#foamer night

[foamernight-blog]

Oh, I remember the Foamer Nights well. The Red Rooster and Toy Cannon were my favorites although Bob Watson hit the most “Foamers”. I was in college and before Stros management got smart we would get a box and take back to our seats as many as we could carry. We would sell them for $.25 and would pay for the beers on the way home. Those were the days.

John, commenter on this 2009 Houston Chronicle post

[pitchersandpoets]

[pitchersandpoets]

"Foamer Night" at the Astrodome, mid-1970s

 A special light on the scoreboard lit up at a particular 

point of the game, and if an Astros batter hit a home run while 

the light was on, fans received free beer until the end of that 

inning. In a game that does not utilize a clock, this could have 

turned into a long party on the concourses, but home runs 

numbered few for the Astros in those years. So an adjustment 

to Foamer Night dictated free beer until the end of an inning 

in which an Astros pitcher struck out an opposing batter while 

the light was on.

On one particular Foamer Night, July 9, 1976, Astros ace and later their broadcaster Larry Dierker sent the crowds to the concession stands when the foamer light lit up and he struck out Pete MacKannin. Dierker finished up the game without allowing a hit.

Source: Rain Or Shine: How Houston Developed Space City Baseball