The Houston Astrodome was the world's first multi-purpose sports stadium. With a grand opening in 1965 it was home to the Houston Astros the Houston Oilers and for a few years of the 1970s the Houston Rockets of the NBA. Nicknamed the "Eighth Wonder of the World " the Astrodome cost $31 million to build and was the first major sports venue to install artificial turf - called "AstroTurf." The Stadium also featured the first animated scoreboard called the "AstroLite." On the Stadium's Opening Day April 9 1965 the Houston Astros played an exhibition game against the New York Yankees. President Lyndon B Johnson and his wife were at the game and Texas Governor John Connally threw out the first pitch (for the first indoor baseball game). And in continuance with the "Astro" name the National League presented 24 of the nation's 28 astronauts with gold lifetime passes good for all NL ballparks. Presented here is the ultimate rarity: one of the passes which was presented to Richard Gordon. At the time Gordon had been an astronaut for just two years. He was the pilot for the three-day Gemini 11 mission in 1966 performing two spacewalks and setting the world altitude record of 850 miles. He made a second space flight in 1969 as command pilot on Apollo 12 becoming one of just 24 people to have flown to the moon remaining in lunar orbit while his crewmates became the second manned mission to land on the surface of the moon. Gordon was scheduled to walk on the moon as commander of Apollo 18 in 1973 but the mission was cancelled due to budget cuts. After leaving NASA Gordon became Executive Vice President of the New Orleans Saints and worked in the oil and gas business. He passed away in 2017 but not before gifting the handsome golden metallic pass to his best friend. The piece itself is in excellent condition though exhibiting wear in the form of some minor scuffing and edge wear. With a facsimile signature from NL president Warren Giles the engraving on the pass reads as follows: "The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs proudly presents this lifetime pass to all its parks to Richard Gordon & One. In grateful recognition of your patriotic contribution to our country's space program." The pass is housed in its original presentation wallet alongside a paper pass extended to "Honored Astronaut." An interesting piece of American history as we ushered in the Space Age with a brand new ballpark and honored the great American astronauts. One of just 24 passes made each unique the only example of which we have ever seen.