/u/aotex - HoustonNewMedia.org https://houstonnewmedia.org/author/u-aotex/ Building "Bridges" Across the Bayou City! Sat, 18 Oct 2025 17:01:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://i0.wp.com/houstonnewmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-cropped-Houston.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 /u/aotex - HoustonNewMedia.org https://houstonnewmedia.org/author/u-aotex/ 32 32 103504436 Flashback: Maldonado draws the bases loaded walk, 2021 World Series Game 5 https://houstonnewmedia.org/flashback-maldonado-draws-the-bases-loaded-walk-2021-world-series-game-5/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=flashback-maldonado-draws-the-bases-loaded-walk-2021-world-series-game-5 Sat, 18 Oct 2025 17:01:26 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=4dca2133a54d8f9345c2784c5695faaf My favorite moment from the World Series that year. I didn't know it was possible to aggressively draw a walk, but Maldonado pulled it off. submitted by /u/aotex [link] [comments]

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a few words from an elder fan https://houstonnewmedia.org/a-few-words-from-an-elder-fan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-few-words-from-an-elder-fan Sun, 28 Sep 2025 14:34:18 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=e02974d57898f07b170002079a9ba0cc Alright kiddos, gather round. Pappy wants to talk to y’all for just a minute. Now I know we’re all going through a rough patch here, seeing as it isn’t even October yet and after today our boys will already be done playing baseball for the year. Most ...

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Stuck on today’s NYT Mini Puzzle, can y’all help? https://houstonnewmedia.org/stuck-on-todays-nyt-mini-puzzle-can-yall-help/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stuck-on-todays-nyt-mini-puzzle-can-yall-help Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:39:22 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=4c667912aed065f0e266056ac304dcfa submitted by /u/aotex [link] [comments]

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Astros Prodigal Sons https://houstonnewmedia.org/astros-prodigal-sons/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=astros-prodigal-sons Fri, 01 Aug 2025 18:50:14 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=12084936bde418f7d6e9d9f0e9fdf336 With the return of Correa after about 3½ seasons in Minnesota, I've been reminiscing about other players who returned to Houston after wandering in the wilderness. Here's who I could think of: Joe Morgan: 1963-1971, 1980 - Morgan did pretty de...

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Nice defense flashback: Altuve let the ball drop to turn two https://houstonnewmedia.org/nice-defense-flashback-altuve-let-the-ball-drop-to-turn-two/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nice-defense-flashback-altuve-let-the-ball-drop-to-turn-two Fri, 27 Dec 2024 02:56:16 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=ada34a639efafafea15f67f2363fa60e This play lives rent-free in my brain, so I just wanted to share. submitted by /u/aotex [link] [comments]

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Had the share my new game day garb with people who might appreciate. https://houstonnewmedia.org/had-the-share-my-new-game-day-garb-with-people-who-might-appreciate/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=had-the-share-my-new-game-day-garb-with-people-who-might-appreciate Fri, 20 Sep 2024 21:53:29 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=cc500715bf7e21ad5a7c6f8376a8728c submitted by /u/aotex [link] [comments]

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Winning 50 Before Losing 50 https://houstonnewmedia.org/winning-50-before-losing-50/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=winning-50-before-losing-50 Mon, 17 Jun 2024 18:47:40 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=fa2f2007812de4f9a7138aed13ceb2af The Astros are currently 33-39, in third place out of five teams in the AL West, 9 games out of first, 7 games out of the third Wild Card spot. On June 25, 2005, the Astros were 32-40, in fifth place out of six teams in the NL Central, 14 games out of ...

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Had to show off my all-Astros solution to today’s Immaculate Grid puzzle. Share your best all-Astros grid! https://houstonnewmedia.org/had-to-show-off-my-all-astros-solution-to-todays-immaculate-grid-puzzle-share-your-best-all-astros-grid/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=had-to-show-off-my-all-astros-solution-to-todays-immaculate-grid-puzzle-share-your-best-all-astros-grid Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:37:50 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=aaacac59a5122453b0826998e6de09ba submitted by /u/aotex [link] [comments]

