Highlighted Year: Dick Farrell, 1965

Pitcher, Houston Astros

Age: 31 (April 8)

4^th season with Colt .45s/Astros

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 215 

Prior to 1965:

A Massachusetts native, Farrell, the son of an amateur athlete known as “Big Turk” came to be known as “Turk”, a lasting nickname. A polio victim before he was two, he wore a leg brace until age six. Overcoming the disease after many hospital treatments, he walked with a slight limp for the remainder of his life. He still managed to become an accomplished athlete at St. Mary’s High School in Brookline, excelling in football and basketball as well as baseball, where his pitching record from sophomore to senior years was 45-5. Farrell passed on college scholarship offers to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies out of high school. Initially assigned to the Schenectady Blue Jays of the Class A Eastern League in 1953, the big 19-year-old posted a 7-3 record with a 3.39 ERA. Reassigned to Schenectady in 1954, Farrell went 11-15 for a last-place team while recording 115 strikeouts in 216 innings pitched. Moving up to the Syracuse Chiefs of the Class AAA International League in 1955, Farrell posted a 12-12 tally with a 3.94 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 185 innings pitched. He also hit a league-longest 475-foot home run at MacArthur Stadium in Syracuse. During the winter he pitched in the Venezuelan Association, where he performed well, including a one-hitter in the Caribbean Series. Unable to crack Philadelphia’s pitching staff in the spring of 1956, he found himself back in the International League with the Miami Marlins. “Turk”, after recovering from a broken ankle that cost him the first two months of the season, went 12-6 with a 2.50 ERA. Along the way he lost 2-0 while throwing a two-hitter due to allowing 10 walks. Receiving a late-season call-up to the Phillies, he lost his only start but stuck with the parent club in 1957 as a reliever, despite typically having started during his minor league career. Farrell went on to excel as a rookie, appearing in 52 games and compiling a 10-2 record with 10 saves, a 2.38 ERA, and 54 strikeouts in 83.1 innings pitched. With his excellent fastball, he was an All-Star for the first time in 1958, although his second half performance tailed off, likely due to overwork and the weakening effects of a severe hay fever allergy. He finished with an 8-9 tally and 11 saves in 54 relief appearances and a 3.35 ERA. The Phillies were a last-place club in 1959 and Farrell took blame as a hard-partying ringleader of the so-called “Dalton Gang” of carousers and whose pitching performance dropped to 1-6 with 6 saves and a 4.74 ERA in 38 appearances. Along the way he was briefly demoted to Buffalo of the International League. Training diligently prior to the 1960 season, he returned to good form, appearing in 59 games and posting a 10-6 record with 11 saves and a 2.70 ERA. With the team in full rebuilding mode, Farrell became a desirable trade asset but started the 1961 season with the Phillies. A poor start damaged his trade value, but he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in May. He continued to struggle and became prone to surrendering walks and home runs. For the year he pitched in 55 games and went 8-7 with 10 saves and a 5.20 ERA. Left unprotected by the Dodgers in the expansion draft for the two new National League entries for 1962, Farrell was chosen by Houston, who converted him back into a starting pitcher. He responded with a 10-20 record although he endured tough defeats due to an offense that had difficulty scoring runs. His ERA was a respectable 3.02 and he compiled 10 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 203 strikeouts over 241.2 innings. He was also the first All-Star representative in franchise history. Houston remained strong in pitching and weak in producing runs again in 1963. Farrell reproduced his 3.02 ERA while posting a winning record of 14-13, compiling 12 complete games and 141 strikeouts. In 1964 he got off to a hot start and was 10-1 at the All-Star break. The run production dropped off in the second half and “Turk” finished at 11-10, although with a still respectable 3.27 ERA and 117 strikeouts over the course of 198.1 innings.

1965 Season Summary

Appeared in 33 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 33

Games Started – 29

Complete Games – 8 [19, tied with Dick Ellsworth, Bob Friend & Warren Spahn]

Wins – 11

Losses – 11 [18, tied with four others]

PCT - .500

Saves – 1

Shutouts – 3 [11, tied with Al Jackson & Bill Faul]

Innings Pitched – 208.1

Hits – 202

Runs – 94

Earned Runs – 81

Home Runs – 18

Bases on Balls – 35

Strikeouts – 122 [20, tied with Ray Sadecki]

ERA – 3.50 [19]

Hit Batters – 3

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 1

Midseason Snapshot: 7-2, ERA - 2.30, SO - 75 in 125 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 9 (in 5 IP) at NY Mets 9/1

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 5 (in 9 IP) on four occasions

Batting

PA – 77, AB – 74, R – 2, H – 10, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 4, BB – 1, SO – 27, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .135, GDP – 3, HBP – 0, SH – 2, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 42

Put Outs – 9

Assists – 30

Errors – 3

DP – 3

Pct. - .929

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The renamed Astros went 65-97 to finish ninth in the NL, 32 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers. The pitching staff led the league in fewest complete games (29, tied with the New York Mets) and fewest walks (388). The Astros moved into baseball’s first domed stadium and drew 2.151,470 fans, many coming to see the impressive new Astrodome rather than the unimpressive Astros. Granted, the spectacular venue was not without kinks to be worked out and proved immediately to be a poor hitters’ park. The club was seeking to build on youth, some of which produced impressively. Following a 10-6 April start, they crashed in May and never recovered. Both manager Luman Harris and GM Paul Richards were dismissed in the offseason.

