Colt .45s From the Beginning

devildog0352 · 06-07-2023, 08:06 AM

I was born in 1971, and became an avid Astros fan in 1980--the Nolan Ryan, JR Richard, Jose Cruz days. But, for this project, I decided to go back to where it all started--with the 1962 Colt .45s.

I began with 1961 in Commissioner Mode and unemployed. I simmed through the season up to the expansion draft, and made all of Houston's picks. In the offseason, I signed free agents to fill out my farm system. I am in Spring Training now. I'm serving as GM and Manager, and I play EVERY game, including Spring. Opening Day roster is coming soon!

OmahaBaseball · 06-07-2023, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devildog0352

I was born in 1971, and became an avid Astros fan in 1980--the Nolan Ryan, JR Richard, Jose Cruz days. But, for this project, I decided to go back to where it all started--with the 1962 Colt .45s.

I began with 1961 in Commissioner Mode and unemployed. I simmed through the season up to the expansion draft, and made all of Houston's picks. In the offseason, I signed free agents to fill out my farm system. I am in Spring Training now. I'm serving as GM and Manager, and I play EVERY game, including Spring. Opening Day roster is coming soon!

Sounds fun -- look forward to following along!

devildog0352 · 06-07-2023, 09:28 PM

Spring training is over. The Colt .45s went 14-13-3 in their first-ever Spring Training. After inviting 48 players to Spring Training, here is the 1962 Opening Day roster...

ROTATION
Name (Age)-Team Drafted From
Vern Law (32)-Pirates (1960 All-Star & Cy Young award winner)
Pedro Ramos (26)-Twins
Al Schroll (30)-Twins
Moe Drabowski (26)- Braves (AAA)
Jim Constable (28)- Pirates (AAA)

BULLPEN
Jim Brosnan (32)-Reds (1961 All-Star)
Terry Fox (26)-Tigers (1961 All-Star & Reliever of the Year)
Ted Abernathy (29)-Indians (AAA)
Clem Labine (35)-White Sox (1956-57 All-Star)
Bill Henry (34)-Reds
Jack Baldschun (25)-Phillies

LINEUP
CF-Jackie Brandt (27)-Orioles (1959 Gold Glove)
RF-Jimmie McDaniel (29)-Minor League Free Agent
3B-Bobby Prescott (31)-Athletics
C-Jimmie Coker (26)-Phillies
LF-Al Spangler (28)-Braves
2B-Don Blasingame (30)-Giants
SS-Tony Kubek (26)-Yankees (1957 Rookie of Year, 58-59 All-Star)
1B-Bert Barth (23)-Orioles

BENCH
Johnny Blanchard (29)-Yankees
Dick Phillips (30)-Minor League Free Agent
Billy Consolo (27)-Twins
Vern Agnew (21)-Minor League Free Agent
Willie Tasby (29)-Senators
Ken Toothman (27)-Angels (AAA)

Note: Only Spangler was on the roster in real life.

devildog0352 · 06-10-2023, 11:06 AM

Congratulations to Bert Barth, who was named the NL Player of the Month for April! Barth hit .263 with 6 HRs (T-2nd) and 16 RBIs (4th) in April.
Don Blasingame had 3 triples in April (T-1st)

The Colt .45s were 7-13 in April and finished the month in 9th place in the NL. As a team, Houston hit .265 (5th), with 18 HRs (T-4th), and scored 186 runs (5th).

MAJOR INJURIES & TRANSACTIONS

On May 1, RP Clem Labine (0-1, 2 SV, 3.09) was diagnosed with a torn labrum. He will miss the rest of the season. RP Bob Anderson was called up from AAA Oklahoma City to replace Labine.

May 1-Traded SP Al Schroll (0-2, 9.95) to the Cubs for minor league LHP Harvey Branch and $20,000 cash.

May 1-Called up SP Jim Archer from AAA Oklahoma City.

devildog0352 · 06-12-2023, 09:25 AM

Houston went 7-24 in May. The .45s are now 14-37, in the NL cellar. They are worst in the league in runs scored (173) and runs allowed (279).

Tony Kubek leads the team in batting average (.263), while Bert Barth leads in HRs (8), RBIs (25), and runs (20). Jim Archer, who was called up May 1, already leads the team in wins, complete games (2), and shutouts (1). He is 3-3, 1.99 after 6 starts.

MAJOR TRANSACTIONS

May 27-Claimed RP Donald Carlson (PHI) off waivers and optioned him to AAA Oklahoma City
June 1-Optioned SP Jim Constable, RP Bob Anderson, and SS Vern Agnew to AAA Oklahoma City.
Called up SP Luis Tiant, RP Donald Carlson, and IF Pumpsie Green from AAA Oklahoma City.

devildog0352 · 06-13-2023, 04:40 PM

The Colt .45s went 9-19 in June, and now stand in 9th place in the NL with a record of 23-56.

Houston had the first pick in the amateur draft on June 15, and selected 3B Jim Wynn with the first overall pick. In rounds 2-5, the Colt .45s drafted CF James Strickland, C Laurence Edwards, 2B Frank Ferro, and SP Ed Barnowski. By the end of June, Houston had signed all 40 of their draft picks.

TEAM LEADERS
Batting Average-Ken Toothman .300
HRs-Bert Barth 8
RBIs-Ken Toothman 31
ERA-Pedro Ramos 5.03
Ws-Jack Baldschun 5
Ks-Pedro Ramos 63

INJURIES & TRANSACTIONS
June 23-Placed LF Al Spangler on 15 day IL (fractured finger). Called up C Hal Jones from AAA Oklahoma City.

