A plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.

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Entry from June 21, 2008
Lastros (Houston Astros baseball team unofficial nickname)

The Houston Astros baseball team has been no stranger to last place. The team was known as the Houston Colt .45s in 1962 (8th place), 1963 (9th place), and 1964 (9th place). The Houston Astros were no better in 1965 (9th place), 1966 (8th place), 1967 (9th place), and 1968 (10th place).
   
The nickname “Lastros” dates from at least 1975, when local sportswriters came up with it and used it regularly. Unfortunately, the nickname “Lastros” is still sometimes used.
 
 
Wikipedia: Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The team is in the Central Division of the National League.
   
Franchise history
Beginnings: The 1960s
Houston Colt .45s Logo, 1962-1964
Subsequent to the Giants and Dodgers leaving for California, an abortive attempt was made to start a third major league. It was to be called the Continental League. Though the league never got off the ground, it nonetheless established the demand for major league baseball in other markets.
 
On October 17, 1960, Judge Roy Hofheinz and the existing Continental League ownership group from Houston was awarded a franchise in the ten-team National League The team was to be named the Houston Colt .45s. In addition to the Houston Colt .45s, the New York Mets would also join the NL in 1962, a year after the 1961 expansion of the American League, which resulted in new AL teams in Los Angeles (Los Angeles Angels) and Washington, D.C. (a new Washington Senators franchise to replace the team that had left D.C. to become the Minnesota Twins the same year).
 
The “Colts” began play on April 10 1962, defeating the Chicago Cubs 11-2, and for the next three years, the team would play in Colt Stadium.
(...)
New venue, new name
On April 9, 1965, the Houston Colt .45s became the Houston Astros and inaugurated indoor baseball in the Astrodome with a 2-1 exhibition win over the New York Yankees on April 9 in the Astrodome…rookie Joe Morgan sets club marks for at-bats, runs, hits and triples.
   
Wikipedia: Houston Astros seasons
This is a list of seasons completed by the Houston Astros professional baseball franchise.
 
Regular season Attendance Playoffs
Season Team League Division Finish Won Lost % GB Attendance Average
Houston Colt .45s
1962 1962 NL 8th 64 96 .400 36½ 924,456 11,555.7
1963 1963 NL 9th 66 96 .407 33 719,502 8,882.7
1964 1964 NL 9th 66 96 .407 27 725,773 8,960.2
Houston Astros
1965 1965 NL 9th 65 97 .407 32 2,151,470 26,561.4
1966 1966 NL 8th 72 90 .444 23 1,872,108 23,112.4
1967 1967 NL 9th 69 93 .426 32½ 1,348,303 16,645.7
1968 1968 NL 10th 72 90 .444 25 1,312,887 16,208.5
1969 1969 NL West 5th 81 81 .500 25 1,442,995 17,814.75
1970 1970 NL West 4th 79 83 .488 23 1,253,444 15,474.6
1971 1971 NL West T-4th 79 83 .488 11 1,261,589 15,575.1
1972 1972 NL West T-2nd 84 69 .549 10½ 1,469,247 19,081.1
1973 1973 NL West 4th 82 80 .506 17 1,394,004 17,209.9
1974 1974 NL West 4th 81 81 .500 21 1,090,728 13,465.7
1975 1975 NL West 6th 64 97 .398 43½ 858,002 10,725.0
 
Urban Dictionary
Lastros
The name for the Houston Astros baseball team when they are having a bad season, especially when they are in last place in their division.
Man, can you believe the Lastros dropped three in a row to the crappy Brewers!
by carl Oct 3, 2003
 
18 May 1975, Port Arthur (TX) News:
Houston pitchers can not be blamed for that. One Bayou City newspaper has labeled the team “The Lastros” because of its poor play.
   
Sports Illustrated (August 4, 1975)
In Houston, the Astros (3-5) were still the Lastros.
 
12 April 1981, Hartford (CT) Courant, pg. D5:
Houston Nine No Longer “Lastros” 
 
Google Groups: rec.sport.baseball
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Robert H Morrison)
Date: 1 Mar 92 23:27:44 GMT
Local: Sun, Mar 1 1992 7:27 pm
Subject: Any Astros fans out there?
 
I realize we’re a lonesome bunch, especially after last season.  If anyone out there regularly follows our beloved Lastros, please e-mail me at the above address.  It’s very hard to get any news on the team up here in NYC.
   
Google Groups: rec.sport.baseball
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Date: Sat, 28 Mar 92 15:03:01 EST
Local: Sat, Mar 28 1992 4:03 pm
Subject: Re: U heard it here 1st! NLW Predictions
 
Fluke injuries might knock anybody down to fourth, and career years might carry the Giants to second, but how in the world could the Lastros top the Reds?

Posted by Barry Popik
Texas (Lone Star State Dictionary) • Saturday, June 21, 2008 • Permalink


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