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Orbit is a 2024 inductee to the Mascot Hall of Fame https://houstonnewmedia.org/orbit-is-a-2024-inductee-to-the-mascot-hall-of-fame/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=orbit-is-a-2024-inductee-to-the-mascot-hall-of-fame Thu, 13 Jun 2024 21:01:42 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=a230ec0eb6ed72dfcf4ad87cb52f07f8 submitted by /u/aotex [link] [comments]

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TIL Jose Altuve has participated in more no-hitters than any other player https://houstonnewmedia.org/til-jose-altuve-has-participated-in-more-no-hitters-than-any-other-player/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=til-jose-altuve-has-participated-in-more-no-hitters-than-any-other-player Thu, 16 May 2024 01:51:29 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=dca98f2edc0de60ce4701a5507866dc7 Altuve has played in 8 no-hitters: 1) Mike Fiers vs. the Dodgers, 2015 2) multiple pitchers vs. the Mariners, 2019 3) Justin Verlander at the Blue Jays, 2019 4) multiple pitchers at the Yankees, 2022 5) multiple pitchers at the Phillies in the World Se...

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You awaken tomorrow to the surprising and unexpected news that the Astros have come out of nowhere to sign Shohei Ohtani to a ten year contract. What is your immediate reaction? https://houstonnewmedia.org/you-awaken-tomorrow-to-the-surprising-and-unexpected-news-that-the-astros-have-come-out-of-nowhere-to-sign-shohei-ohtani-to-a-ten-year-contract-what-is-your-immediate-reaction/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=you-awaken-tomorrow-to-the-surprising-and-unexpected-news-that-the-astros-have-come-out-of-nowhere-to-sign-shohei-ohtani-to-a-ten-year-contract-what-is-your-immediate-reaction Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:28:12 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=e045bbfd97184d1185ed2127c4cb3d77 Do you fall to your knees? Do you scream with joy? Do you scream with dread and frustration, mourning that the team has abandoned The Process™? Do you cackle wickedly at the absurdity of it all? Are you too baffled to even process what you've read...

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It’s the year 2013. The sun has set on the Astros’ third consecutive 100-loss season. Through some kink in the space-time continuum, you find yourself able to access the website Baseball Reference from the year 2023. What is the most surprising fact you discover? https://houstonnewmedia.org/its-the-year-2013-the-sun-has-set-on-the-astros-third-consecutive-100-loss-season-through-some-kink-in-the-space-time-continuum-you-find-yourself-able-to-access-the-website-baseball-reference-f/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=its-the-year-2013-the-sun-has-set-on-the-astros-third-consecutive-100-loss-season-through-some-kink-in-the-space-time-continuum-you-find-yourself-able-to-access-the-website-baseball-reference-f Fri, 03 Nov 2023 22:35:46 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=30e7063878ae3356a1981488f763bcff submitted by /u/aotex [link] [comments]

The post It’s the year 2013. The sun has set on the Astros’ third consecutive 100-loss season. Through some kink in the space-time continuum, you find yourself able to access the website Baseball Reference from the year 2023. What is the most surprising fact you discover? first appeared on HoustonNewMedia.org.

The post It’s the year 2013. The sun has set on the Astros’ third consecutive 100-loss season. Through some kink in the space-time continuum, you find yourself able to access the website Baseball Reference from the year 2023. What is the most surprising fact you discover? appeared first on HoustonNewMedia.org.

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a brief history of Astros postseason walkoff victories (so far) https://houstonnewmedia.org/a-brief-history-of-astros-postseason-walkoff-victories-so-far/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-brief-history-of-astros-postseason-walkoff-victories-so-far Wed, 04 Oct 2023 19:07:53 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=082302c8da2025bbfc5355c93f9269d0 a fun jaunt down memory lane while we wait for Saturday... 1980 NLCS Game 3 - Denny Walling walks off the Phillies with an 11th inning sacrifice fly, scoring Rafael Landestoy 1981 NLDS Game 1 - Alan Ashby walks off the Dodgers with a home run, scoring...

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Random clip: Lance Berkman gets mad, 2007, Denver. https://houstonnewmedia.org/random-clip-lance-berkman-gets-mad-2007-denver/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=random-clip-lance-berkman-gets-mad-2007-denver Fri, 01 Sep 2023 21:01:43 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=d3062bbdc4ef328b95e0b2b9eb3a54aa I had a vague recollection of this incident and was beginning to think that maybe I'd imagined it or at least it hadn't really played out the way I remembered. Today I found the elusive clip on YouTube. Berkman gets rung up on a questiona...

