On Wednesday, November 1, the Houston Astros won their first World Series title in the franchise’s 55-year history. On Friday, November 3, more than a million people jammed the streets of downtown Houston for the team’s victory parade. The team’s record number of home runs, including five by World Series Most Valuable Player George Springer, earned the team the nickname, “Crush City.”

However, it wasn’t the first time a Houston team had conquered an historic franchise and brought home a title. In June 1994, after enduring a historic playoff collapse the previous year, the Houston Rockets earned the first of their back-to-back NBA titles in a tough seven-game series against the New York Knicks. The Rockets came from behind earlier in the playoffs, changing their name from “Choke City” to “Clutch City.”

So which title means more to Houston? Let’s go to the Tale of the Tape.

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Championship History:

The Rockets had reached the NBA Finals twice before (1981, 1986), losing both times in six games to Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics teams.
The Astros had reached the World Series once before, losing four straight to the Chicago White Sox in the 2005 Fall Classic.
EDGE: Astros

MVP:

Nigerian-born Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon (7’0”) was a star at the University of Houston before getting drafted by the Rockets in 1984. He earned the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 1994 and inspired the “Dream Shake”.
Venezuelan-born Jose Altuve (5’6”) was a star in his native country before getting drafted by the Astros in 2007. He is the favorite to earn the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 2017 and inspired the “Altuve Polka.”
EDGE: Rockets

New York, New York:

The Rockets defeated a tough, gritty New York Knicks team that featured future Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing, defensive enforcer Anthony Mason, and scrappy shooting guard John Starks in a hard-fought seven-game series to win the NBA title.
The Astros defeated a tough, gritty New York Yankees team that featured future star Aaron Judge, defensive stalwart Greg Bird, and scrappy shortstop Didi Gregorius in a hard-fought seven-game series to win the American League pennant.
EDGE: Rockets

Historical Significance:

After the Oilers blew a 35-3 halftime lead against the Buffalo Bills in the 1993 AFC Wild Card Game, and the Rockets blowing a 3-1 lead against the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Playoffs a few months later, Houston was desperate for a championship. The Rockets turned “Choke City” into “Clutch City” and gave Houston a reason to celebrate.
After four years of 90-plus loss seasons from 2011 to 2014, along with the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Houston was desperate for something to cheer about. The Astros turned “Houston Strong” into a motto for the whole country and gave Houston a reason to celebrate.
EDGE: Astros

RELATED: History Earned — What the Astros World Series Win Means to True Fans

While the Rockets gave the city its first title, the Astros’ victory means just a bit more in a historical context.

So when can fans expect the Texans to bring a Lombardi trophy home? Unfortunately, with so many injuries and so much team turmoil, Houston won’t host a Super Bowl victory parade any time soon.

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