Aftermath of 1965:

Appearing to have lost some zip on his fastball, the Astros entertained trade offers for Farrell in the offseason. While no longer a carouser, “Turk” was accused of throwing occasional spitballs. He remained with Houston in 1966, starting in just 21 of his 32 pitching appearances as he was relegated to the bullpen. His record was 6-10 with a 4.60 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 152.2 innings pitched. He also showed a propensity for giving up the long ball, surrendering 23 home runs. Farrell returned to the Phillies in May of 1967. Once again almost exclusively a reliever, he posted a 10-6 mark for the ’67 season along with 12 saves and a 2.34 ERA. He was at his best with the Phillies, combining with another veteran, Dick Hall, to solidify the bullpen. Farrell started off well in 1968 but slumped to end up at 4-6 with 12 saves and a 3.48 ERA in 54 appearances. Following a poor season in 1969 he was released, thus ending his major league career, although he tried to catch on with other teams over the next couple of seasons, seeing action in the Mexican League as well. For his major league career, Farrell compiled a 106-111 record with a 3.45 ERA, 41 complete games, 5 shutouts, 83 saves, and 1177 strikeouts over 1704.2 innings pitched. With Houston he went 53-64 with a 3.42 ERA, 41 complete games, 5 shutouts, 8 saves, and 694 strikeouts in 1015 innings pitched. He was a five-time All-Star. Following his retirement from baseball Farrell worked in the oil and gas industry until his death due to an auto accident in England at age 43 in 1977. Years later it was revealed that he was the biological father of Richard Dotson, who pitched primarily with the Chicago White Sox in the 1980s. A fiercely competitive power pitcher and off-field prankster, Farrell led a talented Houston pitching staff in the franchise’s early years.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.

Highlighted Year: Hal Woodeshick, 1964

Pitcher, Houston Colt .45s

Age:  32 (Aug. 24)

3^rd season with Colt .45s

Bats – Right, Throws – Left

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1964:

A native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Woodeshick moved to that state’s Beaver County at a young age. He became a high school pitching star in the town of Monaca, where he once pitched a perfect game. Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies at age 17, he appeared in one game with Carbondale of the Class D North Atlantic League in 1950 before being sent to a New York Giants affiliate, the Kingsport Cherokees of the Appalachian League in 1952, where he posted a 13-6 record and 4.54 ERA along with 169 strikeouts and 140 walks over 216 innings. Woodeshick spent the next two years in the Army before moving on to the Danville Leafs of the Class B Carolina League in 1955 where he went 14-8 with a 3.55 ERA and 140 strikeouts with 103 walks over 180 innings. Drafted by the Detroit Tigers he next played for Charleston of the Class AAA American Association in 1956 where, despite an elbow injury that cost him a month of action, he produced a 12-5 tally and 2.75 ERA with 72 strikeouts over 157 innings. Called up to the Tigers in September, which forced him to postpone his wedding, his performance was unimpressive after a strikeout of star catcher Yogi Berra in an initial outing against the Yankees. A winter pitching in Cuba failed to adequately improve his curveball and he appeared to be overweight when he arrived for spring training in 1957. Returning to Charleston, he had a disappointing season, posting a 5-9 record and 4.89 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 61 walks over 116 innings. Along the way he was accused of throwing spitballs. Demoted all the way to Class A, Woodeshick was traded to the Cleveland Indians in the offseason. Assigned to San Diego of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League to start the 1958 season, he had a 10-2 tally and 2.54 ERA when he was called up to the Indians by new manager Joe Gordon, who had replaced the fired Bobby Bragan. Woodeshick got off to a strong start with Cleveland, hurling three complete game wins in four starts. His performance dropped off thereafter and he was relegated to the bullpen, where he finished the season strongly. For the season with Cleveland he went 6-6 with a 3.64 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 71.2 innings. With the Indians hoping he could be their best lefthanded option out of the bullpen in 1959, Woodeshick struggled during the spring with his weight and performance and was sent down to Toronto of the Class AAA International League where he performed acceptably as a starter before being dealt to the Washington Senators in late May. Utilized almost exclusively as a reliever by the Senators, the chronic worrier experienced difficulties in the early going but went on to make 31 appearances and produce a 2-4 record and 3.69 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 61 innings. 11 pitchers started games for the Senators in 1960 and Woodeshick started 14 times among his 41 appearances, compiling a 4-5 tally and 4.70 ERA along with 4 saves and 46 strikeouts over 115 innings. With the move of the Senators to Minnesota for 1961, Woodeshick was taken in the expansion draft by the replacement Washington Senators franchise. Moving into the starting rotation for the new club, he had a 3-2 mark and 4.02 ERA when he was traded back to the Detroit Tigers in June. He performed poorly as a reliever for the contending Tigers, resulting in a demotion to Class AAA Charleston of the International League which allowed him to be close to home in West Virginia during his wife’s pregnancy and to help with relief efforts following devastating flooding. In the offseason he was sold to the expansion Colt .45s. Inserted into the starting rotation he put together a 5-16 record that included picking up the win in the first shutout victory in franchise history (with RHP Dick Farrell picking up a save). His ERA was 4.39 and he struck out 82 batters over a career-high 139.1 innings. He would never again start a game after the 1962 season. Previously reliant on his fastball, he finally gained command of his curve and added a slider which would help him come into his own as a reliever in 1963. The result was an 11-9 tally and 10 saves in 55 appearances. His ERA was 1.97 and he finished 39 games while striking out 94 batters over 114 innings. He was Houston’s lone All-Star representative. Heading into 1964, Woodeshick, whose career had been nondescript until 1963, was sought after by contending teams.

1964 Season Summary

Appeared in 61 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 61 [7, tied with Bob Shaw]

Games Started – 0

Games Finished – 48 [4]

Complete Games – 0

Wins – 2

Losses – 9

PCT - .182

Saves – 23 [1]

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 78.1

Hits – 73

Runs – 32

Earned Runs – 24

Home Runs – 3

Bases on Balls – 32

Strikeouts – 58

ERA – 2.76 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 7 [7, tied with Bob Purkey, Ken Johnson & Bob Sadowski]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 7 [16, tied with four others]

League-leading saves were +2 ahead of runners-up Al McBean & Jack Baldschun

Midseason Snapshot: 1-5, ERA - 2.61, G – 29, SV – 16, SO - 33 in 38 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 4 (in 2.1 IP) at St. Louis 4/24, (in 3 IP) at St. Louis 6/24, (in 2.2 IP) vs. San Francisco 7/12

10+ strikeout games – 0

Batting

PA – 13, AB – 10, R – 0, H – 0, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 2, SO – 5, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .000, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 1, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 33

Put Outs – 5

Assists – 23

Errors – 5

DP – 0

Pct. - .848

 ---

The Colt .45s went 66-96 to finish ninth in the NL, 27 games behind the pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals. The pitching staff led the league in fewest complete games (30), fewest shutouts (9), and fewest walks (353). The Colt .45s stayed just a few games under .500 until midseason and were at 32-34 on June 21 following a four-game sweep of the Braves at Milwaukee, but the club floundered the rest of the way to settle into ninth place once again and finishing 13 games ahead of the NL’s other third-year team, the Mets. While desired by contenders, Woodeshick remained with Houston and, despite a midseason slump, topped the NL in saves (not yet an official statistic).

