1980 Houston Astros season

The 1980 Houston Astros season was the 19th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 16th as the Astros, 19th in the National League (NL), 12th in the NL West division, and 16th at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season having completed an 89–73 record for second place and 1+1⁄2 games behind the division-champion Cincinnati Reds. At the time, this represented the closest the Astros had ever qualified for the playoffs.

On Opening Day, April 10, J. R. Richard made his fifth consecutive Opening Day start for Houston, who hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers and won, 3–2. On July 4, right-hander Nolan Ryan became the fourth major league hurler to record 3,000 career strikeouts.

Richard and left fielder José Cruz were selected to the MLB All-Star Game; Richard was the starting pitcher for the National League, and this was the first career selection for both players.

After a late collapse in 1979, the Astros completed their scheduled regular season with a record of 92–70, tying them for first place with Los Angeles after having lost three in a row in Los Angeles in the final series of the season. To determine the division champion, the teams played a tie-breaker on October 6, which the Astros won for the first division title and first time in franchise history to qualify for the playoffs. At the time, this also set the club record for wins in one season, surpassing the 89 from the season prior. Houston faced the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series (NLCS), losing three games to two.

Following the season, The Sporting News recognized general manager Tal Smith as Executive of the Year, and Bill Virdon as Manager of the Year, the first Houston Astros personnel to win these awards.