Breaking in the Colts

After losing all 17 of their previous games against the Phillies in 1962, the expansion Houston Colt .45s finally 62 years ago today beat Philadelphia 4-1 before a Tuesday night crowd of 4,537 at makeshift Colt Stadium, which is a couple of years away from being replaced by the Astrodome.

As for the Phillies, they wish they could schedule every game against the Colt .45s, considering they go 17-1 against them in 1962 but only 64-79 against the rest of the National League.

Right-hander Bob Bruce – pictured here above in 1961 with Detroit – holds the Phillies to four hits, including a solo homer by Don Demeter in the top of the second inning.

Bruce, though, makes up for that with his own RBI double off Phillies starter Cal McLish in the bottom of the second and an RBI single off reliever Dallas Green in the sixth.

Bad timing, too, for the Phillies to run into Bruce, who – unlike so many others – actually thrives playing alongside the omnipresent and equally annoying mosquitoes at Colt Stadium, where he in three seasons he goes 20-10 with a 2.59 ERA.