Hey guys- I was searching around the Astros website today and found a pretty interesting promotional event that the Astros are doing called the "Winter Caravan". Basically its a tour that some of the Astros players will be doing across Texas, Louisiana, and even Mexico. They will be making public appearances and also signing autographs. It's a good opportunity to meet some of the Astros and get their autographs. Here is the link: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/hou/fan_forum/caravan.jsp HOUSTON – The Houston Astros 2007 Winter Caravan begins with a trip through Central Texas Jan. 22–24, including stops at colleges, high schools, hospitals, and a free autograph session at Academy Sports and Outdoors. The Central Texas portion of the Astros Winter Caravan will begin Monday (Jan. 22) with an assembly at Cameron Yoe High School from 2:45-3:45 p.m. Also on Monday, the Caravan stops for a free autograph signing at Academy Sports and Outdoors (1407 Marlandwood Rd.) from 4:30–6:00 p.m. Tuesday is packed with events at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor, Fort Hood, Temple College, and Temple High School. On Wednesday (Jan. 24) the Astros conclude their Central Texas stops by visiting patients at the Scott & White Hospital (South 31st Street) from 9:15–11:15 a.m., before attending the Temple Lions Club luncheon and making a stop at the Temple Mall (3111 South 31st Street). The Temple Mall visit will take place from 1:30–2:45 p.m. Members of the Astros organization featured on these visits include players Brandon Backe, Luke Scott, and Chris Sampson, as well as Hall of Fame Broadcaster Milo Hamilton and broadcasters Brett Dolan and Dave Raymond. The Caravan continues on to the greater Houston area, followed by a trip across several Texas locations and a stop in Monterrey, Mexico on Feb. 6-7. The Astros Winter Caravan concludes on Thursday, Feb. 8 in College Station. The Astros Winter Caravan will be visiting the Houston area later next week, including stops in Katy, Kemah, The Woodlands and Sugar Land (Jan. 24–27). ASTROS 2007 CARAVAN MAKES STOPS IN HOUSTON AREA (JAN. 24 – 27) COMMUNITY VISITS, FREE AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS AT ACADEMY STORES HIGHLIGHT STOPS IN THE HOUSTON AREA HOUSTON – The Houston Astros 2007 Winter Caravan visits the Greater Houston area next week (Jan. 24-27), including stops at Katy, Kemah, The Woodlands and Sugar Land. The Caravan features visits to schools and hospitals, meet-and-greets, luncheons, media sessions, and baseball clinics at a variety of locations across Texas and in the surrounding areas, as well as free autograph sessions for fans at Academy Sports and Outdoors locations. Several Astros players, alumni, coaches and management will take part in the Houston-area Caravan stops. Those members of the Astros organization featured on these visits include players Matt Albers, Brad Ausmus, Brandon Backe, Jeff Bagwell, Dave Borkowski, Chris Burke, Mike Lamb, Jason Lane, Brad Lidge, Roy Oswalt, Chris Sampson, Woody Williams, assistant general managers Ricky Bennett and David Gottfried, bench coach Cecil Cooper, Astros great Jimmy Wynn, and broadcasters Dave Raymond, Brett Dolan, Jim Deshaies, and Bill Brown. The Astros will wrap-up the 2007 Winter Caravan with stops in Beaumont, Lake Charles, Austin, Round Rock, Laredo, McAllen, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, College Station, and Monterrey, Mexico (Feb. 1, 5-8). (subject to change) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24 - DAVE BORKOWSKI, MIKE LAMB, WOODY WILLIAMS, CECIL COOPER, RICKY BENNETT AND BILL BROWN FREE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AT RAINFOREST CAFE – KATY 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS AND MEDIA Location: 5000 Katy Mills Circle, Katy, TX, 77494-4402 FREE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AT ACADEMY SPORTS & OUTDOORS – KATY 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS AND MEDIA Location: 23155 I-10 West (At Grand Parkway) Katy, TX, 77494 THURSDAY, JANUARY 25 - LANCE BERKMAN, JASON LANE, ROY OSWALT, CHRIS SAMPSON AND BRETT DOLAN FREE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AT LANDRY’S KEMAH BOARDWALK – KEMAH 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS AND MEDIA Location: 215 Kipp Ave., Kemah, TX, 77565 FREE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AT ACADEMY SPORTS & OUTDOORS – LEAGUE CITY 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS AND MEDIA Location: 21351 Gulf Freeway (Between FM 518 and Nasa Pkwy), Webster, TX, 77598 FRIDAY, JANUARY 26 - BRAD AUSMUS, JEFF BAGWELL, JIM DESHAIES AND DAVE RAYMOND FREE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AT ACADEMY SPORTS & OUTDOORS – THE WOODLANDS 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS AND MEDIA Location: 25010 I-45 N (at Rayford Rd.), The Woodlands, TX, 77386 SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 - MATT ALBERS, BRANDON BACKE, BRETT DOLAN AND JIMMY WYNN FREE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AT ACADEMY SPORTS & OUTDOORS – SUGAR LAND 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS AND MEDIA Location: 16610 US Hwy 59 (at First Colony Blvd.), Sugar Land, TX, 77479 GRAND SLAM FOR YOUTH BASEBALL EVENT AT MARIAN PARK – HOUSTON 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS AND MEDIA Location: Marian Park, 11101 S. Gessner Rd., Houston, TX, 77063 THE ASTROS 2007 WINTER CARAVAN VISITS REGIONS IN TEXAS, LOUISIANA AND MEXICO (FEB. 1, AND 5 – 8) COMMUNITY VISITS AND FREE AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS AT ACADEMY STORES HIGHLIGHT STOPS IN THE HOUSTON AREA HOUSTON – The Houston Astros 2007 Winter Caravan will conclude with February stops in Monterrey, Mexico, and eight Texas cities, including Beaumont, Round Rock, Austin, Laredo, McAllen, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and