HOUSTON – Original voice of the Houston Colt 45s, Hall of Fame broadcaster, Gene Elston, has passed away at age 93.
He ushered in a new era of Major League Baseball for the city of Houston as the radio voice for the Houston Colt 45s in 1962 and continued in that role as the franchise changed its name to the Houston Astros.
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He remained the play-by-play voice for the team through 1986, spending 25 seasons behind the microphone calling games for the team.
In 1986, Elston was awarded the Ford C. Frick award from the Baseball Hall of Fame. The award is given annually to a broadcaster who has given major contributions to the game.
The Astros released the following statement regarding the passing of the former broadcaster:
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Gene Elston. Gene helped introduce baseball to Houston as a part of the original broadcast team of the Colt .45s when the franchise was born in 1962. For 25 seasons, he served as the lead voice of the Colt .45s and Astros and called many of the great moments in franchise history. The memories he helped create are cherished fondly by the generations of Astros fans that he touched. On behalf of the entire Astros organization, I send my deepest condolences to Gene's family members and to his many friends and fans."