The Pecan Park Eagle

Colt Stadium in Houston
April 11, 1962
1st MLB Regular Season Night Game
In Texas History

As we indeed try – never to forget the 4th of July – it is also pretty much emblazoned into the cultural memory of ancient Astros fans, extending back to our very first three identity years (1962-64) as the “playing-in-the-parking-lot, chomping-at-the-bits-to-get-inside” Houston Colt .45s, to (almost) flawlessly remember that our very first MLB game played out on April 10, 1962 as an 11-2 romp-and-stomp win into the land of brief delusions in a Colt Stadium mauling of the Chicago Cubs.

But, the question here is – how did our boys do in the April 11th Game Two? Do you remember? Here’s how Associated Press writer Harold P. Ratliff covered it in the April 12,1962 article that appeared variously across the land the following day. The box score that follows comes courtesy of Baseball Almanac.com. This particular representation is how it laid out for publication on that same next date in the sports pages of the Bryan Daily Eagle:

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Colts Blank Cubs, 2-0;

Smith’s Single Stands

By Harold V. Ratliff

Associated Press

Houston, Tex. – Hal Smith’s two-run single in the first inning made the difference Wednesday night as the Houston Colts blanked the Chicago Cubs, 2-0, behind the pitching of Hal Woodeshick and Dick Farrell.

Farrell came in to get the last three outs after the Cubs, beaten in Houston’s National League debut Tuesday, 11-2, had put two on base in the ninth with none out. Farrell got pinch batter Bob Will to rap into a double play, then fanned another pinch batter, Danny Murphy, after Sammy Taylor had walked.

A crowd of 20,336 watched the first major league night game in Texas despite rains that caused a delay of more than an hour while the Cubs were batting in the fourth inning.

Al Spangler singled and Norm Larker and Jim Pendleton walked, loading the bases in the first before Smith rapped a single to left for both Houston runs.

The double play that cut off the Cubs’ ninth inning threat was the fourth of the game for the Colt infield. They also stopped threats in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.

The loser was Cub ace Glen Hobbie, who went all the way and allowed but six hits. The Cubs got nine off Woodeshick, three by Ernie Banks.

George Altman walked leading off the Chicago ninth and took second on a fly by Ron Santo. Farrell relieved Woodeshick at that point and put it away.

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Footnote: Dick “Turk” Farrell also bags the first pitching Save in Houston franchise big league history.

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Tags: 1st Texas MLB Season Night Game

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