On April 12th, 1965 the Astros played their first official game against the Philadelphia Phillies after an exhibition game against the Yankees three days earlier.
Chris Short of Philadelphia made sure the Houston fans, all 42,652 of the, went home unhappy as he pitched a four-hit shutout, striking out 11 while getting help from (who else) Dick Allen (then “Richie”), who slammed a two-run shot in the third inning off of Astros starter Bob Bruce, who would go seven innings before giving way to Hal Woodeshick who threw the final two frames.
The stadium made it possible for the Astros to play during the scorching Houston Summer with it’s air conditioning and later on it’s “Astroturf” after initial attempts to utilize natural grass failed.
For me, the Stadium along with other “Modern” atrocities like the cookie-cutter Riverfront , Veteran’s and Three Rivers Stadiums with their knee-killing artificial turf made for some unnatural atmosphere’s for a game that was supposed to be all about the great outdoors.
However the times they were a’changin’ and it wouldn’t be until the 1990’s when Major League Baseball returned to their senses and went back to more traditional styles for new ballparks.
But like it or not, the Astrodome was BIG news when it opened as was a marvel of modern technology not only for professional sports but for modern engineering.