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 following ...

(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 Coastal Florida Sports Park (formerly known as Cocoa Expo Sports Center) is a multi-sport complex located in Cocoa, Florida, where athletes of all levels can practice and play in facilities fit for the pros and improve their ability to compete ...

located at 500 Friday Road. The facility was originally built in 1964 for the

Houston Colt .45's 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 ...

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 Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...

. 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 Diego ...

(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 the ...

(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 Gary Louis Rajsich ( ; born October 28, 1954) is an American Major League Baseball (MLB) scout and a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or parts of four seasons in the Majors from until , then played three additional seasons f ...

(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 (1972) * John McLaren (1972) *

Jimy Williams James Francis Williams (born October 4, 1943) is an American former professional baseball infielder, coach and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born in Santa Maria, California, and briefly appeared in two MLB seasons as a seco ...

(1972 MGR) 1999 AL Manager of the Year *

Jackie Brandt John George Brandt Jr. (born April 28, 1934), is an American former professional baseball outfielder, who played in the major leagues for the St. Louis Cardinals (), New York / San Francisco Giants (–), Baltimore Orioles (–), Philadelphia Ph ...

(1970) *

Mike Cosgrove Michael John Cosgrove (born February 17, 1951) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher with the Houston Astros from 1972 to 1976. Cosgrove was used primarily as a left-handed relief pitcher. His best seasons came in 1974 and 1975. In '74 he wa ...

(1970–71) *

Mike Easler Michael Anthony Easler (born November 29, 1950), nicknamed "The Hit Man", is an American former professional baseball outfielder, designated hitter, and coach, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, California Angels, Pi ...

(1970–71) MLB All-Star *

Stan Papi Stanley Gerard Papi (born February 4, 1951) is a former major league baseball player perhaps most remembered for being traded by the Montreal Expos to the Boston Red Sox for Bill Lee during the 1978-79 off-season. Career Papi was born in Fresno ...

(1970–71) * J. R. Richard (1970) MLB All-Star ; 1979 NL ERA Leader; 2 × NL Strikeout Leader (1978, 1979) *

Derrel Thomas Derrel Osbon Thomas (born January 14, 1951) is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a second baseman and utility player from to . Thomas was a member of the 1981 World Series winning ...

(1969) * Oscar Zamora (1969) * Cesar Cedeno (1968) 4 x MLB All-Star *

John Mayberry John Claiborn Mayberry Sr. (born February 18, 1949) is a former Major League Baseball player who was active from 1968 to 1982 for the Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. He was a two-time All Star. High ...

(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 Eduardo Elixbet Acosta (born March 9, 1944) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for three seasons. He was signed by the Houston Astros before the 1967 season and played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1970 and the San Diego Padre ...

(1967–68) *

Ed Armbrister Edison Rosanda Armbrister (July 4, 1948 – March 17, 2021) was a Bahamian professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from 1973 to 1977 for the Cincinnati Reds. Armbrister was a utility player for the Reds t ...

(1967–68) *

Enzo Hernández Enzo Octavio Hernández (12 February 1949 – 13 January 2013) was a shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from 1971 through 1978 for the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. Hernández was born in Valle de Guanape, Venezuela. Listed ...

(1967) * Cliff Johnson (1967–68) * Scipio Spinks (1967) *

Roric Harrison Roric Edward Harrison (born September 20, 1946) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last American League pitcher to hit a home run in an American League game (October 3, ) before the introduction of the designated hitter. Early ...

(1966) *

Bob Watson Robert José Watson (April 10, 1946May 14, 2020) was an American professional baseball player, coach and general manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman and left fielder from 1966 to 1984, most prominently as a member of ...

(1966) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Danny Walton Daniel James Walton (July 14, 1947 – August 9, 2017) was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. Walton attended Bishop Amat Memorial High School, and was selected in the 10th round (192nd overall) of the 1965 MLB draft by the Houston As ...

(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 Walter Franklin Bond (October 19, 1937 – September 14, 1967) was an American professional baseball player who appeared in 365 games over six Major League Baseball seasons between and for the Cleveland Indians, Houston Colt .45s/Astros and Min ...

(1957) *

Buddy Kerr John Joseph "Buddy" Kerr (November 6, 1922 – November 7, 2006) was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball. From 1943 through 1951, Kerr played for the New York Giants (1943–1949) and Boston Braves (1950–1951). A native of Astoria, Ne ...

(1956, Player/MGR) *

Felipe Alou Felipe Rojas Alou (born May 12, 1935) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and manager. He managed the Montreal Expos (1992–2001) and the San Francisco Giants (2003–2006). The first Dominican to play regularly in the ...

(1956) 3 x MLB All-Star ;1994 NL Manager of the Year * Julio Navarro (1955–56) *

Bama Rowell Carvel William "Bama" Rowell (January 13, 1916 – August 16, 1993) was an American professional baseball player. In Major League Baseball, he was a second baseman and outfielder for the Boston Bees/ Braves (1939–41 and 1946–47) and Philadelp ...

(1953–54) *

Pep Rambert Elmer Donald "Pep" Rambert (August 1, 1916 – November 16, 1974) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rambert's only decision came on the final day of his MLB career when he surrendered 8 runs in a ...

(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