1978 Topps Baseball #112 - Houston Astros

• The 1978 Houston Astros were only really distinguishable by their uniforms and the number of stolen bases they had. The team had little power, which wasn't helped by playing their home games in the Astrodome. Cesar Cedeno missed almost 2/3 of the season with a torn knee ligament. The pitching was below average (8th in team ERA), and the Astros got virtually no production from the catcher's position. Jose Cruz or J.R. Richard had good years and were probably better choices as the team's representative to the All Star Game instead of Terry Puhl.

Team Record: 74-88, .457, 5th in NL West, 21 games behind LA Dodgers

Managers(s): Bill Virdon

• • Attendance: 1,126,145 (9th in NL)
  • Team Batting: .258 (3rd in NL)
  • Team Home Runs: 70 (12th in NL)
  • Team Stolen Bases: 178 (2nd in NL)
  • Team ERA: 3.63 (8th in NL)
  • Team Fielding: .978 (4th in NL)
  • NL All Stars: Terry Puhl (OF)
  • Award Winners: none
  • League Leaders: Enos Cabell (AB - 660); J.R. Richard (strikeouts - 303; walks - 141; wild pitches - 16)
  • Batting Leader: Jose Cruz (.315)
  • HR Leader: Bob Watson (14)
  • RBI Leader: Jose Cruz (83)
  • Stolen Base Leader: Jose Cruz (37)
  • Victory Leader: J.R. Richard (18)
  • Losses Leader: Mark Lemongello / Joe Niekro (14)
  • Saves Leader: Joe Sambito (14)
  • Best ERA (starters): J.R. Richard (3.11)
  • Best ERA (relievers): Ken Forsch (2.70)
  • Players who could have had 1978 Astros cards (over 100 AB for position players, over 40 innings pitched for pitchers):
  • Jesus Alou -OF- (no card in 1978) - .324, 2 HR, 19 RBI in 77 games
  • Jimmy Sexton -SS- (rookie card in 1979) - .206, 2 HR, 6 RBI in 88 games
  • Luis Pujols -C- (rookie card in 1979) - .131, 1 HR, 11 RBI in 56 games
  • Bruce Bochy -C- (rookie card in 1980) - .266, 3 HR, 15 RBI in 54 games
  • Rafael Landestoy -SS- (rookie card in 1979) - .266, 0 HR, 9 RBI in 59 games
  • Vern Ruhle -P- (pictured with Detroit Tigers) - 3-3, 2.12 ERA in 13 games (10 starts)
  • Tom Dixon -P- (rookie card in 1979) - 7-11, 1 save, 3.99 ERA in 30 games (19 starts)