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Thanks, Diamondbacks! https://houstonnewmedia.org/thanks-diamondbacks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thanks-diamondbacks Tue, 22 Aug 2023 04:41:41 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=2ec3c9f21a8e0947cd942f001d74774d Rangers led the game 3-1 coming into the bottom of the 11th; Arizona stayed in it and rallies to win 4-3. 1.5 games back! (also don't look behind us) submitted by /u/aotex [link] [comments]

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The last time the National League won the ASG, Jose Altuve was a member of the team. https://houstonnewmedia.org/the-last-time-the-national-league-won-the-asg-jose-altuve-was-a-member-of-the-team/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-last-time-the-national-league-won-the-asg-jose-altuve-was-a-member-of-the-team Wed, 12 Jul 2023 03:28:25 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=c184096c69985ab4bd5c1a91f8898349 submitted by /u/aotex [link] [comments]

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a pun from my nine-year-old son https://houstonnewmedia.org/a-pun-from-my-nine-year-old-son/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-pun-from-my-nine-year-old-son Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:09:29 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=8df112bf873b08a777194fb69a23fa08 this is a true story This morning I was glancing through my social media, and my son looked at my phone and asked, "Who is that?" I pointed at the man in the photo and said, "That's Dusty Baker. He's the manager of the Houston As...

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I found an old trash can promo item. I won’t make any jokes if you won’t. https://houstonnewmedia.org/i-found-an-old-trash-can-promo-item-i-wont-make-any-jokes-if-you-wont/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=i-found-an-old-trash-can-promo-item-i-wont-make-any-jokes-if-you-wont Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:58:24 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=4c9ca07d121e3af7d90b0d7aca36e04a pretty sure this was given out before a game in 2006 submitted by /u/aotex [link] [comments]

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It’s a Winner-Take-All playoff game, and you can have one #44 (in his prime) from the Astros all time roster. Who you got: Roy Oswalt or Yordan Alvarez? https://houstonnewmedia.org/its-a-winner-take-all-playoff-game-and-you-can-have-one-44-in-his-prime-from-the-astros-all-time-roster-who-you-got-roy-oswalt-or-yordan-alvarez/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=its-a-winner-take-all-playoff-game-and-you-can-have-one-44-in-his-prime-from-the-astros-all-time-roster-who-you-got-roy-oswalt-or-yordan-alvarez Tue, 03 Jan 2023 18:09:19 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=ddc1ebb43fde59285c3eff739c715396

or maybe you just want to watch the world burn and choose Jim Bouton or Kyle Farnsworth, I don't know...

submitted by /u/aotex
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The 30 Most Significant Home Runs in Astros History https://houstonnewmedia.org/the-30-most-significant-home-runs-in-astros-history/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-30-most-significant-home-runs-in-astros-history Thu, 29 Dec 2022 00:02:31 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=940d8b96b853f3a9758d3ca20f9a6474

This list is entirely subjective and probably mostly wrong. While some of these are indisputable (Hatcher in 86, Burke in 05, Altuve vs Chapman, etc), others are negotiable. I welcome alternate takes and disputes.

That said, here's my list, in chronological order, with video when possible:

  • 1967 Regular Season (6/11) vs. Cincinnati Reds: Jimmy Wynn (3rd inning, 2 run homer off Sammy Ellis) -- One of two regular season homers on the list, Wynn crushed this one out of Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Fun fact: Three years later, Wynn hit what was then the longest homer ever at the Astrodome, over 500 feet into the upper deck. The landing spot was marked with a painted seat.

  • 1981 NLDS Game 1 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Alan Ashby (9th inning, 2 run homer off Dave Stewart) -- This walk off home run gave Houston a 1-0 series lead. The Astros would go up 2-0 in that strike-forced series, only to lose three straight and drop out of the playoffs.

  • 1986 NLCS Game 1 vs. New York Mets: Glenn Davis (2nd inning, solo shot off Dwight Gooden) -- Davis drove in the game’s only run against Doc Gooden in his prime, securing a 1-0 series lead.