Aftermath of 1964:

The Colt .45s were renamed the Astros and moved into their new domed stadium, the Astrodome in 1965, but Woodeshick would not remain with the club for very long. In June he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, who were desperate to shore up their bullpen, as part of a four-player deal. Woodeshick performed ably for the Cardinals and finished with a combined record of 6-6 with 18 saves in 78 appearances, a 2.25 ERA, and 59 strikeouts over 92 innings pitched. A shoulder injury suffered during 1966 spring training dropped Woodeshick’s workload to 59 games, although he remained effective and produced a 1.92 ERA and 2-1 tally with 4 saves and 30 strikeouts over 70.1 innings. He further proved to be a valuable mentor to the club’s rising cadre of young pitchers. The Cardinals won the NL pennant in 1967 and Woodeshick was part of a remarkably well-balanced and capable bullpen that included lefthanders Joe Hoerner (the closer) and Al Jackson and righties Ron Willis and Jack Lamabe. He appeared in one game during the World Series against the Boston Red Sox and finished the Game 6 loss by inducing Boston slugger Carl Yastrzemski to ground out. The Cardinals won Game 7 and Woodeshick earned a World Series championship ring. Released in the offseason, he chose to retire at age 35 even though several clubs expressed interest in him. For his major league career Woodeshick pitched in 427 games, 62 of them starts, and produced a 44-62 record and 3.56 ERA with 61 saves, 7 complete games, and 484 strikeouts over 847.1 innings. With Houston he appeared in 174 games, 62 of them starts, with a 3.16 ERA, 36 saves, 2 complete games, and 256 strikeouts over 364 innings. A poor fielder, he had particular difficulty with throwing to first base. Following his playing career, Woodeshick moved to Houston and coached and tutored in youth baseball. Back where he had first demonstrated his baseball talent, he was inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame in 1979. He died in 2009 at age 76. His younger cousin, Tom Woodeshick, was an NFL running back, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles, from 1963-72.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Dick Farrell, 1964

Pitcher, Houston Colt .45s

Age:  30 (April 8)

3^rd season with Colt .45s

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 215 

Prior to 1964:

A Massachusetts native, Farrell, the son of an amateur athlete known as “Big Turk” came to be known as “Turk”, a lasting nickname. A polio victim before he was two, he wore a leg brace until age six. Overcoming the disease after many hospital treatments, he walked with a slight limp for the remainder of his life. He still managed to become an accomplished athlete at St. Mary’s High School in Brookline, excelling in football and basketball as well as baseball, where his pitching record from sophomore to senior years was 45-5. Farrell passed on college scholarship offers to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies out of high school. Initially assigned to the Schenectady Blue Jays of the Class A Eastern League in 1953, the big 19-year-old posted a 7-3 record with a 3.39 ERA. Reassigned to Schenectady in 1954, Farrell went 11-15 for a last-place team while recording 115 strikeouts in 216 innings pitched. Moving up to the Syracuse Chiefs of the Class AAA International League in 1955, Farrell posted a 12-12 tally with a 3.94 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 185 innings pitched. He also hit a league-longest 475-foot home run at MacArthur Stadium in Syracuse. During the winter he pitched in the Venezuelan Association, where he performed well, including a one-hitter in the Caribbean Series. Unable to crack Philadelphia’s pitching staff in the spring of 1956, he found himself back in the International League with the Miami Marlins. “Turk”, after recovering from a broken ankle that cost him the first two months of the season, went 12-6 with a 2.50 ERA. Along the way he lost 2-0 while throwing a two-hitter due to allowing 10 walks. Receiving a late-season call-up to the Phillies, he lost his only start but stuck with the parent club in 1957 as a reliever, despite typically having started during his minor league career. Farrell went on to excel as a rookie, appearing in 52 games and compiling a 10-2 record with 10 saves, a 2.38 ERA, and 54 strikeouts in 83.1 innings pitched. With his excellent fastball, he was an All-Star for the first time in 1958, although his second half performance tailed off, likely due to overwork and the weakening effects of a severe hay fever allergy. He finished with an 8-9 tally and 11 saves in 54 relief appearances and a 3.35 ERA. The Phillies were a last-place club in 1959 and Farrell took blame as a hard-partying ringleader of the so-called “Dalton Gang” of carousers and whose pitching performance dropped to 1-6 with 6 saves and a 4.74 ERA in 38 appearances. Along the way he was briefly demoted to Buffalo of the International League. Training diligently prior to the 1960 season, he returned to good form, appearing in 59 games and posting a 10-6 record with 11 saves and a 2.70 ERA. With the team in full rebuilding mode, Farrell became a desirable trade asset but started the 1961 season with the Phillies. A poor start damaged his trade value, but he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in May. He continued to struggle and became prone to surrendering walks and home runs. For the year he pitched in 55 games and went 8-7 with 10 saves and a 5.20 ERA. Left unprotected by the Dodgers in the expansion draft for the two new National League entries for 1962, Farrell was chosen by Houston, who converted him back into a starting pitcher. He responded with a 10-20 record although he endured tough defeats due to an offense that had difficulty scoring runs. His ERA was a respectable 3.02 and he compiled 10 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 203 strikeouts over 241.2 innings. He was also the first All-Star representative in franchise history. Houston remained strong in pitching and weak in producing runs again in 1963. Farrell reproduced his 3.02 ERA while posting a winning record of 14-13, compiling 12 complete games and 141 strikeouts.

