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Houston set their sights on bringing Major League Baseball as early as 1952 when George Kirksey and Craig Cullinan led a futile attempt to purchase the St. Louis Cardinals. The city remained committed to attracting a big league franchise and so the Houston Sports Association was formed, with Bob Smith an oil and real estate magnate and Roy Hofheinz a former Mayor of Houston. Other major league owners were not interested in expanding baseball, so the four joined other would-be owners from other city's announcing that they would form the Continental League in competition to the existing National and American Leagues. The fear of losing potentially lucrative new markets both existing leagues agree to expand by two teams each, and the Continental League never came into existence. Houston joined the National League and began playing in 1962, as the Colt 45's for the first three seasons before changing their name to the Astros.
The Astros have recently spawned a number of interesting fan traditions. In 2002 some fans in section 337 of the upper deck at Minute Made Park started hanging "O's" instead of the traditional "K's" for every strikeout pitcher Roy Oswalt would get, and so "The O's Bros" were formed. They have had to relocate to section 255 of the Mezzanine. Want to join them? All you have to do is turn up.
Another recent addition are the Los Caballitos, little horses a group of dedicated Carlos Lee fans who can usually be found standing on a balcony above the Crawford boxes next to the Home Run Pump. You can't miss them as many dress up as Mexican cowboys complete with sombreros that stand waving wooden stick horses as they cheer Carlos on.
The Astros spring training home since 1985 is the 5,300 seat Osceola County Stadium, the smallest ballpark in the Grapefruit League. Don't let that put you off as it more than makes up for its size by being one of the most player accessible stadiums. Astrophiles can watch every workout at no charge, and on game days the players from both teams mingle with the fans on their way from the clubhouse to the dugouts, giving fans the chance for autographs and photo opportunities.
The Houston Astros
Osceola County Stadium
631 Heritage Parkway
Kissimmee
Fl 34744
321 687 3200
Houston Astros - Spring Training Schedule 2009
|
Day
|
Date
|
Opponents
|
Home / Away
|
|
Wednesday
|
February 25
|
Washington Nationals
|
Home
|
|
Thursday
|
February 26
|
Atlanta Braves
|
Away
|
|
Friday
|
February 27
|
Washington Nationals
|
Away
|
|
Saturday
|
February 28
|
Pittsburgh Pirates
|
Home
|
|
Sunday
|
March 1
|
New York Mets
|
Away
|
|
Monday
|
March 2
|
New York Yankees
|
Home
|
|
Tuesday
|
March 3
|
Tampa Bay Rays
|
Away
|
|
Thursday
|
March 4
|
WBC Team - Venezuela
|
Home
|
|
Thursday
|
March 5
|
WBC Team - Panama
|
Home
|
|
Friday
|
March 6
|
Atlanta Braves
|
Away
|
|
Saturday
|
March 7
|
St. Louis Cardinals
|
Home
|
|
Sunday
|
March 8
|
Pittsburgh Pirates
|
Away
|
|
Monday
|
March 9
|
Washington Nationals
|
Away
|
|
Tuesday
|
March 10
|
Atlanta Braves
|
Home
|
|
Wednesday
|
March 11
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
Away
|
|
Friday
|
March 13
|
Washington Nationals
|
Home
|
|
Saturday
|
March 14
|
Philadelphia Phillies
|
Home
|
|
Saturday
|
March 14
|
New York Yankees
|
Away
|
|
Sunday
|
March 15
|
Atlanta Braves
|
Away
|
|
Tuesday
|
March 17
|
Detroit Tigers
|
Away
|
|
Wednesday
|
March 18
|
New York Yankees
|
Home
|
|
Thursday
|
March 19
|
New York Mets
|
Away
|
|
Friday
|
March 20
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
Home
|
|
Saturday
|
March 21
|
Toronto Blue Jays
|
Away
|
|
Sunday
|
March 22
|
Washington Nationals
|
Home
|
|
Monday
|
March 23
|
Florida Marlins
|
Home
|
|
Tuesday
|
March 24
|
New York Mets
|
Home
|
|
Wednesday
|
March 25
|
St. Louis Cardinals
|
Away
|
|
Friday
|
March 27
|
Philadelphia Phillies
|
Home
|
|
Saturday
|
March 28
|
Washington Nationals
|
Away
|
|
Sunday
|
March 29
|
Toronto Blue Jays
|
Home
|
|
Monday
|
March 30
|
Philadelphia Phillies
|
Away
|
|
Tuesday
|
March 31
|
Atlanta Braves
|
Home
|
|
Wednesday
|
April 1
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
Home
|
|
Thursday
|
April 2
|
Atlanta Braves
|
Home
|
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