1962
THE COLT .45s
Houston baseball begins
The expansion Houston Colt .45s played their first major-league game on April 10, beating the Chicago Cubs 11–2. The city had its own National League club.
HOUSTON ASTROS · FRANCHISE HISTORY
Our city. Our baseball history.
From the Colt .45s to the Astrodome and two World Series championships, discover major moments in Houston Astros history.
1962First MLB season
2World Series titles
2013Joined the AL
DECADE BY DECADE
A timeline of Stros history
Key moments through the 2025 season. Dates and milestones are sourced from MLB’s franchise history.
1965
THE ASTRODOME ERA
A new name. A new kind of ballpark.
The Colt .45s became the Houston Astros, and the Astrodome opened as their indoor home. Its space-age identity helped define the team for decades.
1980
FIRST DIVISION CROWN
First division championship
Houston won its first division title, taking the NL West after a one-game playoff against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
1986
THE 1986 RUN
Another NL West title
The Astros won 96 regular-season games and another NL West title. Mike Scott won the NL Cy Young Award; Houston lost the NL Championship Series to the Mets.
1997–1999
THE BAGWELL & BIGGIO YEARS
Three division titles in a row
Teams featuring Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio claimed three consecutive NL Central titles, bringing postseason baseball back to Houston.
2000
A NEW HOME
Downtown baseball arrives
The Astros left the Astrodome for a new downtown ballpark, originally called Enron Field and later Minute Maid Park.
2005
FIRST WORLD SERIES
First World Series appearance
Houston won its first National League pennant by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. The Chicago White Sox swept the Astros in the World Series.
2013
A LEAGUE SWITCH
Houston joins the American League
After 51 seasons in the National League, the Astros moved to the AL West. The transition marked a new phase for the franchise.
2017
WORLD CHAMPIONS
First World Series championship
Houston defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games for the franchise’s first World Series title. George Springer was named World Series MVP.
2020
AN IMPORTANT CHAPTER
MLB releases sign-stealing findings
MLB found that Houston had used an unlawful electronic sign-stealing system during the 2017 season. The club received a $5 million fine and lost draft picks; manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were suspended and then dismissed.
2021
BACK TO THE FALL CLASSIC
Another American League pennant
The Astros won the AL West and reached the World Series again, losing to the Atlanta Braves in six games.
2022
WORLD CHAMPIONS AGAIN
Second World Series championship
Houston won 106 regular-season games and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games for its second championship. Rookie Jeremy Peña earned World Series MVP honors.
2023–2024
RECENT YEARS
More postseason runs
Houston reached the AL Championship Series in 2023, then won its fourth straight AL West title in 2024 before falling to Detroit in the Wild Card Series.
2025
A NEW BALLPARK NAME
Daikin Park and a new chapter
The downtown ballpark became Daikin Park on January 1. The Astros finished the season with 87 wins but missed the postseason for the first time since 2016.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
The ballparks of Houston
Colt Stadium
The franchise’s first home as the Colt .45s, before the Astrodome opened.
Astrodome
Houston’s famous indoor ballpark hosted the Astros for 35 seasons.
Downtown ballpark
Opened as Enron Field; later named Minute Maid Park, then Daikin Park starting in 2025.