
Lost NLCS ( Cardinals) 4–3
Roger Clemens ( CYA)
2005 2005 MLB NL * Central 2nd ¤ 89 73 .549 11 Won NLDS ( Braves) 3–1
Won NLCS ( Cardinals) 4–2
Lost World Series ( White Sox) 4–0 *
Roy Oswalt ( NLCS MVP)
Morgan Ensberg ( Silver Slugger)
2006 2006 MLB NL Central 2nd 82 80 .506 Brad Ausmus ( Gold Glove)
2007 2007 MLB NL Central 4th 73 89 .451 12 Carlos Lee ( Silver Slugger)
2008 2008 MLB NL Central 3rd 86 75 .534 11
2009 2009 MLB NL Central 5th 74 88 .457 17 Michael Bourn ( Gold Glove)
2010 2010 MLB NL Central 4th 76 86 .469 15 Michael Bourn ( Gold Glove)
2011 2011 MLB NL Central 6th 56 106 .346 37½
2012 2012 MLB NL Central 6th 55 107 .340 42 Justin Maxwell ( DPOY)
2013 2013 MLB AL West 5th 51 111 .315 45 Matt Dominguez ( DPOY)
2014 2014 MLB AL West 4th 70 92 .432 28 José Altuve ( Silver Slugger)
Dallas Keuchel ( Gold Glove)
2015 2015 MLB AL West 2nd ¤ 86 76 .531 2 Won ALWC ( Yankees)
Lost ALDS ( Royals) 3–2
Dallas Keuchel ( CYA, Gold Glove)
Carlos Correa ( ROY)
José Altuve ( Silver Slugger)
2016 2016 MLB AL West 3rd 84 78 .519 11 José Altuve ( Silver Slugger)
Dallas Keuchel ( Gold Glove)
2017 2017 MLB † AL West ^ 1st 101 61 .623 Won ALDS ( Red Sox) 3–1
Won ALCS ( Yankees) 4–3
Won World Series ( Dodgers) 4–3
José Altuve ( MVP, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Silver Slugger)
George Springer ( WS MVP)
Justin Verlander ( ALCS MVP, Babe Ruth)
2018 2018 MLB AL West 1st 103 59 .636 Won ALDS ( Indians) 3–0
Lost ALCS ( Red Sox) 4–1
Alex Bregman ( ASG MVP)
José Altuve ( Silver Slugger)
Dallas Keuchel ( Gold Glove)
2019 2019 MLB AL * West ^ 1st 107 55 .660 Won ALDS ( Rays) 3–2
Won ALCS ( Yankees) 4–2
Lost World Series ( Nationals) 4–3 *
Justin Verlander ( CYA)
Yordan Álvarez ( ROY)
José Altuve ( ALCS MVP)
Alex Bregman ( Silver Slugger)
George Springer ( Silver Slugger)
Zack Greinke ( Gold Glove, DPOY) [E]
2020 2020 MLB AL West 2nd ¤ 29 31 .483 7 Won ALWC ( Twins) 2–0
Won ALDS ( Athletics) 3–1
Lost ALCS ( Rays) 4–3
2021 2021 MLB AL * West ^ 1st 95 67 .586 Won ALDS ( White Sox) 3–1
Won ALCS ( Red Sox) 4–2
Lost World Series ( Braves) 4–2 *
Yordan Álvarez ( ALCS MVP)
Carlos Correa ( Platinum Glove, Gold Glove)
Yuli Gurriel ( Gold Glove)
2022 2022 MLB † AL * West ^ 1st 106 56 .654 Won ALDS ( Mariners) 3–0
Won ALCS ( Yankees) 4–0
Won World Series ( Phillies) 4–2
Justin Verlander ( CYA, CBPOY)
Jeremy Peña ( WS MVP, ALCS MVP, Babe Ruth, Gold Glove)
José Altuve ( Silver Slugger)
Yordan Álvarez ( Silver Slugger)
Kyle Tucker ( Gold Glove)
2023 2023 MLB AL West ^ 1st 90 72 .556 Won ALDS ( Twins) 3–1
Lost ALCS ( Rangers) 4–3
Kyle Tucker ( Silver Slugger)
Mauricio Dubón ( Gold Glove)
Totals Wins Losses Win%
4,921 4,892 .501 All-time regular season record (1962–2023)
83 76 .522 All-time postseason record
5,004 4,968 .502 All-time regular and postseason record

A The Astros finished the season tied for first place with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Houston defeated the Dodgers, 7–1, in a one-game playoff to clinch the division title. [3]
B The 1981 Major League Baseball strike caused the season to be split into two halves. The Astros earned a berth in an expanded postseason tournament by finishing in first place in their division in the second half of the season. The Los Angeles Dodgers had finished the first half in first place to earn the division's other playoff berth.
C The 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike, which started on August 12, 1994, led to the cancellation of the playoffs and World Series.
D The 1994–95 MLB strike lasted until April 2, 1995, causing the shortening of the 1995 season to 144 games.
E In a rare occurrence, because he was traded mid-season, Zack Greinke technically won both his Gold Glove and DPOY Award in the NL, despite stats from the latter third of the season, which he spent with the Astros in the AL, also factoring into the awards. He also won a Silver Slugger; however, due to the designated hitter option, he had no offensive stats from the AL to factor into this award, so, unlike the others, it is not considered part of his Astros resume for the year.

