Previously, because of a players ' strike in 1981, a split-season format forced a divisional playoff series, in which the Montreal Expos won the Eastern Division series over the Philadelphia Phillies three games to two while the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Houston Astros three games to two in the Western Division.

The White Sox last won the World Series in 2005 when they played the Houston Astros and swept them in four games.

They led the Wild Card by 1. 5 games over San Francisco and Houston on September 25, and both of those teams lost that day, giving the Cubs a chance at increasing the lead to a commanding 2. 5 games with only eight games remaining in the season, but reliever LaTroy Hawkins blew a save to the Mets, and the Cubs lost the game in extra innings, a defeat that seemingly deflated the team, as they proceeded to drop 6 of their last 8 games as the Astros won the Wild Card.

Two years earlier, Hampton had won 22 games and finished second in voting for the Cy Young Award as a member of the Houston Astros, while Neagle had been a 20-game winner in 1997 for the Atlanta Braves and had won fifteen games in 2000.

The Astros won the first two games of that series and the two teams were tied for the division lead.

After finishing second in their division in 1994 ( in a strike year ), 1995, and 1996, the Astros won consecutive division titles in 1997, 1998, and 1999.

The Astros won a wild card berth on the final day of the regular season, becoming the first team since the world champion 1914 Boston Braves to qualify for the postseason after being 15 games under. 500.

They won a dramatic NLCS in six games over the Houston Astros which they needed to win to avoid facing Mike Scott in Game 7.

Clemens left for the Houston Astros in 2004, where he spent three seasons and won his seventh Cy Young Award.

The Sounds won the series two games to one before advancing to the Southern League championship series against the Columbus Astros.

He then pitched 10 shutout innings in Game 3 of the NLCS and the Astros won 1 – 0, though they lost the series to the Philadelphia Phillies, 3 – 2.

Baker's San Francisco Giants won 103 games in 1993 ; Dierker's 1998 Houston Astros won 102 and Herzog led the Cardinals to 101 wins in the award's third season.

The Astros won the game 3 – 0.

Known throughout his career for his hitting and his excellent defense behind the plate, Carter made a major contribution to the Mets ' World Series championship in 1986, including a 12th-inning single against the Houston Astros that won Game 5 of the NLCS and a 10th-inning single against the Boston Red Sox to start the fabled comeback rally in Game 6 of the World Series.

The humorous commercials continued to run during the Chicago White Sox-Houston Astros World Series, won in 4 straight games by Chicago.

In 1971, the team moved again to Charleston, West Virginia, and became the Charleston Charlies and played in Charleston from 1971-1983 Success came quickly as the Charlies posted a 78 – 62 record and won the Governors ' Cup trophy while sharing prospects from the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays.

Upon joining the starting rotation in 1966 for the Astros, Cuellar won his first six decisions.

In Game 2 of the NLCS against the Astros, he had three hits, including a game-winning home run against Miceli, as the Cardinals won 6 – 4.

In Game 5 of the NLCS against the Astros, with the Cardinals trailing by two runs and only one out from elimination in the ninth inning, Pujols hit a game-winning three-run home run against Brad Lidge that landed on the train tracks in the back of Minute Maid Park as the Cardinals won 5 – 4.

The Braves won their fifth consecutive National League East Division title and then defeated the Houston Astros in four games in the 1999 National League Division Series.

It was believed that the Sunday, September 28, 1969 game against the Houston Astros, which was that year's last home game for the Reds ( who won 4 – 1 ), would be the final game ever at Crosley Field.

Baseball America twice ranked him among the Astros ' top ten prospects ( in 1992 and 1994 ); he was a three-time All-Star ( 1996 – 1998 ) in Triple-A ; and he won the International League's MVP Award in back-to-back years: 1997 as a member of the Mets ' Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk and 1998 as a member of the Reds ' Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis.

Currently a member of the National League Central Division, the Astros will move to the American League West Division in 2013.

In 1970, the Astros were expected to be a serious threat in the National League West.

The Astros finished third in the National League West.

However, the move was not approved by other National League owners, thus compelling the Astros to remain in Houston.

The Astros defeated Braves 3-2 in the Division Series, but would lose the National League Championship Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.

After over fifty years of the Astros in the National League, this move is unpopular with many Astros fans.

* 2013: Houston Astros will transfer from the National League Central to the American League West.

In 1986, Ryan's Astros faced the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series.

The Phillies defeated the Houston Astros in the 1980 National League Championship Series to reach the World Series for the third time in franchise history.

Gooden's 200 strikeouts were fifth in the National League, but more than a hundred behind the league leader, Mike Scott of the Houston Astros.

With the Houston Astros moving to the American League for the 2013 MLB season, which will require Interleague play season-round ( as well as the Astros to start using a DH full-time ), there is debate within MLB to unify the rules of the two leagues, with either the National League adopting the DH or the American League returning to its pre-1973 rules and have the pitcher hit, like the National League.

Debuting on opening day, Bagwell hit. 294 with 15 home runs and 82 RBI, and led the Astros in several offensive categories, and was named the 1991 National League Rookie of the Year.

Although unable to throw, Bagwell was reactivated in September 2005 as a pinch hitter and played a symbolic role in the Astros ' successful drive to capture the National League pennant.

The Astros finally convinced Biggio to convert to second base in spring training 1992, even though Biggio had made the National League All-Star team as a catcher in 1991.

McGraw pitched in all five games of the 1980 National League Championship Series against the Houston Astros.

During a 21-year baseball career, He pitched from 1984-2005 for three different National League teams, the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, and Houston Astros.

The Astros then lost the National League Championship Series to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The ValleyCats, affiliate's of the National League's Houston Astros, were part of the NL squad.

In the 1980 National League Championship Series against the Houston Astros, he posted a. 381 batting average with four runs batted in, and teamed up with Bake McBride in the decisive Game 5 to relay a throw to home plate, cutting off Luis Pujols attempting to score from first base on a double by Craig Reynolds.

Williams finished second in the voting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award that year behind first baseman, Jeff Bagwell, of the Houston Astros.