Houston Astros: 50 Greatest All-Time Players, Part 8 of 10

The Houston Astros recently completed their 50th Major League season. Originally, the team was known as the Houston Colt .45s, from their inaugural season in 1962 through 1964. In 1965, however, the team adopted the moniker, "Astros."

Since then, the Astros have been to the postseason nine times, winning the National League pennant in 2005. Houston only hit .500 once in its first 10 seasons and did not post a winning record until 1972. Their first postseason appearance was in 1980 and the team took home their first NL West title.

They again made the playoffs in the following season, the strike-shortened 1981 campaign, but the Astros did not make it past the first round. Until 1986, the Astros did not return as contenders. In that season, they were once more eliminated in the first round.

From 1997 through 2005, the Astros made the postseason six times. They won their first ever series in 2004, against the Atlanta Braves before losing the NLCS to the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2005, the team advanced to the World Series by first beating the Atlanta Braves then the St. Louis Cardinals. The team was defeated in four games by the Chicago White Sox.

In the six seasons since that time, Houston has posted a winning record twice, and in 2011 finished 50 games under .500, their worst season ever. The Astros can only go up from here. As we reflect on what next season may hold, let's take a look back at the Astros' top 50 players of all time. 

This list was compiled with resources available at www.baseball-reference.com, namely the "Wins Above Replacement" statistic.

15. Mike Scott (1983-1991, WAR: 23.4)

The New York Mets drafted Scott in the second round of the 1976 amateur draft out of Pepperdine University.  He debuted with the Mets in 1979 and would play four seasons in New York before being traded to the Astros.

For nine seasons Scott was part of the Astros starting rotation.  1985 saw him post an 18-8 record and a 3.29 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP, all solid numbers.  His 1986 season, however, was much better.

Scott put up an 18-10 record and led the NL in many pitching categories.  His 2.22 ERA, five shutouts, 275.1 innings pitched, 306 strikeouts and 0.923 WHIP all led the league.  He was selected to play in his first All-Star game and took home the NL Cy Young award.

He would make the All-Star team two more times, including a 20-win campaign in 1989.  He retired after the 1991 season.

His Astros career record of 110-81 places him third in wins for Houston.  He also posted a career 3.30 ERA, 1,318 strikeouts and a 1.144 WHIP.

14. Joe Niekro (1975-1985, WAR: 24.0)

The all-time leader in Astros wins with a 144-116 record, Niekro was a mainstay in the Astros' rotation for 11 seasons.

Originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the third round of the 1966 draft, Niekro first appeared for the club in 1967. Before joining Houston he also played for the San Diego Padres, the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves.

1979 was Niekro's best Major League season.  He was selected to his only All-Star game and led the NL with 21 wins, posting a 3.00 ERA and finishing second in the voting for the NL Cy Young Award.

He struck out 1,178 batters in 2270 innings over 397 games for the Astros.

He later played for the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins before retiring in 1988.

Niekro only hit one home run during his Major League career, off brother Phil, a 300-game winner, in 1976.

13. Bob Watson (1966-1979, WAR: 25.8)

Watson signed a free-agent contract with Houston in 1965.  He had his first Major League appearance the following season, going without a hit in his only at bat.

Watson saw limited playing time in left field and at first base for Houston over the next three seasons before joining the full-time lineup.  He would continue to see playing time at both positions throughout the rest of his 14 seasons in Houston. 

Watson hit over .300 in four seasons, twice making the All-Star team.  His best season was likely the 1976 campaign, in which he collected 16 home runs and 102 RBI, hitting an NL ninth-best .313 average.

He hit .297 over his Houston career with 139 home runs and 782 RBI, later playing with the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves.

He is currently vice president of rules and on-field operations for Major League Baseball.

12. Terry Puhl (1977-1990, WAR: 26.1)

Puhl originally came to the Astros after signing an amateur free-agent contract in 1973 and made his first appearance with the club in 1977, hitting .301 in 60 games.

Puhl followed that up in 1978 with his only All-Star season, in which he hit .289 and stole 32 bases for the Astros.

At various points in his career, Puhl was the Astros' starter at each of the outfield positions, committing a total of 18 errors over his 14 Houston seasons.

With the exception of 15 games with the Kansas City Royals in 1991, Puhl played his entire career in Houston, racking up 217 stolen bases and 432 RBI.  He hit .280 and walked as often as he struck out, demonstrating patience at the plate and ability to get on base with a career .349 OBP.

He is currently the manager of the Canadian National team

11. Nolan Ryan (1980-1988, WAR: 26.2)

Ryan joined the Astros after having compiled a 167-159 career record with the New York Mets and the California Angels. 

For Houston, Ryan was a two-time All-Star, collecting 1,866 of his Major League record 5,714 career strikeouts with the team.  He posted a 106-94 record and a 3.13 ERA while part of the team.

Ryan's best season for Houston was the strike shortened 1981 campaign, in which he posted a career low 1.69 ERA.  He struck out 140 while only allowing 99 hits in 149 innings that season.  Of the 99 hits allowed by Ryan that season, only two were home runs.

Ryan twice led the NL in strikeouts while with the Astros after the age of 40, with 270 in 1987 and with 228 in 1988.

He later played five seasons for the Texas Rangers, and along with Jackie Robinson is the only Major Leaguer to have his number retired by at least three ball clubs.

He is currently the principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers.