Q 01/05

What was the Houston franchise called when it entered the National League in 1962?

A) The Buffaloes

B) The Wildcatters

C) The Colt .45s

D) The Rockets

Answer · why

C) The Colt .45s

The Colt .45s spent three seasons in temporary, open-air Colt Stadium, where the heat, humidity and mosquitoes were fierce enough to make the case for...

Q 02/05

Which other expansion team joined the National League alongside Houston in 1962?

A) New York Mets

B) San Diego Padres

C) Montreal Expos

D) Los Angeles Angels

Answer · why

A) New York Mets

New York Mets: both newcomers were stocked from the same expansion draft, yet Houston finished its first season ahead of the long-established Cubs as ...

Q 03/05

The Astros name, adopted for 1965, was a nod to what?

A) The wide Texas night sky

B) The owner's love of astronomy

C) A planetarium beside the ballpark

D) Houston's role in the space program

Answer · why

D) Houston's role in the space program

Houston's role in the space program, as home base for NASA's astronauts, gave the club its name, and the name spread to its new dome and to the artifi...

Q 04/05

What was the Astrodome nicknamed when it opened in 1965?

A) The Big Bubble of Texas

B) The Eighth Wonder of the World

C) The Colosseum of the South

D) The Dome of Dreams

Answer · why

B) The Eighth Wonder of the World

The Eighth Wonder of the World was the pride of team owner Roy Hofheinz, who kept a lavish private apartment inside it, tucked beside the outfield sea...

Q 05/05

Why did the Astrodome switch to AstroTurf in 1966?

A) A drought brought a watering ban

B) Its painted roof killed the grass

C) Rodeo livestock tore up the field

D) Players complained about muddy basepaths

Answer · why

B) Its painted roof killed the grass

Its painted roof killed the grass: the skylights were coated so fielders could stop losing fly balls in the glare, and the 1965 season ended on dead t...