The Pecan Park Eagle

ROOTS 2 is the second of numerous columns The Pecan Park Eagle plans to publish from materials found in the old attic box of a now deceased 9o plus years old widow and original Houston Astros fan. As each of these new, but old treasured subjects unfold, they will always be entitled here by the introductory “ROOTS” DESIGNATION, plus the number in the series. Today features ROOTS 2, the second in this now and then, ongoing look at Houston’s baseball past from one small box in a fan’s attic. Enjoy! 

Voices of the Astros – Gene Elston (seated left) and Loel Passe (seated right) are the on-air broadcasters. In the background are engineer Bob Green (left) and producer Bob Boyne (right).

ASTROS RADIO AND TV NETWORK

What follows is a restatement of the written material shown above from page 138 of the 1965 program, “Inside the Astrodome”:

The Houston Astros radio and tv network reaches over 17 million people on 25 radio stations and 12 television stations throughout the southwest (Texas and Louisiana). 

The Joseph Schlitz brewing company purchased the play-by-play broadcast rights for three seasons beginning in 1965 for $5.3 million dollars. The Coca-Cola Company and the Duncan Foods Company will be sharing the pre and post game show sponsorships.

Broadcasters Gene Elston and Loel Passe will be broadcasting 162 regular season games and 30 exhibition games on radio originating on KPRC in Houston. In addition, the Astros will telecast 14 road games on Sundays originating on KTRK-TV in Houston.

The Astros have a unique radio network set-up in that they are the only major league baseball club to operate their own complete network organization. Most clubs sell their rights to a station who in turn handles all packaging and network arrangements.

The Astros do their own “packaging”, network organization, production and promotion under Hugh Cohn, director of radio and television, and Dick Blue, supervisor of broadcast operations.

Bob Boyne, the producer of the broadcasts, and engineer Bob Green are always in the booth with Gene and Loel and make all trips with the Astros to visiting National League cities.

During the baseball season, the Astro network conducts special contests and promotions for fans including a “Miss Astros” contest and a “Boy’s Baseball Contest.”