  • 1986 NLCS Game 6 vs. New York Mets: Billy Hatcher (14th inning, solo shot off Jesse Orosco) -- In an absolutely bonkers heartbreaker for the Astros, the Mets finally managed to get a 4-3 lead in the 14th, only for Hatcher to keep the game going with this bomb. When the Mets scored three in the 16th, the Astros almost tied it a second time but fell short, scoring twice and leaving two runners on base as the Mets celebrated the National League pennant. (Hatcher did his part in the 16th as well, driving in another run with a single.)

  • 1999 NLDS Game 2 vs. Atlanta Braves: Ken Caminiti (2nd inning, solo shot off Kevin Millwood) -- OK, so this is an outside-the-box pick, but hear me out. This was right in the midst of the Astros’ years of Division Series ineptitude, especially against Atlanta. This home run turned out to be not only the Astros’ lone run of the game, but their lone hit as well. Houston actually led the series 1-0 going into this game, and for a brief, passing moment, it looked like going up 2-0 was a realistic possibility, before reality set in.

  • 2004 NLCS Game 5 vs. St. Louis Cardinals: Jeff Kent 9th inning, 3 run homer off Jason Isringhausen) -- This walk off home run gave Houston a 3-2 series lead. Kent’s helmet toss as he crossed home plate remains an iconic image in Astros history.

  • 2005 NLDS Game 4 vs. Atlanta Braves: Lance Berkman (8th inning, grand slam off Kyle Farnsworth) -- If you’re a longtime fan, you know what this is leading up to. Without Berkman bringing the game within striking distance with this late grand slam, later heroics wouldn’t have been possible…

  • 2005 NLDS Game 4 vs. Atlanta Braves: Brad Ausmus (9th inning, solo shot off Kyle Farnsworth) -- An easily forgotten homer that barely cleared the deep, deep center field wall over Tal’s Hill, this game-tying ninth inning bomb unlocked a bonus second nine inning game that saw, among other things, Roger Clemens pinch-hit and Ausmus play first base. As Lance Berkman would later recall, “It changed the course of human history.”

  • 2005 NLDS Game 4 vs. Atlanta Braves: Chris Burke (18th inning, solo shot off Joey Devine) -- Berkman and Ausmus hit homers that only matter because of this one. For the pre-Jim Crane Astros, this is probably the most iconic home run ever hit; only Hatcher’s and Kent’s really come close.

  • 2005 NLCS Game 5 vs. St. Louis Cardinals: Lance Berkman (7th inning, 3 run homer off Chris Carpenter) -- Were it not for catastrophic events later that evening, this home run by the Big Puma would probably be famous. This bomb (off Cy Young winner-to-be Chris Carpenter) put Houston up 4-2 with six outs needed to secure the team’s first ever World Series berth. It was Berkman at his most clutch, rising to the occasion when needed… but instead of being remembered as a series-clinching hero, Berkman and Billy Hatcher lay claim to magnificent home runs that represent unrealized hopes.

  • 2007 Regular Season (7/28) vs. Colorado Rockies: Carlos Lee (11th inning, grand slam off Brian Fuentes) -- The night belonged to Craig Biggio, who went 5-for-5 as he reached the 3,000 hit milestone in front of an SRO crowd, but it was Lee who put an exclamation mark on the action. With Houston down 5-4 and two outs in the 11th, Biggio singled, Hunter Pence doubled, Lance Berkman was hit by a pitch, and then Lee deposited the first pitch he saw into the Crawford Boxes. It was as magical as regular season baseball can get.

  • 2015 AL Wild Card Game vs. New York Yankees: Colby Rasmus (2nd inning, solo shot off Masahiro Tanaka) -- No, this isn’t quite as magical or significant as many of the other postseason homers that have marked the new Space Age, but perhaps that’s why I find it significant. To me, this represents the meager beginnings of what has grown into a mini-dynasty. Here, we see the young sapling of the Astros-Yankees rivalry sprouting leaves. Here, we welcome the dawn of a new era where success in the postseason is an expectation rather than a dream. (This also led to arguably the most infamous clubhouse celebration in Astros history before Josh Reddick donned a speedo, so that’s another plus.)

