Pre-Orders Now Open for Orange Crush: The Neglected 1971 Houston Astros
- HIP Leadership
- Sep 7
- 2 min read
At Huntsville Independent Press, we’re thrilled to announce that Samuel Barrett’s Orange Crush: The Neglected 1971 Houston Astros is officially available for pre-order in paperback today, with the full release set for September 19, 2025. This isn’t a team history—it’s a bold, meticulously researched retelling of one of baseball’s most overlooked seasons, and one that asks the question every fan secretly loves to wrestle with: what if?
The 1971 Astros played in the shadow of bigger stories, but their season was anything but ordinary. They set an MLB record with 75 one-run games, keeping fans on the edge of their seats night after night. A towering rookie named J.R. Richard stepped onto the mound and struck out 15 batters in his debut, tying an all-time mark and hinting at the legend he would become. A teenage César Cedeño showed flashes of brilliance, while mainstays like Jimmy Wynn, Larry Dierker, Don Wilson, Bob Watson, and Doug Rader gave the Astros a foundation of undeniable talent.
And yet, just as Houston seemed ready to break through, the organization tripped over itself. Ill-timed trades and questionable management decisions—sending away players like Joe Morgan, Mike Cuellar, Rusty Staub, Dave Giusti, and John Mayberry—shifted the course of the franchise. Barrett takes readers back into the Astrodome to relive not only what happened, but also what could have happened if the front office had chosen differently. It’s a rare kind of baseball book: equal parts history and creative nonfiction, deeply factual yet daring enough to imagine an alternate path.
What makes Orange Crush stand out is that it establishes itself as serious reference material for the future. With endorsements from former Astros pitcher Scipio Spinks, Baseball Almanac’s Sean Holtz, and a foreword by SABR chapter president Joe Thompson, this work has already earned recognition for its scholarship and storytelling. Barrett also drew on research assistance and personal insights from members of the 1971 Astros themselves, including Norm Miller, Larry Yount, George Culver, Tom Griffin, and the great Larry Dierker and Tal Smith—all voices that bring unparalleled authenticity to this project.
Baseball is a sport built on moments, near-misses, and second guesses. Orange Crush captures all of that in one unforgettable season. Pre-orders for the paperback are open now—reserve your copy today, and on September 19th, step back into the Astrodome for the season that almost changed everything.
Learn more or reserve your copy at the link below!
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