Mike Scott

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Scott's transformation into an ace began in 1985 after he became a student of teammate Mike LaCoss. LaCoss taught him the split-finger fastball, a pitch that had propelled the 1984 Detroit Tigers to a World Series title. Scott immediately responded by becoming an 18-game winner and securing a three-year, $1.375 million contract extension with the Astros. However, his dominance sparked intense controversy; the Chicago Cubs accused him of using sandpaper in 1985, and Giants manager Roger Craig later claimed Scott's secret was scuffing the baseball. Scott embraced the rumors, stating, "Any time you have hitters coming to the plate thinking you're doing something, it takes their minds off the pitch." This psychological edge, combined with his split-finger, fueled a historic 1986 campaign where he led the league with 306 strikeouts and posted a 2.22 ERA.

In Their Own Story

On September 25, 1986, Mike Scott delivered one of the most significant performances in Astrodome history. Facing the San Francisco Giants, he threw a 2–0 no-hitter to clinch the National League West division title for the Astros. This feat was later voted one of the top five games played at the venue before its closure. Just weeks prior, Scott had set a club record with twenty consecutive quality starts from May 9 to August 8, surpassing Don Wilson's mark of fifteen. His dominance extended into the postseason against the New York Mets in the NLCS. In Game 1, he yielded just five singles and struck out an LCS-record 14 hitters. Despite losing the series in six games, Scott's two victories featured a 0.50 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 18 innings. His performance was so overwhelming that the Mets considered Game 6 a "must-win" to avoid facing him again in the Astrodome.

Reader's Guide

For fans studying Mike Scott's peak, focus on his evolution under Roger Craig and the specific numbers of 1986. He struck out a league-leading 306 batters that year and maintained a quality start in every game from May through August until Framber Valdez broke the record decades later. Scott was the opening day starter for the Astros three consecutive times (1987–1989). In 1987, he finished second in NL Cy Young voting with 233 strikeouts; in 1988, he nearly threw a second no-hitter before Ken Oberkfell singled in the ninth; and in 1989, he won 20 games. His career totals with Houston include 110 wins (fourth all-time), 1,318 strikeouts (fifth), and 259 games started (sixth). Notably, on October 3, 1992, the Astros retired his jersey number alongside that of José Cruz. He holds the club record for regular-season outings with a game score of 90 or higher.

Did You Know?

• Scott was the first member of a losing team to win the NLCS MVP award in 1986.
• He is part of an exclusive group of pitchers who threw a no-hitter and recorded over 300 strikeouts in the same season (306 in 1986).
• Scott retired after the 1991 season, having played just two games that year due to injuries.
• His jersey number was retired by the Astros on October 3, 1992, alongside former teammate José Cruz.
• He set an LCS record with 14 strikeouts in Game 1 of the 1986 NLCS against the New York Mets.