Happy Birthday - 9/13

Happy Birthday to several former Astros with birthdays today ~

RHP Wade Miller (37)
Drafted by Houston in the 20th round in 1996, Miller pitched for the Astros from 1999 to 2004 with a record of 58-39, a 3.87 ERA and a 1.309 WHIP over 127 games (123 starts). Miller pitched in one game of the 2001 NLDS with a 2.57 ERA and 1.000 WHIP and earned a no-decision. He became a free agent in December 2004 and subsequently pitched for the Red Sox and the Cubs. In 2009, he played for the Blue Jays' AAA affiliate but was never able to mount a comeback after his final major league game in April 2007.

SS/2B Mike Fischlin (58)
Originally drafted by the Yankees in the seventh round in 1975, Fischlin came to Houston in a June 1977 trade with New York. In 57 games for the Astros in 1977, 1978 and 1980, he hit a rather inauspicious .127/.168/.137. He was eventually sent packing to Cleveland in April of 1981.

1B Jim Obradovich (died March 3, 2012 at age 62)
Drafted by the Twins in 1967, Obradovich signed as a free agent with Houston in 1977 and eventually played in just 10 games for the Astros in 1978, hitting .176/.222/.294. According to Baseball-Reference, one of the highlights of his brief major league career was hitting a triple and driving in a run off of future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry.

RHP Billy Smith (59)
A 14th round pick for the Astros in 1977, Smith pitched in 10 games for the Astros in 1981 with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.113 WHIP.

RHP Nelson Cruz (41) - (No, not THAT Nelson Cruz)
Cruz came to Houston in a December 2000 trade with the Tigers and subsequently pitched in 109 games for the Astros in 2001 and 2002. He had a 5-9 record with a 4.31 ERA and a 1.338 WHIP. He was traded to the Rockies in December 2002.