College Station. The Astros will also make a trip to Lake Charles, La. The Caravan features visits to schools and hospitals, meet-and-greets, luncheons, media sessions, and baseball clinics at a variety of locations across Texas and surrounding areas as well as free autograph sessions for fans at Academy Sports and Outdoors locations. Many of the Astros players, alumni, coaches, and front office members will be partaking in the stops made on the Caravan route. Astros included in this portion of the Caravan include players Matt Albers, Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman, Jason Lane, Chris Sampson, Woody Williams; Manager Phil Garner; General Manager Tim Purpura; Hall of Fame Broadcaster Milo Hamilton and Astros Spanish Radio Analyst Alex Treviño. The Astros will be in Laredo, McAllen, and Monterrey on February 6. On February 7, the Astros leave Monterrey and stop in San Antonio before returning to Houston, with the players attending those days’ events TBA. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5 - JEFF BAGWELL, JASON LANE, WOODY WILLIAMS, MILO HAMILTON, AND TIM PURPURA ROUND ROCK EXPRESS LUNCHEON AND MEDIA SESSION – ROUND ROCK 11:45 AM – 2:00 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS (PURCHASE OF TICKET REQUIRED) AND MEDIA Location: Dell Diamond, 3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock, TX, 78664 Phone: (512) 255-BALL FREE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS STUDENT UNION (TBD)– AUSTIN 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS AND MEDIA Location: University of Texas campus, UNB Main Lobby 1 University Station, Austin, TX, 78712 FREE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AT ACADEMY SPORTS & OUTDOORS – ROUND ROCK 4:15 PM – 5:45 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS AND MEDIA Location: 1351 IH-35 South, Round Rock, TX, 78664 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 - PHIL GARNER, AND ALEX TREVIÑO, ADDITIONAL PLAYERS TBA VIP MEET AND GREET AT TEXAS STATE BANK – MCALLEN 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS AND MEDIA Location: 3900 North 10th St., McAllen, TX, 78501 MEET AND GREET AT MEXICAN BASEBALL HALL OF FAME AND BREWERY – MONTERREY, MEXICO 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM OPEN TO: TBD Location: Alfonso Reyes 2202 Nte., Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, México, 64442 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 - PHIL GARNER, AND ALEX TREVIÑO, ADDITIONAL PLAYERS TBA BASEBALL MINI-CLINIC – MONTERREY, MEXICO 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM OPEN TO: TBD Location: TBD FREE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AT ACADEMY SPORTS & OUTDOORS – SAN ANTONIO 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS AND MEDIA Location: 2643 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78230 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8 - MATT ALBERS, JEFF BAGWELL, CHRIS SAMPSON, MILO HAMILTON, AND TIM PURPURA * LANCE BERKMAN WILL BE PRESENT IN COLLEGE STATION FREE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AT ACADEMY SPORTS & OUTDOORS – CORPUS CHRISTI 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM OPEN TO ALL FANS AND MEDIA Location: 5001 South Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, TX, 78411 LUNCHEON AT SOLOMON P. ORTIZ CENTER – CORPUS CHRISTI 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS (WITH PURCHASE OF TICKET) AND MEDIA Location: 402 Harbor Drive, Corpus Christi, TX, 78401 Phone: (361) 561-4665 FREE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AT TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY MEMORIAL STUDENT CENTER – COLLEGE STATION * 3:45 PM – 4:05 PM Q & A SESSION 4:05 PM – 4:45 PM AUTOGRAPH SESSION OPEN TO ALL TAMU STUDENTS AND FACULTY, PLUS MEDIA Location: Texas A & M University MSC Center, College Station, TX, 77834 FREE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING AT ACADEMY SPORTS & OUTDOORS – COLLEGE STATION * 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM OPEN TO ALL FANS AND MEDIA Location: 2351 Earl Rudder Fwy. S, College Station, TX, 77845
Astros have always been good about this kind of stuff. wonder if anyone in the Texans organization is noticing this
It is about discussing the Astros There is also a mention on how teams promote themselves and reach out to fans and the community.
He isn't wrong. When the Texans do these things, they bring the backup long snapper and assistant ankle taper. The Astros bring Jeff freaking Bagwell. I'm hoping to go to the Round Rock one to see Bags and to throw stuff at Jason Lane.
The group with Oswalt, Sampson, and Lane is coming to JSC today also, in between their Kemah and League City visits. I hope that Berkman will be at JSC too and was just omitted from the press release that was sent out to employees.
bump... hey guys just wanted to share a friend's Winter Caravan experience at A&M- she waited in line at the MSC last Monday for me and was fortunate enough to get Berkman's autograph on his rookie card right before they left. Here's a picture of Berkman she took and a picture of the autographed rookie card that she got me.
Please don't take this personal but who want's to stand in line for over an hour to get a player to sign something? Don't you have to pay on top of that? I love sports and one day when I have extra cash I will buy some nice things for a sports room via a charity auction or something like that but I am not gonna stand in line but that's just me. Edit, Well it says free I am thinking about the fanfest I guess, but still long lines.
It was free- just a promotional event the Astros were doing across Texas, Louisiana and even Mexico to gain fan support. I thought it was an awesome gesture for the Astros to make, and obviously people were willing to wait in line for autographs.
