2006 Houston Astros season

The 2006 Houston Astros season was the 45th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 42nd as the Astros, 45th in the National League (NL), 13th in the NL Central division, and seventh at Minute Maid Park. They entered the season as the defending NL pennant winners for the first time, ultimately ending the season with a 4-games-to-0 loss in the World Series to the Chicago White Sox.

On April 3, pitcher Roy Oswalt made his fourth consecutive Opening Day start for the Astros, who hosted Florida Marlins, and won, 1–0. On April 18, the Astros recaptured an all-time franchise record of .500 (3,507–3,507) for the first time since their expansion era of early 1962. In the amateur draft, the Astros selected catcher Maxwell Sapp in the first round (23rd overall), third baseman Chris Johnson in the fourth round, and pitcher Bud Norris in the sixth round.

Oswalt and first baseman Lance Berkman represented the Astros and played for the National League at the MLB All-Star Game. Phil Garner managed the National League. It the fourth career selection for Berkman and second for Oswalt. Gene Elston, who broadcast for the Colt .45s/Astros from 1962 to 1986, was recognized by the Baseball Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick Award.

On July 28, Luke Scott hit for the cycle, to become the first Astros rookie to do so, and for the seventh time overall in franchise history.

The 2006 Astros finished in second place in the NL Central with a record of 82–80, 1½ games behind the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, after losing 3–1 on the road to the Atlanta Braves on the final day of the season. As a result, they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003. It was their fifth-consecutive finish in second place in the division.

The 2006 season was the final season as members of the NL Central division that the Astros finished as high as second place; in fact, they had placed first or second in 12 of their first 13 seasons in the NL Central. It was also their 13th winning season over the previous 14, with the 2000 season being the lone exception in both cases.

Following the season, retired right-hander Nolan Ryan was the Astros' DHL Hometown Hero selectee, second baseman Craig Biggio was recognized with his first of two consecutive Heart & Hustle Awards, catcher Brad Ausmus won the third Gold Glove Award of his career and shortstop Adam Everett was a Fielding Bible Award winner. Meanwhile, Berkman placed third in the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award voting, and Oswalt was fourth for the NL Cy Young Award.