{"id":14177,"date":"2013-05-09T03:41:40","date_gmt":"2013-05-09T03:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/funwhileitlasted.net\/?p=14177"},"modified":"2026-10-05T08:32:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T12:32:22","slug":"1985-1994-osceola-astros","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/funwhileitlasted.net\/2013\/05\/09\/1985-1994-osceola-astros\/","title":{"rendered":"Osceola Astros"},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida State League (1985-1994)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Tombstone<\/h2>\n
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Born: September 24, <\/strong>1984 – The Daytona Beach Astros<\/a> relocate to Kissimmee, FL.1<\/a><\/sup>This time, diamond not her best friend, AP via The Eugene Register-Guard<\/em><\/a>, Sep. 27,1984<\/span>
\nRe-Branded: <\/strong>October 4, 1994 (Kissimmee Cobras<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Florida State League Championships:\u00a0<\/strong>None<\/p>\n\n<\/div>

Stadium<\/h2>\n
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Osceola County Stadium<\/a> (5,130)
\nOpened:<\/strong> March 8, 19852<\/a><\/sup>Stadium Opener Was Show Biz by Vince Murray, Ocala Star-Banner<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>Mar. 10, 1985<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>

Ownership & Affiliation<\/h2>\n
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Owner:\u00a0<\/strong>Houston Astros<\/p>\n

Major League Affiliation:\u00a0<\/strong>Houston Astros<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Background<\/h3>\n

\"Osceola<\/a>The Osceola Astros were part of the Houston Astros long-time connection to Kissimmee and Osceola County, Florida.\u00a0 In 1985, Houston left their long-time spring training home in Cocoa Beach and relocated to Kissimmee.\u00a0 That same spring, the Astros moved their Class A Florida State League<\/a> affiliate from Daytona Beach to Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. Kissimmee had never had professional baseball before the Astros arrived in the spring of 1985.<\/p>\n

A handful of notable future big leaguers came through Kissimmee during this era. Ken Caminiti<\/strong>, who would win National League MVP honors in 1996, played on the first Osceola Astros club in the summer of 1985.\u00a0 Other future All-Stars included\u00a0Luis Gonzalez<\/strong>\u00a0(1989),\u00a0Kenny Lofton<\/strong> (1990), and Bobby Abreu<\/strong>, who came through in 1993 as a 19-year old and hit 17 triples that summer.<\/p>\n

Attendance was lean in Kissimmee during the 1980’s, even by the low standards of the Florida State League.\u00a0 During their first season, the 1985 Osceola Astros averaged only 578 fans per game.<\/p>\n

Former Osceola Astros GM Pat O’Conner<\/strong> (1986-1993) was elected President & CEO of Minor League Baseball in 2007.<\/p>\n

Astros To Cobras<\/h3>\n

Shortly after the 1994 season, the team underwent a re-branding and were dubbed the Kissimmee Cobras.\u00a0 The Cobras operated for another six seasons as an Astros farm club at Osceola County Stadium from 1995-2000.<\/p>\n\t\t

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Our Favorite Gear<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Kissimmee\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShop at Royal Retros<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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KISSIMMEE COBRAS BASEBALL Jerseys<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When it comes to replica jerseys, we turn to our friends at Royal Retros, who put extraordinary detail into their fully customizable baseball jerseys, including those for the Kissimmee Cobras, who played in Central Florida from 1985 to 2000. <\/h6>\n
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    Free Customization Included<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
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    Each jersey individually handmade<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
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    Any name and number<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
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    Sewn tackle twill crest, numbers & letters<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
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    100% polyester<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
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    Heavyweight fabric made to game standards<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n
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    Fight strap included<\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    Relive the early days of professional baseball in Kissimmee and Osceola County in a great replica jersey from Royal Retros. Available in white and gray.<\/h6>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n

    In Memoriam<\/h3>\n

    Ken Caminiti (Osceola ’85) died on October 10, 2004 at age 41.<\/p>\n

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    Links<\/h3>\n

    Florida State League Programs<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n