On this day, lo those many years ago in Astros past, was the first no-hitter thrown by an Astros pitcher, as Houston beat Philadelphia 4-1 at Colt Stadium.
That's right, it was a no-hitter, but the Phillies scratched across a run. That happened in the top of the fifth, and actually tied the game at 1-1. Astros starter Don Nottebart had lost his bid at a perfect game in the third when he gave up a walk to Bobby Wine. Don Demeter led off the fifth for Philly with a grounder to the shortstop, one J.C. Hartman, who booted the ball so epically, that Demeter got all the way to second base. Catcher Clay Dalyrymple sacrificed Demeter over to third with a bunt back to Nottebart and Don Hoak hit a sacrifice fly to center field to tie the game.
Houston took the lead back an inning later when third baseman Johnny Temple and right fielder Carl Warwick both singled to set up Howie Goss' three-run home run. That was all the run support Nottebart would need, as he cruised in with the first no-hitter in franchise history.
Nottebart struck out eight and walked three and dropped his ERA down to 2.73 with the victory, his fifth of the season. His Game Score of 90 is also one of the highest in Astros history. The 27-year old right-hander had the best season of his career in 1963, going 11-8 with a 3.17 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 193 innings. Nottebart only recorded two shutouts in his entire career and both came in '63. His other was a four-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds where he struck out nine. Nottebart was a Massachusetts native, but lived in Houston until his death in 2007, despite finishing his career with Cincinnati, the Cubs and the Yankees.
Here is the graphic replay of the game, thanks to Back to Baseball.