Geographist

Roy Oswalt Born: August 29, 1977 Sport: Baseball (163-102 record, 3-time All-Star, NLCS MVP, NL Wins Leader, NL ERA Title, Gold medal) The Houston Astros have developed a bit of a rivalry against the New York Yankees since joining the American League back in 2013, although it's been almost entirely one-sided in games that matter.  Most people who know the game are aware that the Yankees played the Astros in the first-ever exhibition game at the Astrodome on April 9, 1965, with the local team claiming a 2-1 victory.  They didn't play while in opposite leagues for several decades, but Houston has now knocked off their AL counterparts from the Big Apple in all four of their playoff meetings, meaning that in their first decade of playing in the same league the Astros had eliminated the Yankees more than any other team in history.  Today those two teams played the final game of a three-game series where the local nine managed to claim a victory to avoid being swept, but in an ...

Jose Cruz Born: August 8, 1947 Sport: Baseball (2-time All-Star, 2-time Silver Slugger) If you're a Houston Astros fan, you've probably gotten used to the recent run of success for the team but also sometimes get frustrated at the show starts that seem to plague them more often than not.  Stumbling out of the gate has become something of an annual occurrence, and 2026 has not been a departure from that trend.  In spite of that, however, there continue to be bright spots in the organization that show promise.  The Astros just finished getting swept by the St. Louis Cardinals, falling to a division-worst 8-15 record.  I thought it might be fun to look back at one of the team's favorite figures who may have gotten his start with those Cardinals but was soon brought to town by the Astros and became influential in their first shot at postseason games, and who ultimately was present for every playoff moment Houston had while part of the National League.  What's more, ...

Jim Nantz Born: May 17, 1959 Sport: Broadcasting (2-time Emmy Award winner, 5-time National Sportscaster of the Year winner, Hall of Fame) Before anything else, I want to acknowledge the passing of Phil Garner, former MLB player and beloved manager of the Houston Astros, as well as the Brewers and Tigers.  He ended a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer on Saturday night, and you can read more about his story on my post about him here .  My heart and prayers go out to his loved ones.  Turning our attention to the current sports calendar, we just closed the book on the 2026 NCAA Tournament earlier in the week when the University of Michigan outlasted the University of Connecticut to take home the title and today is the final round of the Masters.  Many sports fans have long equated both events with one particular voice that has lent his skills to announcing basketball, golf, and football.  As one of only two men to broadcast a Super Bowl, Masters, and NCAA Cham...

George Springer Born: September 19, 1989 Sport: Baseball (2-time All-American, 4-time All-Star, 3-time Silver Slugger, World Series MVP) My daughter and I went to the NCAA South Region Final during March Madness last week, and while we didn't get the chance to see the team we hoped for (UH Cougars) it was still a fun time.  This week, however, the University of Connecticut and the University of Michigan each punched their tickets to the championship game.  The city of Houston has had a few significant players in their history that have come from both schools, but today I've opted to give the Huskies the nod by throwing the spotlight on a UConn product who played his best baseball while in Houston.  Unlike last week's focus that came from the early years of his sport this player is still active, although while he remains a favorite of Astros fans he has been employed by the Toronto Blue Jays for several seasons.  So let's dive into the story of George Springer. The do...