If you’re wondering how the American League champion Houston Astros got their nickname, you’ve come to the right place.
You also may wonder what exactly an Astro is (no, they’re not named for the Jetsons’ dog!).
Let’s go back to 1962. The Houston National League franchise was an expansion team. They were originally called the Houston Colt .45s through 1964. It was after that season that owner Judge Roy Hofheinz said the team would become the Astros, since they were moving into the Astrodome.
“We felt the space idea was more logical because the ballclub is in Houston — Space City, U.S.A., and our Spring Training headquarters is in Cocoa Beach, Fla., at Cape Kennedy — Launching Pad, U.S.A.,” Hofheinz said, via MLB.com. “The name and insignia will help dispel the image of Texas as a land of cowboys and Indians, and it behooves every citizen in this area to call attention to the 20th century aspects of Texas and Houston.”
So what’s an Astro? Well, it’s short for … Astronauts!
There you have it.