1964 Season Summary

Appeared in 32 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 32

Games Started – 27

Complete Games – 7

Wins – 11

Losses – 10

PCT - .524

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 198.1

Hits – 196

Runs – 80

Earned Runs – 72

Home Runs – 21 [11]

Bases on Balls – 52

Strikeouts – 117

ERA – 3.27 [16]

Hit Batters – 3

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 1

Midseason Snapshot: 10-3, ERA - 3.11, SO - 83 in 115.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 11 (in 9 IP) at Mil. Braves 5/26

10+ strikeout games – 1

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 8 IP) at San Francisco 9/30

Batting

PA – 73, AB – 69, R – 1, H – 5, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 2, SO – 28, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .072, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 2, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 36

Put Outs – 5

Assists – 31

Errors – 0

DP – 2

Pct. - 1.000

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Colt .45s went 66-96 to finish ninth in the NL, 27 games behind the pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals. The pitching staff led the league in fewest complete games (30), fewest shutouts (9), and fewest walks (353). The Colt .45s stayed just a few games under .500 until midseason and were at 32-34 on June 21 following a four-game sweep of the Braves at Milwaukee , but the club floundered the rest of the way to settle into ninth place once again and finishing 13 games ahead of the NL’s other third-year team, the Mets. Farrell got off to a hot start and was 10-1 at the All-Star break. The club’s run production dropped off in the second half and Farrell went 1-7 the rest of the way.

Aftermath of 1964:

The club had a new name in 1965, the Astros, as well as a new home in the Astrodome. They remained a losing team and Farrell dropped to 11-11 with a 3.50 ERA. Appearing to have lost some zip on his fastball, the Astros entertained trade offers. While no longer a carouser, “Turk” was accused of throwing occasional spitballs. He remained with Houston in 1966, starting in just 21 of his 32 pitching appearances as he was relegated to the bullpen. His record was 6-10 with a 4.60 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 152.2 innings pitched. He also showed a propensity for giving up the long ball, surrendering 23 home runs. Farrell returned to the Phillies in May of 1967. Once again almost exclusively a reliever, he posted a 10-6 mark for the ’67 season along with 12 saves and a 2.34 ERA. He was at his best with the Phillies, combining with another veteran, Dick Hall, to solidify the bullpen. Farrell started off well in 1968 but slumped to end up at 4-6 with 12 saves and a 3.48 ERA in 54 appearances. Following a poor season in 1969 he was released, thus ending his major league career, although he tried to catch on with other teams over the next couple of seasons, seeing action in the Mexican League as well. For his major league career, Farrell compiled a 106-111 record with a 3.45 ERA, 41 complete games, 5 shutouts, 83 saves, and 1177 strikeouts over 1704.2 innings pitched. With Houston he went 53-64 with a 3.42 ERA, 41 complete games, 5 shutouts, 8 saves, and 694 strikeouts in 1015 innings pitched. He was a five-time All-Star. Following his retirement from baseball Farrell worked in the oil and gas industry until his death due to an auto accident in England at age 43 in 1977. Years later it was revealed that he was the biological father of Richard Dotson, who pitched primarily with the Chicago White Sox in the 1980s. A fiercely competitive power pitcher and off-field prankster, Farrell led a talented Houston pitching staff in the franchise’s early years.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

 

Highlighted Year: Bob Bruce, 1964

Pitcher, Houston Colt .45s

Age:  31 (May 16)

3^rd season with Colt .45s

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1964:

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Bruce had little time for sports in his youth due to Depression-era family responsibilities. He played baseball as a senior at Highland Park High School and received a baseball scholarship to attend Alma College. A 19-strikeout performance against the University of Detroit drew the interest of the Detroit Tigers who signed him in 1953 for a $20,000 bonus. Initially assigned to the Wausau Lumberjacks of the Class D Wisconsin State League, where he posted an 18-8 record and a 3.20 ERA with 17 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 181 strikeouts over 191 innings, although he also issued 131 walks. Moving on to the Durham Bulls of the Class B Carolina League in 1954, he produced a 13-8 tally with a 3.42 ERA and 14 complete games and 4 shutouts and 122 strikeouts over 158 innings while reducing his walks to 67. He finished the year with a brief stint with Wilkes-Barre of the Class A Eastern League. Bruce spent most of 1955 with Augusta of the Class A South Atlantic (or Sally) League where he went 7-10 with a 3.89 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 148 innings. Military service interrupted his career in 1956 and cost him the entire 1957 season. Discharged in 1958, Bruce was assigned to the Birmingham Barons of the Class AA Southern Association where he compiled a 5-4 record and 4.46 ERA with 84 strikeouts over 101 innings. After playing winter ball in Puerto Rico, he advanced to the Charleston Senators of the Class AAA American Association in 1959 where he produced a 11-13 tally and 3.57 ERA with 8 complete games, 4 shutouts, and 177 strikeouts over 222 innings. Called up to the Tigers in late September he appeared in two games, one of them a start, and went 0-1. Bruce started the 1960 season in the Detroit bullpen but got the chance to start in late June and finished with a 4-7 record that included a two-hit shutout of the Chicago White Sox. His ERA was 3.74 and he recorded 76 strikeouts over 130 innings pitched. Bruce saw minimal action with the Tigers in 1961, making a total of 14 appearances, 6 of them starts, and producing a 1-2 tally and 4.43 ERA. He was even briefly sent down to Class AAA Denver of the American Association. In the offseason, while playing winter ball in Puerto Rico, he was traded to the expansion Colt .45s. Starting the 1962 season in the bullpen, he moved into the starting rotation in May and ended up being the club’s only starter to finish with a record over .500 at 10-9. His ERA was 4.06 and he compiled 6 complete games and 135 strikeouts over 175 innings. Bruce started poorly in 1963 and hindered by a sore shoulder, he finished with a lesser tally of 5-9 with a 3.59 ERA and 123 strikeouts over 170.1 innings although he pitched a one-hit shutout at home against Cincinnati. His repertoire included curves at varying speeds, a fastball, and a changeup.

