The Houston Colt 45s were an expansion franchise that began play in the 1962 season as members of the National League. As one of baseball’s newest teams and still trying to establish an identity in a new city, the Colt 45s offered fans an exciting look at the early years through the production of team baseball cards.
The Topps company held the exclusive license to produce major league cards during this time period. In 1962, Topps included the Colt 45s in their flagship baseball card release, just as they had featured the other NL teams that season. This initial subset of 32 cards featuring Colt 45s players and managers helped introduce collectors and fans to the new Houston roster. Some of the notable rookies included in the ’62 Topps set were Don Nottebart, Jimmy Wynn, and Dick Farrell who would go on to have solid careers.
In 1963, Topps upped their Colt 45s card count to 37 as the roster evolved. Managers Ray Sewell and Harry Craft each received their own card in the set as well. Rookies making their Topps debut included Joe Morgan, who went on to a Hall of Fame career. The 1963 design featured borderless photos on a white background, with team name and player stats on the reverse. These early Colt 45s cards captured the franchise and its players at the very start of team history.
1964 was a transitional year for the franchise as they changed their name to the Astros to better represent the city and space industry of Houston. Topps marked the name change by putting “Houston Astros” under the team logo on that year’s 32 card Astros subset. The colorful cartoon-style design with orange and yellow borders highlighted the dynamic change. Manager Sewell was once again included alongside Astros regulars and new callups such as Rusty Staub.
Starting in 1965, Topps gave the Astros their own complete team set within the larger flagship release. This custom subset featured 51 cards and allowed for better representation of the full Astros roster and minor leaguers. Rookie pitcher Don Wilson received one of the cards after being called up late in ’64. Future stars such as Joe Morgan and Jimmy Wynn gained more prominent placement in the set as well. The Astros also benefited from individual player photographs replacing the composite team image used on many early cards.
1966 saw Topps increase the Astros subset count again, this time to a robust 60 cards. In addition to more roster spots, the design featured individual action shots of each player along with a powder blue and orange color scheme paying tribute to the team colors. Notable rookies like Larry Dierker received their first card during a memorable Astros season. This was truly an Astro-centric set that allowed fans to follow all aspects of the team in ample detail.
Several milestones were reached in 1967. Topps printed 71 cards for the Astros, their highest total to date. The design also switched to a vertical format for the first time. Rookie pitcher Don Wilson had a breakout season and received more prominent position within the set. Jim Wynn earned an “All-Star” designation on his card following his selection to the midsummer classic. The ’67 issue represented the Astros as one of baseball’s strongest franchises on the rise.
By the late 1960s, Astros cards were still included in Topps’ main release but had transitioned into alphabetical grouping by last name rather than a stand alone team set. The host of prospect cards issued in the early days served baseball card collectors well by preserving the histories of players, managers, and the franchise from their beginnings in Houston as the Colt 45s through their evolution into the Astros. Many consider the vintage 1960s Topps issues to be the most fun and nostalgic reminders of the team’s formative period after relocating from Milwaukee. While team performance fluctuated, cards captivated local fans’ attention and spread Astros popularity through young collectors nationwide. Today, complete sets and key rookie cards from the team’s early Topps years remain highlights for vintage Houston baseball enthusiasts and memorabilia investors alike. The cardboard stories of the once new Colt 45s serve as a reminder of pro baseball’s steady growth in America’s Space City.
The Houston Colt 45s/Astros team issues released by Topps from 1962-1967 provided an irreplaceable chronicle of the franchise and its key personnel during rich developmental years. Starting as baseball’s newest entrant, the team gained representation and stature through Topps’ collaborative efforts to sufficiently cover the Astros in annual releases. Rookie cards, unique designs, and quantitative improvements to the team subsets preserved the past for nostalgic reflection. As a result, vintage Colt 45s and early Astros cards remain fan favorites and hold significance in documenting baseball’s arrival and establishment in Houston.
