The 10 Best Pitching Seasons in Houston Astros Franchise History

Triple Crown Stats: 20-13, 2.33 ERA, 232 Ks
Other Key Stats: 20 CG, 4 SHO, 6.8 K/9, 305.1 IP
Accolades: 23rd in MVP, All-Star
Percentage of Teams Wins: 24.7

Many fans from this generation know Dierker better as a manager, but he was also a heck of a pitcher, winning 137 games in his 14-year career.

The '69 season was his best across the board as his 20 wins ranked him fifth in the National League, and his ERA was good for sixth.

Triple Crown Stats: 21-11, 3.00 ERA, 119 Ks
Other Key Stats: 11 CG, 5 SHO, 263.2 IP
Accolades: second in Cy Young, fifth in MVP, All-Star
Percentage of Teams Wins: 23.6

Niekro enjoyed the best season of his 22-year, 221 win career in '79 as the knuckleballer led the National League in wins.

He went 20-12 the next season and finished his Astros career with a 144-116 record in 11 seasons.

Triple Crown Stats: 19-7, 2.57 ERA, 205 Ks
Other Key Stats: 6 CG, 4 SHO, 7.2 K/9
Accolades: fifth in Cy Young, 22nd in MVP, All-Star
Percentage of Teams Wins: 22.6

The ace of an Astros team that somehow won the NL Central with only 84 wins, Kile was one of only two pitchers with double-digit wins on the season.

He pitched seven innings, giving up only two runs, but took the loss in his only postseason start that season.

Triple Crown Stats: 20-10, 3.49 ERA, 206 Ks
Other Key Stats: 2 CG, 2 SHO, 7.8 K/9
Accolades: third in Cy Young, 23rd in MVP
Percentage of Teams Wins: 21.7

With an average season of 17-9, Oswalt has had a number of great seasons, but this one was his best in my opinion.

He led the NL in wins and helped lead the Astros to a NLCS appearance, where they fell to the Cardinals in seven games.

When all is said and done, I think Oswalt will be considered the best pitcher in Astros' history, if he is not already.

Triple Crown Stats: 18-4, 2.98 ERA, 218 Ks
Other Key Stats: 9.2 K/9, 3.3 BB/9
Accolades: Cy Young, eighth in MVP, All-Star
Percentage of Teams Wins: 19.6

In his first season with the Astros, Clemens teams with Oswalt to win 38 games and lead the team to a NLCS berth.

Clemens took home his seventh and final Cy Young Award all at the age of 41.

I wonder what his secret was for playing so well so late in his career?

Triple Crown Stats: 11-5, 1.69 ERA, 140 Ks
Other Key Stats: 5 CG, 3 SHO, 21 starts, 8.5 K/9
Accolades: fourth in Cy Young, 16th in MVP, All-Star
Percentage of Teams Wins: 18.0

During the strike shortened '81 season, Ryan put together the best season of his Astros career as he led the National League in ERA.

He also threw his record setting fifth no-hitter that season, passing Sandy Koufax for the record.

The no-hitter was coincidentally against Koufax's Dodgers.

Triple Crown Stats: 22-4, 2.90 ERA, 177 Ks
Other Key Stats: 3 CG, 2 SHO, 6.7 K/9
Accolades: second in Cy Young, 21st in MVP, All-Star, Silver Slugger
Percentage of Teams Wins: 22.7

Hampton put it all together for one magical season as he made good on the potential that made him a major leaguer at the age of 20.

Aside from the stellar pitching numbers, he also won the Silver Slugger as he hit .311 on the season with 23 hits, including three doubles, three triples, and 10 RBI.

Triple Crown Stats: 18-13, 2.71 ERA, 313 Ks
Other Key Stats: 19 CG, 4 SHO, 9.6 K/9, 6.8 H/9
Accolades: third in Cy Young, 19th in MVP
Percentage of Teams Wins:

From 1976-1979, Richard was arguably the best pitcher in baseball as he won 20, 18, 18, and 18 games, respectively.

The '79 season was his best all-around season as he led the league in ERA, strikeouts, and K/9.

His career was cut short by a blood clot that caused a stroke when he was warming up during the 1980 season, but when he was at his best, he was borderline unhittable

He still holds the distinction of throwing the fastest slider on record at 98 MPH, and his fastball regularly touched triple-digits.

Triple Crown Stats: 10-1, 1.28 ERA, 116 Ks
Other Key Stats: 4 CG, 4 SHO, 11 starts, 12.4 K/9
Accolades: seventh in Cy Young, 21st in MVP
Percentage of Teams Wins: 10.2

Johnson came over in a trade deadline deal from the Mariners for then minor-leaguers Freddy Garcia and Carlos Guillen, and proceeded to absolutely dominate in his first run through the National League.

He pushed a solid Astros team over the hump and into the playoffs, although they lost to the Padres in the NLDS.

Triple Crown Stats: 18-10, 2.22 ERA, 306 Ks
Other Key Stats: 7 CG, 5 SHO, 10.0 K/9, 0.923 WHIP
Accolades: Cy Young, 10th in MVP, All-Star
Percentage of Teams Wins: 18.8

Scott is arguably the best pitcher in Astros' history, winning 14 or more games in five straight seasons on his way to a 110-81 record over his nine seasons with the team.

He won 20 games in '89, but '86 was his best overall season as he led the NL in ERA, strikeouts, shutouts, innings pitched, K/9, and WHIP as he led the Astros to a postseason appearance.

Even though they lost the four games to two in the NLCS, Scott went 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA, throwing two complete games and one shutout while striking out 19.