1964 Season Summary

Appeared in 37 games

P – 35, PH – 1, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 35

Games Started – 29

Complete Games – 9 [18, tied with five others]

Wins – 15 [14, tied with Bob Buhl & Jim Maloney]

Losses – 9

PCT - .625 [10]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 4 [6, tied with Juan Marichal, Chris Short & Joe Nuxhall]

Innings Pitched – 202.1

Hits – 191

Runs – 70

Earned Runs – 62

Home Runs – 8

Bases on Balls – 33

Strikeouts – 135 [17]

ERA – 2.76 [10]

Hit Batters – 3

Balks – 1 [6, tied with twenty-two others]

Wild Pitches – 4

Midseason Snapshot: 9-4, ERA - 2.74, SO - 69 in 98.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 10 (in 8 IP) vs. San Francisco 5/14, (in 9 IP) vs. NY Mets 5/24, (in 9 IP) vs. NY Mets 9/20

10+ strikeout games – 3

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) vs. NY Mets 9/20, (in 8 IP) vs. Chi. Cubs 8/24

Batting

PA – 72, AB – 63, R – 1, H – 12, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 1, BB – 2, SO – 14, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .190, GDP – 0, HBP – 2, SH – 5, SF – 0  

Fielding

Chances – 47

Put Outs – 11

Assists – 35

Errors – 1

DP – 0

Pct. - .979  

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The Colt .45s went 66-96 to finish ninth in the NL, 27 games behind the pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals. The pitching staff led the league in fewest complete games (30), fewest shutouts (9), and fewest walks (353). The Colt .45s stayed just a few games under .500 until midseason and were at 32-34 on June 21 following a four-game sweep of the Braves at Milwaukee (with Bruce going the distance in winning the third game), but the club floundered the rest of the way to settle into ninth place once again and finishing 13 games ahead of the NL’s other third-year team, the Mets.

Aftermath of 1964:

Houston had a new name and a glamorous new home in the Astrodome in 1965 and Bruce drew the first start in the new venue which he lost to the Philadelphia Phillies although he gave up only two runs over 7 innings pitched. The lack of run production proved to be a chronic problem for the Astros and Bruce finished at 9-18 with a 3.72 ERA, 7 complete games, and 145 strikeouts over 229.2 innings. In 1966 Bruce was hindered by an eye infection that kept him on the disabled list for seven weeks and finished at 3-13 in 25 appearances with a poor 5.34 ERA and 71 strikeouts over 129.2 innings. In the offseason he was dealt to the Atlanta Braves as part of a trade for veteran third baseman Eddie Mathews. The Braves were hoping Bruce could return to form and bolster their starting rotation. It was not to be. Bothered by a rib injury he was used sparingly in 1967 and was sent down to Richmond of the Class AAA International League at midseason. He excelled at Richmond where he posted a 7-2 record and 1.87 ERA with 37 strikeouts over 77 innings. But with the Braves showing no interest in recalling him, he chose to retire at age 34 following the season. For his major league career, Bruce compiled a 49-71 record and 3.85 ERA with 26 complete games, 6 shutouts, and 733 strikeouts over 1122.1 innings pitched. With Houston his performance was 42-58 with 24 complete games, 6 shutouts, and 609 strikeouts over 907 innings. He never appeared in the postseason. In 2012 he appeared at a ceremony in Houston to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the franchise’s first game. Bruce died in 2017 at age 83.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Bob Aspromonte, 1964

Third Baseman, Houston Colt .45s

 

Age:  26 (June 19)

3^rd season with Colt .45s

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 170 

Prior to 1964:

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Aspromonte grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan and participated in youth baseball. As a senior at Lafayette High School, he was captain of the baseball team and played basketball as well. Aspromonte signed with the Dodgers out of high school in 1956. After playing for Macon of the Class A South Atlantic (or Sally) League, the 18-year-old was called up to Brooklyn in September and went hitless in one at bat. Aspromonte spent six months in the Army in 1957 before entering the Army Reserve and returning to baseball with Macon, where he batted .311 in twelve games before being sent to Thomasville of the Class D Georgia-Florida League where he hit .263 in 53 games while appearing at third base and shortstop. In 1958 he was assigned to Des Moines of the Class A Western League where he batted .263 with 12 extra-base hits and a .333 on-base percentage. In 1959 “Aspro” advanced to the Montreal Royals and hit .259 with 18 doubles and a .299 OBP. A strong spring performance allowed Aspromonte to start the 1960 season as a utility infielder with the Dodgers, who were in their third season in Los Angeles and coming off a World Series title. After an impressive four-hit outing in May that included his first major league home run, Aspromonte’s hitting dropped off and he was sent to St. Paul of the Class AAA American Association to get more playing time and he batted .329 with 18 doubles, 7 triples, 2 home runs, and a .390 OBP. Back with the Dodgers in 1961, he saw scant playing time, appearing in only 47 games and hitting .241 with a .290 OBP. With NL expansion in 1962, Aspromonte was selected by Houston with the third overall pick, and he became the new club’s starting third baseman. He went on to bat .266 in 1962 with 18 doubles, 4 triples, 11 home runs, 59 RBIs, and a .332 OBP. Aspromonte had a lesser season in 1963, hitting a disappointing .214 with 9 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .276 OBP. His defensive performance was better as he placed second among NL third basemen with 134 putouts, and fifth in assists with 213.

