This game program was purchased 50 years ago today when Houston played its first major league game. The Colt .45s downed the Cubs 11-2 behind the five-hit pitching of Bobby Shantz and the two-homer, six-RBI heroics of Roman Mejias. Houston scored its first run on its second batter. As you will see after the jump, a surprising number of expansion teams scored in their first-ever inning.
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First scores of expansion teams, 1961-1998
4/10/61: Senators - fifth batter
4/11/61: Angels - fourth batter
4/10/62: Colt .45s -- second batter
4/11/62: Mets - 3rd inning
4/8/69: Royals - second batter
4/8/69: Pilots - second batter
4/8/69: Padres - 5th inning
4/8/69: Expos - sixth batter
4/7/77: Blue Jays - third batter
4/8/77: Mariners - 4th inning, third game
4/5/93: Marlins - third batter, 2nd inning
4/7/93: Rockies - 7th inning, second game
3/31/98: Devil Rays - 6th inning
3/31/98: Diamondbacks - 6th inning
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