The Houston Astros have a long history that is documented through baseball trading cards stretching back to the early 1960s when the franchise was known as the Colt .45s and played in the midst of Houston’s space race boom. Starting in 1962 just after the team joined Major League Baseball as an expansion franchise, card companies like Topps, Fleer, and Donruss began producing cards featuring the players and uniforms of Houston’s National League entrant.
Some of the earliest Astros/Colt .45s cards featured star players like Joe Morgan, Jimmy Wynn, and Don Nottebart. These early 1960s issues helped baseball card collectors get to know the original Astros players from the dawn of the franchise. In addition to standard baseball cards in packs, the 1960s also saw oddball issues produced. For example, in 1965 Topps produced rack packs and vending machine packages of cards branded specifically for the Astros. These localized issues helped build excitement for the team among local Houston fans.
Entering the 1970s, Houston had rebranded from the Colt .45s to the Astros to better represent the city’s aerospace dominance. This new team name and logo debuted on 1971 issues from the major card companies. Stars of this era included pitching great J.R. Richard and outfield slugger Johnny Bench. The mid-1970s brought Astros’ World Series appearances in 1980 and 1981, led by pitcher Nolan Ryan, second baseman Joe Morgan, and outfielder José Cruz. These postseason runs increased interest in Astros cards from the time.
The 1980s saw the emergence of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, who would become synonymous with Astros franchise history. Rated prospect cards of Biggio in the late 1980s predicted his future stardom. Other stars of the era included pitcher Mike Scott, who won the 1986 NL Cy Young Award and hurled a no-hitter that year. The late 1980s also saw oddball and regional issues continue to be produced, including subsets focused on the Astros by Score and Minor League subsets featuring future Astros.
Entering the 1990s, the “Killer B’s” era took off led by Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, and Lance Berkman. This potent lineup led Houston to a pair of NL Central division titles in 1997 and 1998. Rated rookie cards and early career cards of the Killer B’s from the early 90s are some of the most iconic Astros cardboard in existence today. Upper Deck also produced elegant skyline-adorned Astros inserts in the 1990s that remain extremely popular with collectors. The Astros also donned throwback rainbow uniforms and astronaut-themed jerseys in the 1990s that translated to fun oddball issues.
In the 2000s, Houston added pitchers like Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, and Roy Oswalt to strong lineups led by Bagwell, Biggio, Berkman, and Carlos Beltran. This helped bring the franchise its first World Series championship in 2005, defeating the Chicago White Sox. Championship sets from 2005 Topps, Upper Deck, and Leaf capture that special season. Stars like outfielder Hunter Pence and first baseman Lance Berkman kept Astros cards popular through the late 2000s until the franchise endured rebuilding seasons.
Entering the 2010s, Houston underwent an organizational rebranding that included switching leagues to the American League in 2013. Early 2010s stars included pitchers Bud Norris and Dallas Keuchel, along with outfielder George Springer. It was the sign-stealing scandal and subsequent 2017 World Series win that most define this era of Astros history in the eyes of fans and the wider industry. Insert sets from 2017 Topps, Bowman, and Stadium Club honoring that championship are some of the most famous in recent memory despite controversy. Today, stars like Justin Verlander, José Altuve, and Alex Bregman keep the Astros atop the AL and in demand for card collectors worldwide.
Through varying on-field success, franchise relocations, and changes of ownership, Houston Astros baseball cards have served as an historical documentation of the team’s over 50 seasons of play. Featuring stars of the past and present, oddball issues, and championship sets, the vast array of Astros cardboard connects generations of fans to the team’s history and evolution from expansion entrant to perennial contender. As the franchise looks to add to its championship legacy in the years ahead, there will surely be many more iconic baseball cards produced to commemorate Astros greatness on the diamond.