1964 Season Summary

Appeared in 157 games

3B – 155, PH – 3

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 608

At Bats – 553

Runs – 51

Hits – 155

Doubles – 20

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 12

RBI – 69

Bases on Balls – 35

Int. BB – 7

Strikeouts – 54

Stolen Bases – 6

Caught Stealing – 7 [13, tied with five others]

Average - .280

OBP - .329

Slugging Pct. - .392

Total Bases – 217

GDP – 14 [13, tied with Tommy Davis & Frank Howard]

Hit by Pitches – 8 [5, tied with Orlando Cepeda & Walt Bond]

Sac Hits – 6

Sac Flies – 6 [7, tied with ten others]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 8, HR - 9, RBI - 33, AVG - .284, OBP - .322

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Cincinnati 8/15

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

HR at home – 10

HR on road – 2

Most home runs, game – 1 on twelve occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Cincinnati 6/11, vs. Philadelphia 6/29, vs. Cincinnati 8/15, vs. St. Louis 8/19 – 10 innings

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 2 (.000) with 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 405

Put Outs – 133

Assists – 261

Errors – 11

DP – 10

Pct. - .973 

 Awards & Honors:

Colt .45 of the Year: Houston chapter, BBWAA

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The Colt .45s went 66-96 to finish ninth in the NL, 27 games behind the pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals while leading the league in fewest runs scored (495), fewest hits (1214), fewest doubles (162), fewest home runs (70), fewest RBIs (452), lowest batting average (.229), lowest OBP (.285), lowest slugging percentage (.315), and fewest total bases (1668). The Colt .45s, with solid pitching and defense as well as a lack of offensive punch, still stayed just under .500 until late June on the way to reproducing their 1963 record. Aspromonte topped the club in batting and led NL third basemen with his .973 fielding percentage.

Aftermath of 1964:

The club was renamed the Astros in 1965 as it moved into the new domed stadium, dubbed the Astrodome. On the field, the team started well but again finished ninth. Aspromonte again performed well defensively, but his batting production dipped somewhat to .263 with 15 doubles, 5 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .310 OBP. In 1966 he topped NL third basemen in fielding percentage for the second time (.962) and his hitting production resulted in a batting average of .252 with 16 doubles, 8 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .297 OBP. A contact hitter with limited power, he slugged two grand slams, which gave him a career total of six with Houston, which remained the club record until 2011. Aspromonte had a fine season at the plate in 1967, hitting .294 with 24 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 58 RBIs, and a .354 OBP. Despite some other good individual performances, the Astros finished ninth. By 1968 “Aspro” was the last remaining player from Houston’s inaugural season. Challenged at third base by young Doug Rader, he was limited to 124 games and batted .225 with 12 extra-base hits, including just one home run, 46 RBIs, and a .285 OBP. In the offseason Aspromonte was traded to the Atlanta Braves. Backing up Clete Boyer at third base and doing utility duty at other positions, he appeared in 82 games and batted .253 with a .304 slugging percentage. With the advent of divisional play in both leagues, the Braves won the NL West title and lost to the New York Mets in the first NLCS. It provided Aspromonte with the only postseason action of his career. He went hitless in three at bats. Still a reserve with the Braves in 1970, he appeared in 62 games and hit a mere .213 with a .282 OBP. Dealt to the Mets in the offseason, Aspromonte started the 1971 season at third base and, despite a slow start, was performing respectably until he suffered a calf injury in June. Seeing limited action the rest of the way, he batted .225 in 104 games with 5 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .285 OBP. Released in the offseason, he was invited to spring training with Cincinnati, failed to make the team, and retired. For his major league career, Aspromonte batted .252 with 1103 hits that included 135 doubles, 26 triples, and 60 home runs. He scored 386 runs and compiled 457 RBIs, a .308 OBP, and a .336 slugging percentage. With Houston he batted .258 with 925 hits, 336 runs scored, 111 doubles, 24 triples, 51 home runs, 385 RBIs, a .313 OBP, and a .345 slugging percentage. Aspromonte was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. He was also the first honoree on the Astros Walk of Fame outside Minute Maid Park. He further received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his humanitarian work fostering tolerance, respect, and understanding between religious and ethnic groups. His brother, Ken, was an infielder with six major league teams between 1957 and 1963 who managed the Cleveland Indians from 1972 to ’74.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Hal Woodeshick, 1963

Pitcher, Houston Colt .45s

Age:  31 (Aug. 24)

2^nd season with Colt .45s

Bats – Right, Throws – Left

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1963:

A native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Woodeshick moved to that state’s Beaver County at a young age. He became a high school pitching star in the town of Monaca, where he once pitched a perfect game. Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies at age 17, he appeared in one game with Carbondale of the Class D North Atlantic League in 1950 before being sent to a New York Giants affiliate, the Kingsport Cherokees of the Appalachian League in 1952, where he posted a 13-6 record and 4.54 ERA along with 169 strikeouts and 140 walks over 216 innings. Woodeshick spent the next two years in the Army before moving on to the Danville Leafs of the Class B Carolina League in 1955 where he went 14-8 with a 3.55 ERA and 140 strikeouts with 103 walks over 180 innings. Drafted by the Detroit Tigers he next played for Charleston of the Class AAA American Association in 1956 where, despite an elbow injury that cost him a month of action, he produced a 12-5 tally and 2.75 ERA with 72 strikeouts over 157 innings. Called up to the Tigers in September, which forced him to postpone his wedding, his performance was unimpressive after a strikeout of star catcher Yogi Berra in an initial outing against the Yankees. A winter pitching in Cuba failed to adequately improve his curveball and he appeared to be overweight when he arrived for spring training in 1957. Returning to Charleston, he had a disappointing season, posting a 5-9 record and 4.89 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 61 walks over 116 innings. Along the way he was accused of throwing spitballs. Demoted all the way to Class A, Woodeshick was traded to the Cleveland Indians in the offseason. Assigned to San Diego of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League to start the 1958 season, he had a 10-2 tally and 2.54 ERA when he was called up to the Indians by new manager Joe Gordon, who had replaced the fired Bobby Bragan. Woodeshick got off to a strong start with Cleveland, hurling three complete game wins in four starts. His performance dropped off thereafter and he was relegated to the bullpen, where he finished the season strongly. For the season with Cleveland he went 6-6 with a 3.64 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 71.2 innings. With the Indians hoping he could be their best lefthanded option out of the bullpen in 1959, Woodeshick struggled during the spring with his weight and performance and was sent down to Toronto of the Class AAA International League where he performed acceptably as a starter before being dealt to the Washington Senators in late May. Utilized almost exclusively as a reliever by the Senators, the chronic worrier experienced difficulties in the early going but went on to make 31 appearances and produce a 2-4 record and 3.69 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 61 innings. 11 pitchers started games for the Senators in 1960 and Woodeshick started 14 times among his 41 appearances, compiling a 4-5 tally and 4.70 ERA along with 4 saves and 46 strikeouts over 115 innings. With the move of the Senators to Minnesota for 1961, Woodeshick was taken in the expansion draft by the replacement Washington Senators franchise. Moving into the starting rotation for the new club, he had a 3-2 mark and 4.02 ERA when he was traded back to the Detroit Tigers in June. He performed poorly as a reliever for the contending Tigers, resulting in a demotion to Class AAA Charleston of the International League which allowed him to be close to home in West Virginia during his wife’s pregnancy and to help with relief efforts following devastating flooding. In the offseason he was sold to the expansion Colt .45s. Inserted into the starting rotation he put together a 5-16 record that included picking up the win in the first shutout victory in franchise history (with RHP Dick Farrell picking up a save). His ERA was 4.39 and he struck out 82 batters over a career-high 139.1 innings. He would never again start a game after the 1962 season. Previously reliant on his fastball, he finally gained command of his curve and added a slider which would help him come into his own as a reliever in 1963.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in 55 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 55 [7, tied with Al McBean & Bobby Shantz]

