27 Facts About Alan Ashby

Catcher for two Astros teams that won division pennants, Ashby caught three no-hitters for the club, the most in franchise history.

Alan Ashby grew up a die-hard Los Angeles Dodgers fan in San Pedro, California and was in attendance at Sandy Koufax's perfect game in 1965.

Alan Ashby did not consider becoming a catcher until his senior year of high school when, inspired by watching Johnny Bench, he decided that he had a good enough arm to attempt the conversion.

Alan Ashby collected his first career hit off of Tigers pitcher Mike Strahler in his first career at-bat.

Alan Ashby finished the 1973 season appearing in 11 games with Cleveland, batting.

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In 1976, Alan Ashby shared playing time with Ray Fosse, and in 89 games, improved his batting average to.

Alan Ashby saw the majority of time catching the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1977 season, as he appeared in 124 games, batting.

Alan Ashby appeared in his first playoff series, as Ashby played in two games in the 1980 National League Championship Series, hitting.

Alan Ashby continued to see his offensive numbers improve: in 83 games he hit.

In 1984, Alan Ashby became the Astros backup catcher, as Mark Bailey played the majority of games.

In 1985, Alan Ashby played in only 65 games, his lowest total since 1974 he played well in his limited playing time, batting.

Alan Ashby recaptured the Astros starting catching job in 1986, and helped guide the team's pitching staff to lead the National League in strikeouts and finish the season with the league's second best team earned run average.

Alan Ashby thus has the distinction of being the first player to hit game-winning home runs in the postseason from both sides of the plate.

Alan Ashby had the best season of his career in 1987, as he appeared in a career high 125 games, batting.

Alan Ashby saw his production, and playing time, decrease in 1988, as in 73 games, he hit.

Alan Ashby played in his final major league game on May 9,1989, at the age of 37.

Alan Ashby led National League catchers three times in range factor, and once in fielding percentage.

Alan Ashby caught 107 shutouts during his career, ranking him 23rd all-time among major league catchers.

Alan Ashby was the host of the Houston Rockets Show and the Houston Cougars Football's John Jenkins Show.

Alan Ashby served as manager of the Houston Astros' Florida State League affiliate, the Kissimmee Cobras in 1996.

Alan Ashby went on to join the Major League coaching staff for the Astros in 1997 as bullpen coach.

Alan Ashby served in that capacity until the 2006 season when the Astros let him go.

Alan Ashby was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

In 2007, Alan Ashby signed a three-year contract to become the color commentator and secondary play-by-play man on the Toronto Blue Jays radio broadcasts, and subsequently signed for another five-year term.

Alan Ashby was teamed up with incumbent play-by-play man Jerry Howarth.

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From 2011, Alan Ashby served on occasion as the Blue Jays' play-by-play and color commentator on their Sportsnet telecasts.

On January 4,2013, Alan Ashby resigned from his position at Sportsnet The Fan-590 to join Houston's television broadcast team alongside Bill Brown in the Houston Astros' TV broadcasting department, replacing Jim Deshaies.