July 1-Optioned C Hal Jones to AAA Oklahoma City. Called up C Fred White.

06-07-2023, 08:06 AM	#1
devildog0352 Bat Boy Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 5	Colt .45s From the Beginning I was born in 1971, and became an avid Astros fan in 1980--the Nolan Ryan, JR Richard, Jose Cruz days. But, for this project, I decided to go back to where it all started--with the 1962 Colt .45s. I began with 1961 in Commissioner Mode and unemployed. I simmed through the season up to the expansion draft, and made all of Houston's picks. In the offseason, I signed free agents to fill out my farm system. I am in Spring Training now. I'm serving as GM and Manager, and I play EVERY game, including Spring. Opening Day roster is coming soon!

06-07-2023, 09:28 PM	#3
devildog0352 Bat Boy Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 5	End of Spring! Spring training is over. The Colt .45s went 14-13-3 in their first-ever Spring Training. After inviting 48 players to Spring Training, here is the 1962 Opening Day roster... ROTATION Name (Age)-Team Drafted From Vern Law (32)-Pirates (1960 All-Star & Cy Young award winner) Pedro Ramos (26)-Twins Al Schroll (30)-Twins Moe Drabowski (26)- Braves (AAA) Jim Constable (28)- Pirates (AAA) BULLPEN Jim Brosnan (32)-Reds (1961 All-Star) Terry Fox (26)-Tigers (1961 All-Star & Reliever of the Year) Ted Abernathy (29)-Indians (AAA) Clem Labine (35)-White Sox (1956-57 All-Star) Bill Henry (34)-Reds Jack Baldschun (25)-Phillies LINEUP CF-Jackie Brandt (27)-Orioles (1959 Gold Glove) RF-Jimmie McDaniel (29)-Minor League Free Agent 3B-Bobby Prescott (31)-Athletics C-Jimmie Coker (26)-Phillies LF-Al Spangler (28)-Braves 2B-Don Blasingame (30)-Giants SS-Tony Kubek (26)-Yankees (1957 Rookie of Year, 58-59 All-Star) 1B-Bert Barth (23)-Orioles BENCH Johnny Blanchard (29)-Yankees Dick Phillips (30)-Minor League Free Agent Billy Consolo (27)-Twins Vern Agnew (21)-Minor League Free Agent Willie Tasby (29)-Senators Ken Toothman (27)-Angels (AAA) Note: Only Spangler was on the roster in real life. Last edited by devildog0352; 06-10-2023 at 01:56 PM.

06-10-2023, 11:06 AM	#4
devildog0352 Bat Boy Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 5	End of April 1962 Congratulations to Bert Barth, who was named the NL Player of the Month for April! Barth hit .263 with 6 HRs (T-2nd) and 16 RBIs (4th) in April. Don Blasingame had 3 triples in April (T-1st) The Colt .45s were 7-13 in April and finished the month in 9th place in the NL. As a team, Houston hit .265 (5th), with 18 HRs (T-4th), and scored 186 runs (5th). MAJOR INJURIES & TRANSACTIONS On May 1, RP Clem Labine (0-1, 2 SV, 3.09) was diagnosed with a torn labrum. He will miss the rest of the season. RP Bob Anderson was called up from AAA Oklahoma City to replace Labine. May 1-Traded SP Al Schroll (0-2, 9.95) to the Cubs for minor league LHP Harvey Branch and $20,000 cash. May 1-Called up SP Jim Archer from AAA Oklahoma City.

06-12-2023, 09:25 AM	#5
devildog0352 Bat Boy Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 5	End of May 1962 Houston went 7-24 in May. The .45s are now 14-37, in the NL cellar. They are worst in the league in runs scored (173) and runs allowed (279). Tony Kubek leads the team in batting average (.263), while Bert Barth leads in HRs (8), RBIs (25), and runs (20). Jim Archer, who was called up May 1, already leads the team in wins, complete games (2), and shutouts (1). He is 3-3, 1.99 after 6 starts. MAJOR TRANSACTIONS May 27-Claimed RP Donald Carlson (PHI) off waivers and optioned him to AAA Oklahoma City June 1-Optioned SP Jim Constable, RP Bob Anderson, and SS Vern Agnew to AAA Oklahoma City. Called up SP Luis Tiant, RP Donald Carlson, and IF Pumpsie Green from AAA Oklahoma City.

06-13-2023, 04:40 PM	#6
devildog0352 Bat Boy Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 5	End of June 1962 The Colt .45s went 9-19 in June, and now stand in 9th place in the NL with a record of 23-56. Houston had the first pick in the amateur draft on June 15, and selected 3B Jim Wynn with the first overall pick. In rounds 2-5, the Colt .45s drafted CF James Strickland, C Laurence Edwards, 2B Frank Ferro, and SP Ed Barnowski. By the end of June, Houston had signed all 40 of their draft picks. TEAM LEADERS Batting Average-Ken Toothman .300 HRs-Bert Barth 8 RBIs-Ken Toothman 31 ERA-Pedro Ramos 5.03 Ws-Jack Baldschun 5 Ks-Pedro Ramos 63 INJURIES & TRANSACTIONS June 23-Placed LF Al Spangler on 15 day IL (fractured finger). Called up C Hal Jones from AAA Oklahoma City. July 1-Optioned C Hal Jones to AAA Oklahoma City. Called up C Fred White.