After 55 years of waiting, Houston Astros fans were hungry for World Series glory. After three consecutive 100-loss seasons, some tantalizing tastes of playoff success, and a devastating hurricane that united a community, their patience was rewarded in dramatic, exuberant fashion. InLiftoff!, Houston Chronicle writer Brian T. Smith expertly retraces the team's magical 2017 championship season as well as the moves and moments that made it all possible—the hiring of general manager Jeff Luhnow in 2011, drafting Carlos Correa with the first overall pick, the meteoric rise of Jose Altuve, the trade that brought ace Justin Verlander to Houston, and more. Featuring an unforgettable cast of characters both on the field and in the front office, this is the story of how the Astros went from empty seats to packed stadiums and, at long last, earned history.
Brian T. Smith is a sports columnist for theHouston Chronicle. He has won multiple Associated Press Sports Editors awards and been honored by numerous journalism organizations. Smith previously covered the NFL, MLB, and NBA as a beat writer.
*After years of strategic rebuilding, the Houston Astros became World Series champions in 2017, defeating the Dodgers in dramatic fashion in a seven-game series. It was their first such title in franchise history.*Stars of this Astros team include 2017 AL MVP Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa, Dallas Keuchel, and Justin Verlander*Author Brian T. Smith has over 23k Twitter followers and a prominent local platform as sports columnist for the Houston Chronicle
![Liftoff!: The Tank, the Storm, and the Astros' Improbable Ascent to Baseball Immortality [Hardcover]](/itemImage/2/3/4/9/2_6870950.jpg "Liftoff!: The Tank, the Storm, and the Astros' Improbable Ascent to Baseball Immortality [Hardcover]")