Roy Oswalt

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Oswalt's journey began in Weir, where he was once told he was "too small" at 5'10" and 150 lbs. Despite his slight stature scaring away scouts, he signed with Houston for a $500,000 bonus after being drafted late in the 23rd round. His path to the majors included a dramatic moment in 1999 while playing Class A ball; suffering from shoulder pain diagnosed as tendinitis, Oswalt was accidentally electrocuted by his truck's spark plug wire. He claimed the shock "done shocked the fire out of me," and his arm stopped hurting immediately. After striking out 15 batters in a promotion to Round Rock Express, owner Nolan Ryan tore up Oswalt's round-trip ticket to keep him on the roster. This resilience carried into 2004, when he became the only National League pitcher with a 20-win season, going 20–10 and leading all NL starters in average fastball velocity at 94.0 mph.

In Their Own Story

The 2005 postseason remains the pinnacle of Oswalt's career. He helped lead the Astros to their first World Series appearance, posting a 3–0 record in four starts during the playoffs. His performance in the National League Championship Series was historic; he threw two seven-inning one-run performances, including a three-hit, seven-strikeout game in Game 6, earning him the NLCS MVP award. During the regular season that year, Oswalt notched his second consecutive 20-win season with a 20–12 record and a 2.94 ERA, becoming the first Astro to do so since Joe Niekro in 1979–80. Even earlier in his career, he displayed remarkable control; from August 30 to September 18, 2001, he tossed 24 consecutive scoreless innings before yielding a home run to Andrés Galarraga. On September 9 of that same rookie year, he recorded his first major league shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers with a career-high 12 strikeouts.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Oswalt's statistical legacy, the source highlights specific milestones that define his tenure in Houston. When he left the Astros in 2010, his 143 wins ranked second in franchise history to Joe Niekro (144), and his 1,593 strikeouts ranked second to Nolan Ryan (1,866). He was a three-time All-Star selected from 2005 to 2007. In 2006, he signed a five-year extension totaling $73 million with an option for a sixth year on his 29th birthday. That same season, he recorded his first and only career home run off Shawn Chacon of the Pittsburgh Pirates and became the eighth player in Astros history to reach 1,000 strikeouts. His consistency was evident as he finished fourth in Cy Young Award voting three separate times (2006, 2005, 2004) and third once (2004), often trailing only teammates or rivals like Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson.

Did You Know?

• Oswalt was the only player scouted by James Farrar, allowing him to fall to the 23rd round of the 1996 draft.
• In 1999, Oswalt claimed his shoulder pain vanished after accidentally getting electrocuted by a spark plug wire on his truck.
• He became the only National League pitcher to win 20 games in both 2004 and 2005.
• Oswalt's 143 wins with Houston rank second all-time for the franchise, trailing only Joe Niekro.
• On August 9, 2006, Oswalt hit his first and only career MLB home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates.