Brand originally signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent, and spent five seasons in their farm system before debuting with the big league club in 1963. He hit his first major league home run on June 20, off Denny Lemaster of the Milwaukee Braves.\n', '

After spending all of 1964 in the minors, Brand was selected by the Houston Colt .45s in the 1964 rule 5 draft.\n', '

In 1965, the Colt .45s moved into their new domed stadium team owner Judge Roy Hofheinz dubbed the Astrodome (named in honor of Houston\'s importance to the country\'s space program). To match with the meaning of the name, the Colt .45s were renamed the Astros.\n', '

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