The only way that New Orleans was getting its own permanent team was to build a real
ballpark, and in 1998, that's just what they did. Zephyr Field was touted as
the new home for the Triple-A Houston Astros, and indeed it would be for its
first 7 seasons. The inaugural year at Zephyr Field would be a memorable one as
the Zephyrs would go all the way and win the Pacific Coast League Championship.
New Orleans meanwhile proved just how much it loved finally having baseball as
a permanent sport in the Big Easy. The Zephyrs would draw over ½ a million fans
for its first season. |