1996 All Star Game Tribute – Houston
Houston Black Gold: A Look Back
(Doing the generic fact sheet, if anyone has more colorful writing to add to this year's All Star Tribute then please feel free to do so.)
Houston was announced as the site of the 1996 All Star Game edging out rival El Paso, and in no small part due to the power of Texas Governor George W. Bush. The Governor is part of the Bush family majority ownership and used to run the club as an active President before he followed his father into politics.
George H.W. Bush made his millions after moving to Texas and getting into the oil business.
After graduating from Yale, Bush moved his family to West Texas. His father's business connections proved useful when he ventured into the oil business, starting as a sales clerk[11] with Dresser Industries,[12] a subsidiary of Brown Brothers Harriman. His father had served on the board of directors there for 22 years. Bush started the Bush-Overby Oil Development company in 1951[13] and co-founded the Zapata Petroleum Corporation, an oil company which drilled in the Permian Basin in Texas, two years later. He was named president of the Zapata Offshore Company, a subsidiary which specialized in offshore drilling, in 1954.[11] The subsidiary became independent in 1958, so Bush moved the company from Midland, Texas to Houston.[12] He continued serving as president of the company until 1964, and later chairman until 1966, but his ambitions turned political.[12] By that time, Bush had become a millionaire.[11]
Bush's political desire was high but he was concerned about the liability of his wayward son, W. Bush Sr. was sure as hell not going to hand over the keys to his primary business but when he heard whispers of a new, national baseball league with a division to be in Texas, his ears perked up. This would be the perfect job to stash W. away in. W. was about ready to enter Harvard Business School and the job could be his when he was finished. Meanwhile Bush Sr. went after the best personnel, managers and trainers he could find, a trait W. would also carry.
With the exception of the impotent Aztecas who have never won a pennant or made it to the playoffs, the Texas Division is competitive year in and out. Houston has done well for themselves with 9 Playoff Appearances, 7 Texas Division Pennants and 1 World Series. In the 1970's Austin and Houston were the teams to beat, in the 1980's that probably goes to El Paso and Austin again in the 1990's.
Houston's only World Series in 1980 was a powerful team led by Bob Gibson Award Winner Ramiro Sandoval (Hall of Famer), Billy Martin and the league's best offense, scoring 4.9 R/G. Houston had to take out a 98 win Montreal team and then a 99 win Boston team to win the NL. In the World Series they would face the Dynasty of Washington. In 1980 Washington had won 4 of the last 6 World Series, and had never lost a World Series appearance. Houston was making their first appearance ever. The 1980 Admirals finished with 111 wins and was led by stars such as Sherwood Johnston, Garry Knowles, Charlie Olsen, Gizmo Delgado, Forest Thomas, and Brad Robertson. Johnston would end up winning the MVP and Delgado the Bob Gibson Award. The Admirals offense was impressive but their pitching was out of this world, they were holding opponents to a measly 3.7 R/G. Houston defied the odds and won in 6 games. During this season majority owner, George HW Bush, had ran a strong Presidential Campaign challenging Ronald Reagan before eventually dropping out. Soon after, Reagan had appointed him to run as VP in his bid. It was a good year for Houston's in baseball and politics. It was also at this point that HW appointed W a managing partner and President.
George HW Bush wanted the organization ran by competent ol' boys. Under his directive Houston persued former baseball guys with a reputation. The inaugural manager was Leo Durocher who served until his retirement in 1973. Durocher presided over a strong era in Houston's history and then left in the middle of it, to be replaced by Ralph Houk. Houk too had the name and quite a resume, already managing EWB teams prior to 1974. Houk had success in 1974 but faltered in the next two years and was fired. Felix Tapia, winner of the 1973 World Series with St. Louis came in from 1977-1979.
Perhaps the biggest managerial splash was from the hiring of Billy Martin in 1980. Martin came in and realized that the team was extraordinarily talented but need the proper button pushing. Martin was able to make his magic and led them to the World Series. Martin was the last hiring before W. took over. In the beginning, the two got along great, but things started falling apart in late 1982 and in 1983 W rashly fired Martin 1/4 into the season after Martin pissed on the Yale pennants in Bush's office (allegedly). Since then their public and bitter feud has raged on. Whenever the press needs a quote about W, they know Billy will provide.
W. hired Jack McKeon (mid '83-1987), Luis Serrano (1988-1994) before relinquishing his day to day baseball responsibilities to become the Texas Governor. Joseph Reed is currently the manager.
HALL OF FAME MEMBERS
SP Cesar Olivares - Olivares pitched for Houston in 1970-mid '72 when he was traded away. Olivares was the number 1 pick of the Black Gold in the Inaugual Draft.
SP Ramiro Sandoval - Sandoval was a stud and made his name in Houston and also was a primary part of the 1980 World Series.
TROPHY ROOM
1972 Texas Division Pennant
1973 Texas Division Pennant
1974 Texas Division Pennant
1980 Texas Division Pennant
1983 Texas Division Pennant
1994 Texas Division Pennant
1995 Texas Division Pennant
1980 WORLD SERIES CHAMPION
1972 Rookie of the Year, Christopher Good
1973 Bob Gibson Award, Rafael Ramirez
1979 Bob Gibson Award, Ramiro Sandoval
1980 Bob Gibson Award, Ramiro Sandoval
STADIUM
The Oil Fields of Houston is one the few parks with Artificial Turf, has been recently upgraded to a capacity of 44,000, and is generally considered a hitter's park. It's conducive to extra base hits and lefty HR's but is much harder for righties to hit HR's. The All Star festivities will kick off on Thursday June 20th. The HR derby participants have been named:
AL
Lloyd O'Neal, WAS
Paul Sims, CHI
Phil Bennett, KC
Tom Travis, LV
Rafael Valentin, BRK
NL
Tommy Brown, MON
Clinton Picot, NY
Arturo Borges, DET
Jim Huffman, HOU
Craig Belcher, BOS