Happy Birthday - 4/14

No future Astros, but several former Astros are celebrating birthdays today ~

C Brad Ausmus (44)
Ausmus spent 18 seasons in the major leagues, not bad for a 48th round draft pick. Ausmus spent 10 of those seasons playing for Houston over two separate stints, in 1997 to 1998 and in 2001 to 2008. The trades that first brought him to Houston, sent him back to Detroit and finally brought him back for the second time, according to Baseball-Reference:

• December 10, 1996: Traded by the Detroit Tigers with Jose Lima, Trever Miller, C.J. Nitkowski and Daryle Ward to the Houston Astros for Doug Brocail, Brian Hunter, Todd Jones, Orlando Miller and cash. 
• January 14, 1999: Traded by the Houston Astros with C.J. Nitkowski to the Detroit Tigers for Carlos Villalobos (minors), Mark Persails (minors), Paul Bako, Dean Crow and Brian Powell. 
• December 11, 2000: Traded by the Detroit Tigers with Doug Brocail and Nelson Cruz to the Houston Astros for Roger Cedeno, Chris Holt and Mitch Meluskey. 

In 1259 games for Houston, he hit .246/.318/.327. An All-Star for Detroit and a three-time Gold Glove winner for Houston, Ausmus provided Astros fans with one of the most memorable moments in franchise history when he hit a two-out bottom of the ninth homerun in game 4 of the NLDS in 2005, forcing the game into extra inning and allowing the Astros to win the Division. And, face it, he isn't too hard on the eyes either.

Brad Ausmus, Spring Training 2005
Photo by Jayne Hansen

C Gregg Zaun (42)
The well-traveled Zaun played for nine different teams in his 16 major league seasons. Originally drafted by Baltimore in the 17th round in 1989, Zaun came to Houston as a free agent and played for the team in 2002 and 2003. In 135 games for the Astros, he hit .220/.285/.311. Used mostly as a back-up catcher throughout his career, Zaun earned his World Series ring playing for the Marlins in 1997.

LHP Bobby Sprowl (57)
A second round draft pick by Boston in 1977, Sprowl came to Houston from the Red Sox as the player to be named later in the Bob Watson trade. In 19 appearances (one start) spread out over the 1979 through 1981 seasons, Sprowl was 0-1 with a 5.08 ERA and a 1.748 WHIP.

WTHB would also like to wish Dave Zangaro, funny guy, writer for CSN Houston, aficionado of all things Philly, including a good Cheesesteak wit, a very happy birthday.