Games Started – 0

Games Finished – 39 [4]

Complete Games – 0

Wins – 11

Losses – 9

PCT - .550 [Non-qualifying]

Saves – 10 [10, tied with Al Worthington]

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 114

Hits – 75

Runs – 29

Earned Runs – 25

Home Runs – 3

Bases on Balls – 42

Strikeouts – 94

ERA – 1.97 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 6 [13, tied with nine others]

Balks – 1

Wild Pitches – 8 [14, tied with six others]

Midseason Snapshot: 8-4, G – 29, ERA - 1.41, SV – 2, SO - 48 in 70.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 6 (in 4 IP) vs. Cincinnati 4/28, (in 7.2 IP) vs. Chi. Cubs 5/11, (in 3 IP) at NY Mets 9/15

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 7.2 IP) vs. Chi. Cubs 5/11

Batting

PA – 24, AB – 23, R – 2, H – 3, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 1, SO – 11, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .130, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 42

Put Outs – 6

Assists – 33

Errors – 3

DP – 1

Pct. - .929

Awards & Honors:

Colt .45 of the Year: Houston chapter, BBWAA

All-Star

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The Colt .45s went 66-96 to finish ninth in the NL, 33 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers. The pitching staff led the league in fewest walks issued (378) and fewest home runs allowed (95). The second-year Colt .45s were 20-29 by the end of May and firmly ensconced in ninth place, and occasionally tenth, the rest of the way. With the club seeking to build on youth, manager Harry Craft inserted a mixture of the young talent into the lineup late in the season which led to a 16-6 run to conclude the schedule.

Aftermath of 1963:

Heading into 1964, Woodeshick, whose career had been nondescript until 1963, was sought after by contending teams. He remained with Houston and, despite a midseason slump, went on to record a league-leading 23 saves to go along with a 2-9 record and 2.76 ERA in 61 appearances. The Colt .45s were renamed the Astros and moved into their new domed stadium, the Astrodome in 1965, but Woodeshick would not remain with the club for very long. In June he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, who were desperate to shore up their bullpen, as part of a four-player deal. Woodeshick performed ably for the Cardinals and finished with a combined record of 6-6 with 18 saves in 78 appearances, a 2.25 ERA, and 59 strikeouts over 92 innings pitched. A shoulder injury suffered during 1966 spring training dropped Woodeshick’s workload to 59 games, although he remained effective and produced a 1.92 ERA and 2-1 tally with 4 saves and 30 strikeouts over 70.1 innings. He further proved to be a valuable mentor to the club’s rising cadre of young pitchers. The Cardinals won the NL pennant in 1967 and Woodeshick was part of a remarkably well-balanced and capable bullpen that included lefthanders Joe Hoerner (the closer) and Al Jackson and righties Ron Willis and Jack Lamabe. He appeared in one game during the World Series against the Boston Red Sox and finished the Game 6 loss by inducing Boston slugger Carl Yastrzemski to ground out. The Cardinals won Game 7 and Woodeshick earned a World Series championship ring. Released in the offseason, he chose to retire at age 35 even though several clubs expressed interest in him. For his major league career Woodeshick pitched in 427 games, 62 of them starts, and produced a 44-62 record and 3.56 ERA with 61 saves, 7 complete games, and 484 strikeouts over 847.1 innings. With Houston he appeared in 174 games, 62 of them starts, with a 3.16 ERA, 36 saves, 2 complete games, and 256 strikeouts over 364 innings. A poor fielder, he had particular difficulty with throwing to first base. Following his playing career, Woodeshick moved to Houston and coached and tutored in youth baseball. Back where he had first demonstrated his baseball talent, he was inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame in 1979. He died in 2009 at age 76. His younger cousin, Tom Woodeshick, was an NFL running back, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles, from 1963-72.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Dick Farrell, 1962

Pitcher, Houston Colt .45s

Age:  28 (April 8)

1^st season with Colt .45s

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 215 

Prior to 1962:

