The Buffs played one last minor league season as the top farm team of the in 1961 before being succeeded by the city's NL club. The new Houston team was named the Colt.45s after a 'Name The Team' contest was won by William Irving Neder. The was well known as 'the gun that won the west.' The colors selected were navy blue and orange.
The first team was a collection of cast-offs culled mostly through an after the 1961 season. The Colt.45s and their expansion cousins, the, took turns choosing players left unprotected by the other National League franchises. The Colt.45s began their existence playing.Ĭolt Stadium, however, was just a temporary field until Judge Hofheinz could build an indoor stadium.
Many of those associated with the Houston Buffaloes organization were allowed by the ownership to continue in the major league. Manager, who had joined Houston in 1961, remained in the same position for the team until the end of the. General manager also continued with the organization as business manager, but was later promoted again to the same position with the Astros from 1967 until 1975.