  • 2017 ALDS Game 1 vs. Boston Red Sox: Jose Altuve (7th inning, solo shot off Austin Maddox) -- PEOPLE. JOSE ALTUVE HIT THREE HOME RUNS IN A PLAYOFF GAME. I KNOW THE 2017 POSTSEASON WAS INSANE AND WE WON OUR FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP AND A LOT OF CRAZY THINGS HAPPENED AND MOST OF US WERE STILL HANGING UP NEW DRYWALL IN EMPTY HOUSES OR TEST-DRIVING NEW CARS BROUGHT IN FROM LOTS IN OTHER STATES AND KIKÉ HERNANDEZ ALSO HAD A THREE HOMER PLAYOFF GAME LIKE TWO WEEKS LATER FOR THE DODGERS BUT SERIOUSLY. HOW DO WE FORGET THIS? HOW?! THREE HOMERS IN ONE PLAYOFF GAME. IT’S ONLY HAPPENED TWELVE TIMES IN OVER A HUNDRED YEARS. THAT’S MORE RARE THAN AN UNASSISTED TRIPLE PLAY. PEOPLE. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THESE HOME RUNS. GAH. Alright now I’m done.

  • 2017 World Series Game 2 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Marwin Gonzalez (9th inning, solo shot off Kenley Jansen) -- If you had to vote for the most significant home run in Astros history, what would you pick? I’m not totally sure, but one major contender would be this bomb here. The Astros were playing in their second ever World Series, having never won a single World Series game, down 1-0 in the Series so far, down 3-2 in this game in the 9th inning, looking very anemic offensively. It honestly felt inevitable that they’d be going back to Houston with a 2-0 Series deficit, and the World Series trophy might as well have been on the Moon. Then all of a sudden, the leadoff batter in the ninth inning rips an 0-2 pitch over the centerfield wall at Dodger Stadium, composing an entirely different narrative for the team.

  • 2017 World Series Game 2 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Jose Altuve (10th inning, solo shot off Josh Fields) -- lol

  • 2017 World Series Game 2 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Carlos Correa (10th inning, solo shot off Josh FIelds) -- omg lol

  • 2017 World Series Game 2 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: George Springer (11th inning, 2 run homer off Brandon McCarthy) -- Bottom of 8th: Despair… Top of 9th: Joy… Top of 10th: Elation… Bottom of 10th: Despair… Top of 10th: Elation… We didn’t know it at the time, but this was all just a preview of what nonsense was to come in Game 5. Spoiler alert: More than 25% of the home runs in this list come from two games, both in this World Series.

  • 2017 World Series Game 5 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Yuli Gurriel (4th inning, 3 runs homer off Clayton Kershaw) -- It was the bottom of the 4th, Clayton Kershaw was rolling, and it seemed like the game had settled into a rhythm that didn't favor the Astros. Then suddenly… "GURRIEL! …HAS! … TIED IT! 4-4!" Little did we know that would only be the beginning.

  • 2017 World Series Game 5 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Jose Altuve (5th inning, 3 run homer off Kenta Maeda) -- The game-tying three run home run last inning was fun, why not just do it again? (Seriously though, absolute madness.)

  • 2017 World Series Game 5 vs Los Angeles Dodgers: George Springer (7th inning, solo shot off Brandon Morrow) After climbing back from two different three run deficits, the Astros once again found themselves in the hole. One pitch later, Springer hits a ball that literally explodes on the train track. I don't know about you people, but this home run was the moment I first allowed myself to believe we might win the World Series. It just felt like destiny.

  • 2017 World Series Game 5 vs Los Angeles Dodgers: Carlos Correa (7th inning, solo shot off Brandon Morrow) -- When the architects who designed Enron Field audaciously decided to put a short porch in left field, they did so because a soothsayer prophesied that one day, this section would lead to great prosperity. This was that day. (Before I move on, I have to apologize to Brian McCann for leaving his 8th inning bomb off of this list. When one game already has four homers acknowledged, it was hard to fit on a fifth, but McCann's also proved necessary for the narrow win. Thanks, Brian.)

  • 2017 World Series Game 7 vs Los Angeles Dodgers: George Springer (2nd inning, 2 run homer off Yu Darvish) -- This was one of the biggest exhale moments I can remember. Springer put the Astros up early in Game 7 and the team never looked back. The rest of the game was stressful, yes, but Houston remained in control.

