Happy Birthday - 12/1

No future Astros with birthdays today, but these former Astros mark the day ~

RHP Jim "Sting" Ray (died May 26, 2005 at 60)
Drafted by Houston from the Orioles in December 1963, Ray pitched for the Astros in 1965, 1966 and 1968 to 1973. He was 42-27 with a 3.53 ERA, a 1.293 WHIP and 23 Saves in 280 games. One of the highlights of Ray's career had to be pitching in the 24-inning affair with the Mets on April 15, 1968, the longest shutout in baseball history. He pitched seven innings of relief, gave up two hits, one walk and struck out 11. This entertaining story about the game put it well:

As the innings wore on, pitchers looked more and more like Walter Johnson, and it became apparent that short of a negotiated truce, the only way this contest would end was through a mistake.

LHP Dan Warthen (62)
A second round pick by the Expos in 1971, Warthen came to Houston in a September 1978 trade with the Phillies and pitched in five games for the Astros that month with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.125 WHIP.

LHP Dan Schatzeder (60)
Originally drafted by Montreal in the third round in 1976, Schatzeder came to Houston as a free agent in January 1989. In 81 games for the Astros in 1989 and 1990, he had a 3.36 ERA and a 1.459 WHIP. Schatzeder spent 15 seasons in the major leagues pitching for nine different teams.