Houston Astros: New Owner Moves Dangerously Close to Killing Astros' Name

Please don't let a perfectly good franchise name die. 

The Houston Astros have been a great many things since they were renamed in 1965. They have seen indoor baseball play receive a good amount of criticism. They even captivated eyeballs with some ghastly uniform choices, but all along, the Astros have been Houston, and that could change shortly. 

An ESPN report issues new owner Jim Crane is ready to change the Houston Astros name and uniforms if marketing reports and fan questionnaires deem such a thing worthy. 

Crane is a pioneer and maverick, things valued by Houston natives. We can applaud his willingness to carve new ground, but too much change can work at the detriment of a sports club, especially in a sport that values tradition over pizazz.  

First comes the applause in that Crane is determined to breathe new life into the Astros. He has announced several new initiatives.

Per the report, some of them are: five percent rebate on full-season and 27-game season ticket accounts that are renewed by Jan. 31 and allowances of water and small food items to be brought into the park. 

Astros fans already have to deal with a great deal of change as the team will become part of the American League in 2013, a change that will mandate them to welcome a designated hitter and enjoy even less defense than they were already used to. 

Then comes word that Crane is toying with the notion of changing the name of the Astros and the uniforms. 

The Astros is a moniker that makes reference to the the Astrodome they resided in from 1965 to 1999. Houston had a long standing relationship with the space shuttle program that has since ended. 

So, the argument that a shuttle program and dilapidated stadium the team doesn't even play in are not ties that warrant keeping the name Astros. We beg to differ.

The LA Dodgers' name carries over from their days in Brooklyn, when trolley dodging was a way of life. The LA Angels lived out their City of Angels moniker for decades in Anaheim before owner Artie Moreno welcomed back the Los Angeles to the team's name. 

And really, does the name Royals invoke thoughts of Kansas City proper? Or do Cardinals make you think of St. Louis and the famed arch? 

No. The best names stand the test of time, and such is the fate of the Astros. At some point, all team names stop making sense and are far more important as link to the team's legacy. 

When you think of the name Astros, you think of Craig Biggio, Mike Scott and Texas finally getting Major League Baseball. 

All those thoughts will be extinguished with a new name and new identity. The owner means well, but he needs to help shape the Astros' history, not destroy it. 

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