  • 2019 ALCS Game 2 vs New York Yankees: Carlos Correa (11th inning, solo shot off J.A. Happ) -- Hot take: Correa putting his hand up to his ear was him trying too hard to manufacture an iconic image and I didn't like it. Nevertheless, I did like the home run he hit, and I liked it quite a bit. Add this to the "Astros kicking the Yankees" playlist.

  • 2019 ALCS Game 6 vs New York Yankees: Jose Altuve (9th inning, 2 runs homer off Aroldis Chapman) -- Yordan's mammoth blast in the World Series this year may have dethroned it, but at least for the last few years, I'd have to say that this was the single most iconic homer ever hit by a Houston player. It won the game, clinched the series, added to Altuve's legend, made Chapman's face a meme, and launched a thousand conspiracy theories.

  • 2019 World Series Game 7 vs Washington Nationals: Yuli Gurriel (2nd inning, solo shot off Max Scherzer) -- It almost hurts to put this one in the list, but I'm going to do it anyway. In some alternate universe, A.J. Hinch leaves Zach Grienke in to pitch, and the Astros celebrate their THIRD World Series championship this year. Then again, there's an alternate universe where they lose in 2017. There's one where Randy Johnson wins NLCS MVP in route to a 1998 championship. There's one where the team relocates to northern Virginia in the late 1990's. There's one where J.R. Richard doesn't have a stroke. There's one where the Soviets make it to the moon first. There's one where the British win the American Revolution. There's one where an asteroid destroys all life on earth in 1527. Life is strange and chaotic. I felt very happy in the moments after Gurriel hit this homer. I just wish he'd done it in a winning cause.

  • 2020 ALCS Game 5 vs Tampa Bay Rays: Carlos Correa (9th inning, solo shot off Nick Anderson) -- This one feels sort of weird. Yes, it was a walk off, but it happened in San Diego due to COVID-19. Yes, it was part of the Astros rallying to tie the series after going down 3-0, but they still lost the series in the end. So, it was a great moment, but also just sort of… odd.

  • 2022 ALDS Game 1 vs Seattle Mariners: Yordan Alvarez (9th inning, 3 run homer off Robbie Ray) -- In a postseason where the Astros won it all, it's entirely possible that the most important home run happened in the very first game. If Alvarez doesn't come through, the Astros start off in a 1-0 hole against a very capable Seattle club. Houston might have never seen the ALCS, much less the World Series.

  • 2022 ALDS Game 3 vs Seattle Mariners: Jeremy Peña (18th inning, solo shot off Penn Murfee) -- Peña looked at Chris Burke and thought, "This man won a Division Series with an 18th Inning home run. I want to do that one day." Peña loses some cool points for it not being a walk off, but gains some back for scoring the only run of the entire game. Say what you will about Seattle, but they put up much, much more of a fight than the Yankees did.

  • 2022 ALCS Game 4 vs New York Yankees: Jeremy Peña (4th inning, 3 run homer off Nestor Cortes) -- One day, I'll probably look back at this list and realize this home run isn't as important as many of the others and could probably be bumped for some other significant Astros homer. But I'm listing it because when Peña hit that ball, I just started laughing uncontrollably. The utter domination the Astros performed against the Yankees in this series was comical, and after years of being the doofus, it felt nice to see our boys kick around the most storied franchise in North American sports. It was like the giddiness I felt when the Astros mortified New Yorkers by signing both Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens, multiplied times a million.

  • 2022 World Series Game 6 vs Philadelphia Phillies, Yordan Alvarez (6th inning, 3 runs homer off Jose Alvarado) -- Can a sports moment be both shocking and completely unsurprising at the same time? When Alvarez hit this home run, it almost felt like everybody had a copy of the script and he was just following his cues, moving along in a sequence that had already been blocked out. At the same time, this cleared the way for a World Series championship that cleared some of the bad taste from 2019 and 2021, plus gave the fans some needed ammunition to toss back at naysayers obsessed with past sign-stealing. This is a strong contender for the new most iconic Astros home run ever.

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The post The 30 Most Significant Home Runs in Astros History first appeared on HoustonNewMedia.org.

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