Terry Puhl, Tal Smith inducted to Astros HOF

HOUSTON -- For any longtime Astros fan, the 1980 team, which lost to the Phillies in a memorable National League Championship Series, will always hold a special place in their memories. The first playoff team in Astros history came within a few outs of reaching the World Series, even after losing All-Star pitcher J.R. Richard in the middle of the season.

Two men who were essential to that 1980 club were honored Saturday night at Minute Maid Park, with former Astros outfielder Terry Puhl and longtime club executive Tal Smith getting inducted into the Astros Hall of Fame in a ceremony prior to the game against the A’s. Smith worked for the club for 35 years in different capacities, including serving as president and general manager, and Puhl was a fixture in Houston’s lineup for more than a decade.

Smith and Puhl were recognized on the field with a plaque and were given an orange jacket that distinguishes them as Hall of Fame members. The Hall of Fame, which had its inaugural class in 2019, now consists of 24 members with the induction of Smith and Puhl.

Smith, 88, had a hand in nearly every key moment in Astros history for the first half-century of the franchise, from the birth of the Colt .45s in 1962, to the opening of the Astrodome three years later, to an incredible run of six playoff appearances in nine years (1997–2005). He was also a key figure in the opening of Minute Maid Park in 2000 and was the namesake for Tal’s Hill in center field.

“I spent 35 years with the club over a span of 51 years and a lot of great memories, some not so great,” said Smith, who was the GM of the 1980 team. “That’s the way it goes. I’m particularly pleased to be honored alongside Terry Puhl. The 1980 club will always be very dear to me, very special. It was the first championship club; we won the division, had the memorable playoff series with the Phillies, which is a story in itself. It was a very special team.”

With the induction of Puhl, there are seven members of the 1980 team in the Astros Hall of Fame -- Joe Niekro, Nolan Ryan, Joe Morgan, Cesar Cedeño, Jose Cruz, Puhl and Richard.

“That was quite a club, and I can think of another six guys and the manager, particularly, who would certainly warrant consideration for this honor,” Smith said.

Smith became emotional when a congratulatory message from Shirley Virdon, the widow of former Astros manager Bill Virdon, was played for him. Virdon managed the team from 1975-82.

“There [are] a lot of people in this game that have been great to me,” Smith said. “Just a very meaningful and very emotional message.”

Puhl, 66, made his Major League debut at 21 years old and played 15 seasons in the Major Leagues, including 14 in an Astros uniform. He hit .280 with 62 homers, 217 steals and 435 RBIs in his career and batted .526 for the Astros in the 1980 NLCS loss to the Phillies.

A native of Melville, Saskatchewan, Puhl was signed by the Astros in September 1973 by a scout named Wayne Morgan, who saw him win the Most Valuable Player Award at a national tournament and became enamored with his left-handed swing. Puhl was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in '95.

“A person doesn’t get [from] Melville, Saskatchewan, to the Houston Astros Hall of Fame without a great deal of support,” said Puhl, who thanked his family and close friends, including former Astros shortstop Craig Reynolds.

Puhl played in 1,531 career games, all but 15 with the Astros, from 1977-91 and was an All-Star in ‘78. In the ‘80 NLCS against the Phillies, Puhl hit .526 (10-for-19), setting a record for the highest batting average in the NLCS. He batted .300 or better in three seasons, and his .993 fielding percentage is the best among outfielders in Astros history.

“The Astros had finally won something as a team,” Puhl said of the 1980 club. “Hard to say, but if we would have had that incredible pitcher, J.R. Richard, all year that year, what that team could have possibly done, it would have been outstanding.”