Record by decade

The following table describes the Astros' MLB win–loss record by decade.

Decade Wins Losses Pct
1960s 555 739 .429
1970s 793 817 .493
1980s 819 750 .522
1990s 813 742 .523
2000s 832 787 .514
2010s 789 831 .487
2020s 320 226 .586
All-time 4921 4892 .501

These statistics are from Baseball-Reference.com's Houston Astros History & Encyclopedia, [4] and are current through 2023.

Postseason appearances

Year Wild Card Game/Series LDS LCS World Series
1980 None (Won NL West) [A] Philadelphia Phillies L (2–3)
1981 None [B] Los Angeles Dodgers L (2–3)
1986 None (Won NL West) New York Mets L (2–4)
1997 None (Won NL Central) Atlanta Braves L (0–3)
1998 None (Won NL Central) San Diego Padres L (1–3)
1999 None (Won NL Central) Atlanta Braves L (1–3)
2001 None (Won NL Central) Atlanta Braves L (0–3)
2004 None (Won NL Wild Card) Atlanta Braves W (3–2) St. Louis Cardinals L (3–4)
2005 None (Won NL Wild Card) Atlanta Braves W (3–1) St. Louis Cardinals W (4–2) Chicago White Sox L (0–4)
2015 New York Yankees W Kansas City Royals L (2–3)
2017 Bye (Won AL West) Boston Red Sox W (3–1) New York Yankees W (4–3) Los Angeles Dodgers W (4–3)
2018 Bye (Won AL West) Cleveland Indians W (3–0) Boston Red Sox L (1–4)
2019 Bye (Won AL West) Tampa Bay Rays W (3–2) New York Yankees W (4–2) Washington Nationals L (3–4)
2020 Minnesota Twins W (2–0) Oakland Athletics W (3–1) Tampa Bay Rays L (3–4)
2021 Bye (Won AL West) Chicago White Sox W (3–1) Boston Red Sox W (4–2) Atlanta Braves L (2–4)
2022 Bye (Won AL West) Seattle Mariners W (3–0) New York Yankees W (4–0) Philadelphia Phillies W (4–2)
2023 Bye (Won AL West) Minnesota Twins W (3–1) Texas Rangers L (3–4)

Postseason record by year

The Astros have made the postseason seventeen times, with the first one being in the 1980 season. They are one of eight teams as of 2023 to have a winning postseason series record.

Year Finish Round Opponent Result
1980 NL West Champions NLCS Philadelphia Phillies Lost 2 3
1981 2nd half NL West Champions NLDS Los Angeles Dodgers Lost 2 3
1986 NL West Champions NLCS New York Mets Lost 2 4
1997 NL Central Champions NLDS Atlanta Braves Lost 0 3
1998 NL Central Champions NLDS San Diego Padres Lost 1 3
1999 NL Central Champions NLDS Atlanta Braves Lost 1 3
2001 NL Central Champions NLDS Atlanta Braves Lost 0 3
2004 NL Wild Card Champions NLDS Atlanta Braves Won 3 2
NLCS St. Louis Cardinals Lost 3 4
2005 National League Champions NLDS Atlanta Braves Won 3 1
NLCS St Louis Cardinals Won 4 2
WS Chicago White Sox Lost 0 4
2015 AL Wild Card Champions ALWC New York Yankees Won 1 0
ALDS Kansas City Royals Lost 2 3
2017 World Series Champions ALDS Boston Red Sox Won 3 1
ALCS New York Yankees Won 4 3
WS Los Angeles Dodgers Won 4 3
2018 AL West Champions ALDS Cleveland Indians Won 3 0
ALCS Boston Red Sox Lost 1 4
2019 American League Champions ALDS Tampa Bay Rays Won 3 2
ALCS New York Yankees Won 4 2
WS Washington Nationals Lost 3 4
2020 American League West
2nd Place
ALWC Minnesota Twins Won 2 0
ALDS Oakland Athletics Won 3 1
ALCS Tampa Bay Rays Lost 3 4
2021 American League Champions ALDS Chicago White Sox Won 3 1
ALCS Boston Red Sox Won 4 2
WS Atlanta Braves Lost 2 4
2022 World Series Champions ALDS Seattle Mariners Won 3 0
ALCS New York Yankees Won 4 0
WS Philadelphia Phillies Won 4 2
2023 AL West Champions ALDS Minnesota Twins Won 3 1
ALCS Texas Rangers Lost 3 4
17 Totals 18–15 83 76

Footnotes

  1. ^ For lists of all National League pennant winners see List of National League pennant winners, and National League Championship Series
  2. ^ a b c d e "Houston Astros year-by-year results". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
  3. ^ "Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score, October 6, 1980". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  4. ^ "Houston Astros History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 18, 2016.