What is the best Houston Astros team of all-time?

5. 2005 Houston Astros

This team was the one to finally get over the hump. Houston wanted their baseball team to play for a World Series so bad, and for 40 years they never had. Finally, in 2005 this team made it. They went 89-73-1 over the regular season, and historically beat the Cardinals & the Braves in the National League playoffs, before being swept by the Chicago White Sox. To this day, however, this is the lowest run differential in the fall classic, of all time.

This team was known for its pitching staff which included Roy Oswalt, Andy Petite, Roger Clemens, Brandon Backe and Wandy Rodriguez. It also had closer Brad Lidge, who had an ERA of 2.29 that year.

On the other side of the ball, there was an aging but still great Craig Biggio & Jeff Bagwell. The best player behind the plate that year was Lance Berkman, managing a .934 OPS and Morgan Ensberg with .945. Other notable players: Brad Ausmus, Adam Everett, Chris Burke, Willy Taveras.