1972 Houston Astros season
Major League Baseball season
The 1972 Houston Astros season was the 11th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their eighth as the Astros, 11th in the National League (NL), fourth in the NL West division, and eighth at The Astrodome. The Astros ended the season with a 79–83 record, tied for fourth place, and 11 games behind the division-champion San Francisco Giants.
The first players' strike in league history occurred on April 1–13, which resulted in nine games being cancelled for Houston. On April 15, Don Wilson made his second Opening Day start for the Astros, who hosted San Francisco. They were shut out by the score of 5–0.
Three managers led the club during the 1972 season: Harry Walker, Salty Parker for one game, and Leo Durocher, who was installed as Walker's permanent replacement. Each represented the fourth, fifth and sixth managers for Houston, with Walker having been the longest-serving manager (708 games) in franchise history. The Astros' first-round draft pick in the amateur draft that year was outfielder Steve Englishbey, at ninth overall. They also selected Jim Crawford in the 14th round.
Center fielder César Cedeño and first baseman Lee May represented the Astros at the MLB All-Star Game.
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