Who Owns The Houston Astros?

The Houston Astros are currently owned by businessman Jim Crane, who purchased the team in 2011 for $615 million. Crane, a native of St. Louis, is a successful businessman who made his fortune in the freight shipping industry. He is the founder and CEO of Crane Worldwide Logistics, a global provider of transportation and logistics services.

In 2008, Crane founded Houston Baseball Partners, LLC, to attempt to purchase the then-Houston Astros. Then-owner Drayton McLane rejected his initial bid of $680 million. He continued to pursue the team, and on May 16, 2011, his group was announced as the new owners of the Astros after McLane accepted their revised bid of $615 million. The sale was approved by MLB on November 17, 2011, and completed on November 21.

Current Valuation (2024)

The Astros are currently valued at $2.42 billion, according to Forbes. Under Crane’s ownership, the team has seen a significant increase in value. When he purchased the team in 2011, they were valued at $615 million.

Crane has been widely praised for his stewardship of the Astros and is credited with helping to turn the team around from one of the worst in baseball to one of the best. Under his leadership, the Astros have won three straight AL pennants and their first World Series championship in 2017 and second in 2022.

About The Houston Astros Franchise

The Houston Astros is a 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 spending their first 51 seasons in the National League (NL).

The franchise was founded as the Houston Colt .45s and entered the NL in 1962 as an expansion team along with the New York Mets. The current name—reflecting Houston’s role as the control center of the U.S. space program—was adopted three years later when they moved into the Astrodome, which was then one of the world’s premier indoor venues.

The Astros played in the NL West division from 1969 to 1993, after which they switched to the Central division. While a member of the NL, the Astros won two pennants and played in their first World Series in 2005.

Astros Current Ballpark

Minute Maid Park, originally named Enron Field, is the home of the Houston Astros. The Astros moved to Minute Maid Park after 36 years of playing in the Astrodome.

Located in Downtown Houston, Minute Maid Park has a retractable roof and seating for up to 40,950 fans. Since its opening in 2000, it has become a popular ballpark to visit among baseball fans.

Recent Success

Since joining the AL West, the Astros have won six division championships (2015, 2017–19, 2021-2022) and qualified for seven postseason appearances, including six consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2020.

The Astros advanced to the World Series three times (2017, 2019, 2021, 2022), winning their first championship in 2017 against the Los Angeles Dodgers and second against the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022.

What Was The Astros Cheating Scandal?

The Houston Astros cheating scandal refers to a series of events during the 2017 and 2018 Major League Baseball seasons, in which members of the Houston Astros organization were accused of illegally stealing signs and relaying them to their hitters during games.

The scandal ultimately led to the firing of Astros manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow. You can read the full report on the findings by clicking here.