A Massachusetts native, Farrell, the son of an amateur athlete known as “Big Turk” came to be known as “Turk”, a lasting nickname. A polio victim before he was two, he wore a leg brace until age six. Overcoming the disease after many hospital treatments, he walked with a slight limp for the remainder of his life. He still managed to become an accomplished athlete at St. Mary’s High School in Brookline, excelling in football and basketball as well as baseball, where his pitching record from sophomore to senior years was 45-5. Farrell passed on college scholarship offers to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies out of high school. Initially assigned to the Schenectady Blue Jays of the Class A Eastern League in 1953, the big 19-year-old posted a 7-3 record with a 3.39 ERA. Reassigned to Schenectady in 1954, Farrell went 11-15 for a last-place team while recording 115 strikeouts in 216 innings pitched. Moving up to the Syracuse Chiefs of the Class AAA International League in 1955, Farrell posted a 12-12 tally with a 3.94 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 185 innings pitched. He also hit a league-longest 475-foot home run at MacArthur Stadium in Syracuse. During the winter he pitched in the Venezuelan Association, where he performed well, including a one-hitter in the Caribbean Series. Unable to crack Philadelphia’s pitching staff in the spring of 1956, he found himself back in the International League with the Miami Marlins. “Turk”, after recovering from a broken ankle that cost him the first two months of the season, went 12-6 with a 2.50 ERA. Along the way he lost 2-0 while throwing a two-hitter due to allowing 10 walks. Receiving a late-season call-up to the Phillies, he lost his only start but stuck with the parent club in 1957 as a reliever, despite typically having started during his minor league career. Farrell went on to excel as a rookie, appearing in 52 games and compiling a 10-2 record with 10 saves, a 2.38 ERA, and 54 strikeouts in 83.1 innings pitched. With his excellent fastball, he was an All-Star for the first time in 1958, although his second half performance tailed off, likely due to overwork and the weakening effects of a severe hay fever allergy. He finished with an 8-9 tally and 11 saves in 54 relief appearances and a 3.35 ERA. The Phillies were a last-place club in 1959 and Farrell took blame as a hard-partying ringleader of the so-called “Dalton Gang” of carousers and whose pitching performance dropped to 1-6 with 6 saves and a 4.74 ERA in 38 appearances. Along the way he was briefly demoted to Buffalo of the International League. Training diligently prior to the 1960 season, he returned to good form, appearing in 59 games and posting a 10-6 record with 11 saves and a 2.70 ERA. With the team in full rebuilding mode, Farrell became a desirable trade asset, but started the 1961 season with the Phillies. A poor start damaged his trade value, but he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in May. He continued to struggle and became prone to surrendering walks and home runs. For the year he pitched in 55 games and went 8-7 with 10 saves and a 5.20 ERA. Left unprotected by the Dodgers in the expansion draft for the two new National League entries for 1962, Farrell was chosen by Houston, who converted him back into a starting pitcher.   

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 43 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 43 [19, tied Don Drysdale & Don Ferrarese]

Games Started – 29

Complete Games – 11 [15, tied with four others]

Wins – 10

Losses – 20 [2, tied with Dick Ellsworth & Al Jackson]

PCT - .333

Saves – 4 [17, tied with six others]

Shutouts – 2 [10, tied with fourteen others]

Innings Pitched – 241.2 [13]

Hits – 210 [19, tied with Bob Buhl]

Runs – 91

Earned Runs – 81

Home Runs – 21 [17, tied with Don Drysdale & Vern Law]

Bases on Balls – 55

Strikeouts – 203 [4]

ERA – 3.02 [7]

Hit Batters – 5

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 9 [8, tied with five others]

Midseason Snapshot: 5-10, ERA - 2.58, SO - 95 in 108.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 12 (in 9 IP) vs. St. Louis 7/20

10+ strikeout games – 4

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) at LA Dodgers 6/16, (in 8 IP) at NY Mets 6/22, (in 7 IP) at Philadelphia 6/26

Batting

PA – 82, AB – 78, R – 3, H – 14, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 2, RBI – 3, BB – 0, SO – 28, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .179, GDP – 1, HBP – 1, SH – 3, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 40

Put Outs – 10

Assists – 28

Errors – 2

DP – 1

Pct. - .950

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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In their inaugural season, the Colt .45s went 64-96 to finish eighth in the NL, 36.5 games behind the pennant-winning San Francisco Giants. From a respectable record of 31-36 on June 22, the Colt .45s went through a 5-29 stretch although a 15-12 September allowed them to finish eighth in the ten-team league. Farrell suffered some tough defeats along the way due to an offense that had difficulty scoring runs. The team drew 924,456 fans to temporary Colt Stadium as they awaited the construction of their new domed stadium.

Aftermath of 1962:

Houston remained strong in pitching and weak in producing runs again in 1963. Farrell reproduced his 3.02 ERA while posting a winning record of 14-13, compiling 12 complete games and 141 strikeouts. In 1964 Farrell got off to a hot start and was 10-1 at the All-Star break. The run production dropped off in the second half and “Turk” finished at 11-10, although with a still respectable 3.27 ERA and 117 strikeouts over the course of 198.1 innings. The club had a new name in 1965, the Astros, as well as a new home in the Astrodome. They remained a losing team and Farrell dropped to 11-11 with a 3.50 ERA. Appearing to have lost some zip on his fastball, the Astros entertained trade offers. While no longer a carouser, “Turk” was accused of throwing occasional spitballs. He remained with Houston in 1966, starting in just 21 of his 32 pitching appearances as he was relegated to the bullpen. His record was 6-10 with a 4.60 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 152.2 innings pitched. He also showed a propensity for giving up the long ball, surrendering 23 home runs. Farrell returned to the Phillies in May of 1967. Once again almost exclusively a reliever, he posted a 10-6 mark for the ’67 season along with 12 saves and a 2.34 ERA. He was at his best with the Phillies, combining with another veteran, Dick Hall, to solidify the bullpen. Farrell started off well in 1968 but slumped to end up at 4-6 with 12 saves and a 3.48 ERA in 54 appearances. Following a poor season in 1969 he was released, thus ending his major league career, although he tried to catch on with other teams over the next couple of seasons, seeing action in the Mexican League as well. For his major league career, Farrell compiled a 106-111 record with a 3.45 ERA, 41 complete games, 5 shutouts, 83 saves, and 1177 strikeouts in 1704.2 innings pitched. With Houston he went 53-64 with a 3.42 ERA, 41 complete games, 5 shutouts, 8 saves, and 694 strikeouts in 1015 innings pitched. He was a five-time All-Star. Following his retirement from baseball Farrell worked in the oil and gas industry until his death due to an auto accident in England at age 43 in 1977. Years later it was revealed that he was the biological father of Richard Dotson, who pitched primarily with the Chicago White Sox in the 1980s. A fiercely competitive power pitcher and off-field prankster, Farrell led a talented Houston pitching staff in the franchise’s early years.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.