The Cocoa Astros were a professional minor league baseball team in the

Florida State League The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A follow ...

(FSL), as a Class A affiliate with the

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...

from 1965–72 and 1977. The team played at the Astros' spring training facility. The Cocoa FSL team was first known as the Cocoa Indians (1951–58) when formed in 1951. The Indians won the Florida State League title in 1956 with a 90-50 record.

The ballparks

The Cocoa Astros played at the Cocoa Expo Sports Center located at 500 Friday Road. The facility was originally built in 1964 for the Houston Colt .45's use during

Spring training Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives estab ...

. The Indians played at the Ball Fields at 1450 Minuteman Causeway. Felipe Alou

Notable alumni

Bruce Bochy Bruce Douglas Bochy (; born April 16, 1955), nicknamed "Boch" and "Headly", is an American professional baseball manager and former catcher who is the current manager of the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He managed the San Dieg ...

(1977) 1996 NL Manager of the Year:MGR: 3 × World Series Champion (2010, 2012, 2014) – S.F. Giants *

Jim Pankovits James Franklin Pankovits (born August 6, 1955 in Pennington Gap, Virginia) is an American professional baseball coach, a former Major League Baseball infielder and minor league manager. In MLB, he appeared in 318 games played, 316 of them with ...

(1977) *

Joe Pittman Joseph Wayne Pittman (January 1, 1953 – June 13, 2014) was a backup infielder/outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants in parts of three seasons spanning 1981–1984. List ...

(1977) * Gary Rajsich (1977) *

Bert Roberge Bertrand Roland Roberge (born October 3, 1954) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, and Montreal Expos from 1979 through 1986. Amateur career A native ...

(1977) * Dave Smith (1977) 2 x MLB All-Star; *

Paul Siebert Paul Edward Siebert (born June 5, 1953) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Paul's father was former major league first baseman Dick Siebert. The Houston Astros drafted Siebert in the third round of the 1971 Major League Baseball Draft ...

(1972) * John McLaren (1972) * Jimy Williams (1972 MGR) 1999 AL Manager of the Year * Jackie Brandt (1970) * Mike Cosgrove (1970–71) * Mike Easler (1970–71) MLB All-Star * Stan Papi (1970–71) *

J. R. Richard James Rodney Richard (March 7, 1950 – August 4, 2021) was an American professional baseball player. He played his entire career in Major League Baseball as a right-handed starting pitcher for the Houston Astros from 1971 to 1980. Richard led ...

(1970) MLB All-Star ; 1979 NL ERA Leader; 2 × NL Strikeout Leader (1978, 1979) * Derrel Thomas (1969) * Oscar Zamora (1969) * Cesar Cedeno (1968) 4 x MLB All-Star * John Mayberry (1968) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Leo Posada Leopoldo Jesús Posada Hernández Jr. (April 1, 1936 – June 23, 2022) was a Cuban baseball player. He played for the Kansas City Athletics of Major League Baseball from 1960 through 1962. After his retirement as a player, Posada served as a ...

(1968–69, Player/MGR) * Ed Acosta (1967–68) * Ed Armbrister (1967–68) * Enzo Hernández (1967) * Cliff Johnson (1967–68) * Scipio Spinks (1967) * Roric Harrison (1966) * Bob Watson (1966) 2 x MLB All-Star * Danny Walton (1965) * Don Wilson (1965) MLB All-Star ; 2 x No-Hitters; Died age 29 * Larry Brown (1958) *

Chuck Hiller Charles Joseph Hiller (October 1, 1934 – October 20, 2004) was an American Major League Baseball second baseman. In the 1962 World Series, he became the first National League player to hit a grand slam in a World Series. Hiller batted left-h ...

(1957) * Walt Bond (1957) * Buddy Kerr (1956, Player/MGR) * Felipe Alou (1956) 3 x MLB All-Star ;1994 NL Manager of the Year * Julio Navarro (1955–56) * Bama Rowell (1953–54) * Pep Rambert (1952, MGR)

References

External links

Baseball Reference
{{Florida State League Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct Florida State League teams Cleveland Guardians minor league affiliates Houston Astros minor league affiliates New York Giants minor league affiliates Defunct baseball teams in Florida 1951 establishments in Florida 1958 disestablishments in Florida 1965 establishments in Florida 1972 disestablishments in Florida 1977 establishments in Florida 1977 disestablishments in Florida Baseball teams disestablished in 1977 Baseball teams established in 1951