<P> On July 30, 2011, the Astros traded OF Hunter Pence, the team's 2010 leader in home runs, to the Philadelphia Phillies . On July 31, they traded OF Michael Bourn to the Atlanta Braves . On September 17, the Astros clinched their first 100 - loss season in franchise history, On September 28, the Astros ended the season with an 8 − 0 home loss to the St. Louis Cardinals . Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter pitched a complete game, two - hit shutout in the game, enabling the Cardinals to win the National League Wild Card, where they went on to beat the Texas Rangers in the World Series, with Lance Berkman being a key player in their championship victory . The Astros finished with a record of 56 − 106, the worst single - season record in franchise history (a record which would be broken the following season). </P> <P> In November 2010, Drayton McLane announced that the Astros were being put up for sale . McLane stated that because the Astros were one of the few franchises in Major League Baseball with only one family as the owners, he was planning his estate . McLane was 75 years old as of November 2011 . In March 2011, local Houston businessman Jim Crane emerged as the front - runner to purchase the franchise . In the 1980s, Crane founded an air freight business which later merged with CEVA Logistics, and later founded Crane Capital Group . McLane and Crane had a previous handshake agreement for the franchise in 2008, but Crane abruptly changed his mind and broke off discussions . Crane also attempted to buy the Chicago Cubs in 2008 and the Texas Rangers during their 2010 bankruptcy auction . Crane came under scrutiny because of previous allegations of discriminatory hiring practices regarding women and minorities, among other issues . This delayed MLB's approval process . During the summer of 2011, a frustrated Crane hinted that the delays might threaten the deal . In October 2011, Crane met personally with MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, in a meeting that was described as "constructive". </P> <P> On November 15, 2011, it was announced that Crane had agreed to move the franchise to the American League for the 2013 season . The move was part of an overall divisional realignment of MLB, with the National and American leagues each having 15 teams in three geographically balanced divisions . Crane was given a $70 million concession by MLB for agreeing to the switch; the move was a condition for the sale to the new ownership group . Two days later, the Astros were officially sold to Crane after the other owners unanimously voted in favor of the sale . It was also announced that 2012 would be the last season for the Astros in the NL . After over fifty years of the Astros being a part of the National League, this move was unpopular with many Astros fans . </P> <P> In 2012, the Astros were eliminated from the playoffs before September 5 . On September 27, the Astros named Bo Porter to be the manager for the 2013 season . </P>

When did the houston astros switch to the american league