Major League Baseball in Texas Major league baseball came to Texas when the World Series in 2005 and in 2017 when they won the National League awarded two franchises in 1961, one championship. In 2011, Houston businessman Jim to New York (Mets) and the other to Houston and Roy Crane became the principal owner of the franchise. Hofheinz, who named the team the Colt .45s. In 2012, Major League Baseball decided to move The team played in the temporary Colt Stadium the Astros from the six-member Central Division of until the completion next door of the Astrodome. With the National League to the four-member West Divi- the 1965 move to the world’s first domed stadium, the sion of the American League so that there will be five- team became the Astros. member divisions all around. In 2000, the Astros moved to the new downtown Thus, beginning in 2013, the Astros compete in ballpark now called Minute Maid Park. The Astros the American League against in-state rival the Texas have been in the playoffs 12 times, including the Rangers. Houston Colt .45s (National League) Year Win Loss % Finish 1962 64 96 .400 8th in league 1963 66 96 .407 9th in league 1964 66 96 .407 9th in league Houston Astros Year Win Loss % Finish 1965 65 97 .407 9th in league 1966 72 90 .444 8th in league 1967 69 93 .426 9th in league 1968 72 90 .444 10th in league National League split into divisions with Houston in the West Division 1969 81 81 .500 5th in division 1970 79 83 .488 4th in division 1971 79 83 .488 tied for 4th 1972 84 69 .549 tied for 2nd 1973 82 80 .506 4th in division 1974 81 81 .500 4th in division 1975 64 97 .398 6th in division 1976 80 82 .494 3rd in division Lance Berkman was part of the Killer Bs (also 1977 81 81 .500 3rd in division Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell) who went to the 1978 74 88 .457 5th in division World Series in 2005. Photo Mojo on Flickr (CC). 1979 89 73 .549 2nd in division 1980 93 70 .571 1st in division; lost NLCS to Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 1981 61 49 .555 3rd in division; lost NLDS to Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 1982 77 85 .475 5th in division 1983 85 77 .525 3rd in division 1984 80 82 .494 tied for 2nd in division 1985 83 79 .512 tied for 3rd in division 1986 96 66 .593 1st in division; lost NLCS to New York Mets 4-2 1987 76 86 .469 3rd in division 1988 82 80 .506 5th in division 1989 86 76 .531 3rd in division 1990 75 87 .463 tied for 4th in division 1991 65 97 .401 6th in division 1992 81 81 .500 4th in division 1993 85 77 .525 3rd in division Realignment to Central Division 1994 66 49 .574 2nd in division; (baseball strike, no playoffs) 1995 76 68 .528 2nd in division Year Win Loss % Finish 1996 82 80 .506 2nd in division 1997 84 78 .519 1st in division; lost NLDS to Atlanta Braves 3-0 1998 102 60 .630 1st in division; lost NLDS to Atlanta Braves 3-0 1999 97 65 .599 1st in division; lost NLDS to Altanta Braves 3-1 2000 72 90 .444 4th in division 2001 93 69 .574 1st in division; lost NLDS to Atlanta Braves 3-0 2002 84 78 .519 2nd in division 2003 87 75 .537 2nd in division 2004 92 70 .568 1st in division; lost NLCS to St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 2005 89 73 .549 1st in division; lost World Series to Chicago White Sox 4-0 2006 82 80 .506 2nd in division 2007 73 89 .451 4th in division 2008 86 75 .527 3rd in division 2009 74 88 .457 5th in division 2010 76 86 .469 4th in division 2011 56 106 .346 6th in division 2012 55 107 .340 6th in division Realignment to American League, West Division 2013 51 111 .315 5th in division 2014 70 92 .432 4th in division 2015 86 76 .531 2nd in division; lost ALDS to Kansas City Royals 3-2 2016 84 78 .519 3rd in division 2017 101 61 .623 World Series champions over Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 2018 103 59 .636 1st in division; lost ALCS to Boston Red Sox 4-1 Texas Rangers (American League) The Texas Rangers began play in Arlington in Eddie Chiles bought the team in 1980 and sold it in 1972 after Washington Senators owner Bob Short got 1989 to a group of investors that included future Presi- permission to move his team to the Dallas-Fort Worth dent George W. Bush. area. The Senators were a 1961 expansion franchise. In 1998, Dallas businessman Tom Hicks bought (The original Washington Senators had moved to Min- the team. In 2010, a group including oilmen Bob neapolis-St. Paul to become the Minnesota Twins.) Simpson and Ray Davis acquired the team. The Rangers played in Arlington Stadium until The Rangers have made the postseason playoffs 1994 when they moved next door to the Ballpark in eight times, including the World Series in 2010 and Arlington, now called Globe Life Park. Oil executive in 2011. Year Win Loss % Finish -1971 played as the Washington Senators 1972 54 100 .351 6th in AL West Division 1973 57 105 .352 6th in division 1974 84 76 .525 2nd in division 1975 79 83 .488 3rd in division 1976 76 86 .469 4th in division 1977 94 68 .580 2nd in division 1978 87 75 .537 2nd in division 1979 83 79 .512 3rd in division 1980 76 85 .472 4th in division 1981 57 48 .543 3rd in division 1982 64 98 .395 6th in division 1983 77 85 .475 3rd in division 1984 69 92 .429 7th in division 1985 62 99 .385 7th in division 1986 87 75 .537 2nd in division Year Win Loss % Finish 1987 75 87 .463 6th in division 1988 70 91 .435 6th in division 1989 83 79 .512 4th in division 1990 83 79 .512 3rd in division 1991 85 77 .525 3rd in division 1992 77 85 .475 4th in division 1993 86 76 .531 2nd in divsion 1994 52 62 .546 1st in division; no postseason due to players’ strike 1995 74 70 .514 3rd in division 1996 90 72 .556 1st in division; lost ALDS to New York Yankees 3-1 1997 77 85 .475 3rd in division 1998 88 74 .543 1st in division; lost ALDS to New York Yankees 3-0 1999 95 67 .586 1st in division; lost ALDS to New York Yankees 3-0 2000 71 91 .438 4th in division 2001 73 89 .451 4th in division 2002 72 90 .444 4th in division 2003 71 91 .438 4th in division 2004 89 73 .549 3rd in division 2005 79 83 .488 3rd in division 2006 80 82 .494 3rd in division 2007 75 87 .463 4th in division 2008 79 83 .488 2nd in division 2009 87 75 .537 2nd in division 2010 90 72 .556 1st in division; lost World Series to San Francisco Giants 4-1 2011 96 66 .593 1st in division; lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 2012 93 69 .574 2nd in division; lost wild-card game to Baltimore Orioles 5-1 2013 91 71 .562 2nd in division; lost playoff for wild-card to Tampa Bay 5-2 2014 67 95 .414 5th in division 2015 88 74 .543 1st in division; lost ALDS to Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 2016 95 67 .586 1st in division; lost ALDS to Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 2017 78 84 .481 4th in division 2018 67 95 .414 5th in division Sources: MLB websites, Dallas Morning News, and other sources. Opening day at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in 2010. Photo by Red3biggs (CC)..