Remembering: Astros clinch division in one game playoff in 1980

HOUSTON (KTRK) — It was 40 years ago on October 6th, 1980 that the Astros won the division in a one-game playoff with the LA Dodgers.

The Astros turned to Joe Niekro and the knuckleballer delivered by beating the Dodgers 7-1 and winning his 20th game of the year.

The game was shown here on. Here’s a clip of the Astros partying in the clubhouse. The player with the fake nose and glasses is Joe Sambito.

Meanwhile, the Houston Oilers dropped a game to the Seahawks. Running back legend Earl Campbell was stuffed by their defense.

Completely unrelated, the entertainment that week on ABC13 was the Million Dollar Movie’s “Horrible Monsters we’ve learned to love week”.