LEGENDS WEAR 34
Houston puts a ring on sports legends Olajuwon, Ryan, and Campbell
Steven Devadanam
Jun 6, 2018, 9:35 am
This story originally appeared on CultureMap/Houston.
There are iconic sports moments etched into Houston's collective sports memory. Hakeem Olajuwon's fluid, perfectly executed Dream Shakeforever humiliated David Robinson (and arguably cemented Olajuwon’s Hall of Fame status).
Speaking of humiliation, Earl Campbell’s ramrod runover of Isiah Robertson is not just a piece of Houston folklore, but a vivid reminder of the NFL’s brutal past.
And Astros fans will never forget when Nolan Ryan threw his fifth no-hitter in the Astrodome, striking out 11 hapless Dodgers hitters, and breaking Sandy Koufax’s seemingly untouchable record.
The three Houston legends recently received honors fit for titans of team sports, when they were awarded Houston Sports Hall of Fame rings during a private ceremony. The trio — each of whom wore the jersey number 34 and are the inaugural Houston Hall of Fame inductees — then unveiled their Houston Hall of Fame signed plaques. Reid Ryan, the popular Astros president, accepting the ring and plaque in his father's honor.
A little sports trivia for diehards: Olajuwon, in keeping with his devout Muslim faith, did not sign his proper name on plaque, but rather “The Dream.” And which giant has the biggest hands? Olajuwon’s ring size is 11, Ryan’s is 14, while Campbell’s is a massive 20.
The Houston Astros (37-30) aim to close out their series against the Chicago White Sox (23-45) on a high note Thursday night at Daikin Park. The three-game set is currently tied 1-1, and with a chance to secure their 11th series win at home, the Astros will send left-hander Framber Valdez to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.
Valdez (6-4, 3.07 ERA) has quietly been one of the most consistent arms in the American League. Known for his heavy sinker and ground-ball inducing style, he enters the night with a stellar 1.06 WHIP and 84 strikeouts. With the Astros bullpen having absorbed some heavy usage earlier this week, Valdez will be counted on to give Houston quality length.
Opposing him will be right-hander Davis Martin (2-6, 3.62 ERA), who has pitched better than his win-loss record suggests. Martin has maintained a 1.21 WHIP and will try to quiet an Astros lineup that broke out for 10 runs in Wednesday’s win.
Houston’s offense has been led lately by Jeremy Peña, who is batting .439 over his last 10 games with five doubles, two homers, and six RBIs. Isaac Paredes continues to be a steady power threat, leading the team with 14 home runs and a .468 slugging percentage. José Altuve, fresh off his 2,300th career hit, adds veteran stability to the top of the order.
The Astros are 23-13 at home this season and have gone 6-4 over their last 10 games. When they avoid giving up home runs, they win — as shown by their 20-4 record in games where they keep the ball in the yard. That will be a key Thursday against a White Sox team that’s light on power but capable of grinding out runs when they out-hit opponents (16-9 when doing so).
Chicago, meanwhile, has struggled mightily on the road, going just 7-27 away from Guaranteed Rate Field. Still, they’ve had unexpected success against the Astros this season, winning three of the first five matchups. Andrew Benintendi and Mike Tauchman have been among the few bright spots in a lineup that’s hit just .227 over its last 10 games and been outscored by six runs.
With the series on the line and the division-leading Astros looking to stay hot, Thursday night offers a chance to assert their edge with a trusted ace on the hill and momentum building in the lineup.
Here's a preview of the Astros lineup for the finale!
For the series.
⚾️: 7:10 PM
🏟️: Closed
📺: @SpaceCityHN
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FM#BuiltForThis x @reliantenergy pic.twitter.com/WsXWQV4ZkI
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 12, 2025
Christian Walker remains in the five spot after his big night in Game 2. Victor Caratini will be the DH hitting seventh behind Jake Meyers. Jose Altuve is shifting back to left field, with Jacob Melton getting the night off. And Brendan Rodgers will hit last and play second base.
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