Astros Fanfest, College Classic set for this weekend.

HOUSTON* -- The Houston Astros will host the annual Astros FanFest on February 10-11. FanFest events will take place throughout the main concourse of Minute Maid Park, including Astros autographs and photographs, Talkin' Baseball seminars with Astros Broadcasters and staff, sports cards and memorabilia sales, and the Houston College Classic (Feb. 9-11), presented by Continental Airlines, the Houston Chronicle and the Hyatt Regency.
FanFest will run from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 10) and 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 11). Daily admission tickets are $13 per day for adults and $6 for children ages 4-14 and may be purchased at the Minute Maid Park Box Office on Texas Avenue. Daily admission on the Club Level is $20 for adults and $10 for children. Advance, three-day packages for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are $30 for adults and $15 for kids (ages 4-14). Tickets are also available online at www.astros.com, by phone toll free at 1-800-ASTROS2, or at any of the Astros Ticketmaster outlets located at Macy's, Fiesta, HEB, Wherehouse Music, and Verizon Wireless Theatre. FanFest tickets are also good for admission to the Houston College Classic baseball games on that day.

The Houston College Classic will start Friday, Feb. 9, with a game between Vanderbilt and Rice that begins at noon. Gates open at 11:00 a.m. on Friday.

Fans are encouraged to stay at the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Houston, the preferred hotel of the Houston College Classic. The hotel is offering special Houston College Classic rates, and fans can reach the Hyatt Regency by calling (713) 654-1234.

The following is an overview of the 2007 Astros FanFest:

ASTROS FANFEST HIGHLIGHTS

ASTROS AUTOGRAPHS
• AUTOGRAPH TICKET SALES: TICKET WINDOWS AT THE LEFT FIELD AND CENTER FIELD ENTRANCES ON CRAWFORD STREET
• PLAYER AUTOGRAPH BOOTH LOCATION: 9 AMIGOS RESTAURANT - CENTER FIELD

• Fans wanting autographs of their favorite Astros must purchase a *$10 ticket for a session at the designated Autograph Ticket Sales Windows at the Left Field and Center Field Entrances on Crawford Street. *Autograph ticket prices for Jeff Bagwell - $25, for Nolan Ryan - $50.
• Only 300 total tickets will be sold for each autograph session. The first 300 fans in each line will receive a wristband. Limit one wristband per person. Fans must have a valid College Classic/FanFest ticket for that day to enter the line. Sales of Autograph Tickets are limited to fans three years or older.
• Tickets for all autograph sessions on Saturday (Feb. 10) go on sale at 9:00 a.m.
• Tickets for all autograph sessions on Sunday (Feb. 11) go on sale at 9:00 a.m.
• All proceeds benefit the Astros in Action Foundation.

• The scheduled autograph sessions are listed below and are subject to change.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10
10:00-10:50 a.m. -- Drayton McLane, Milo Hamilton, Brett Dolan, and Dave Raymond -- FREE SESSION
11:00-11:50 p.m. -- Craig Biggio and Phil Garner
12:00-1:30 p.m. -- Nolan Ryan (Champions Pavilion - Mezzanine Level)
12:00-12:50 p.m. -- Jason Jennings, Cecil Cooper (9 Amigos)
1:00-1:50 p.m. -- Chad Qualls, Orlando Palmeiro
2:00-2:50 p.m. -- Adam Everett, Dave Borkowski
3:00-3:50 p.m. -- Jeff Bagwell (Champions Pavilion - Mezzanine Level)
4:00-4:50 p.m. -- Jason Lane, Charlton Jimerson

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11
11:00-11:50 a.m. -- Matt Albers, Brandon Backe
12:00-12:50 p.m. -- Morgan Ensberg, Trever Miller
1:00-1:50 p.m. -- Chris Burke, Dan Wheeler
2:00-2:50 p.m. -- Carlos Lee
3:00-3:50 p.m. -- Woody Williams, Chris Sampson

ASTROS ALUMNI AUTOGRAPHS
LOCATION: MAIN CONCOURSE - SECTION 108
• In addition to autographs from current Astros players and coaches, fans will have the opportunity to get FREE autographs from former Houston Astros and Colt .45s greats throughout the weekend. Astros alumni scheduled to appear include: J.R. Richard, Larry Dierker, Jimmy Wynn, and Enos Cabell. Visit www.astros.com for a complete schedule.

ASTROS PHOTOGRAPHS
LOCATION: MAIN CONCOURSE - SECTION 156
• Fans can take a FREE photograph with their favorite Astros or get a souvenir photo for $10.00. (Proceeds benefit the Astros in Action Foundation).
• Each of the autograph sessions listed above will take photographs in the Photo Booth for 50 minutes upon completion of signing autographs. For example, Craig Biggio and Phil Garner will sign autographs from 11:00-11:50 a.m. on Saturday (as listed above) and take photographs from 12:00-12:50 p.m. (Schedule subject to change. Log on to www.astros.com for schedule changes or additions).*

*Nolan Ryan will not appear in photo booth.

TALKIN' BASEBALL SEMINARS
LOCATION: MAIN CONCOURSE - SECTIONS 105-106
• Fans can ask questions of Astros players, staff, and broadcasters in interactive discussions on a variety of baseball topics.
• This year's Talkin' Baseball Seminars include:

Feb. 10
11:00-11:50 p.m. -- Coaching for Coaches Clinic
Speakers: Cecil Cooper, Mark Bailey
MC: TV Broadcaster Bill Brown

1:15-2:15 p.m. -- The Astros in 2007
Speakers: Astros Owner Drayton McLane, General Manager Tim Purpura, Manager Phil Garner
MC: Hall of Fame Broadcaster Milo Hamilton

2:15-3:15 p.m. -- Baseball America/Scouting
Speakers: Astros Senior Director of Player Personnel Paul Ricciarini, Baseball America's Executive Editor Jim Callis
MC: Radio Broadcaster Brett Dolan

3:15-4:15 p.m. -- Up Close and Personal with Milo Hamilton
• Hall of Fame Broadcaster Milo Hamilton will visit with fans about his career.
MC: Ted Deluca, ESPN 790 AM Radio Host

4:15-5:15 p.m. -- Baseball 101
Speakers: Astros Tour Department
MC: Radio Broadcaster Dave Raymond

Feb. 11
10:00-10:50 p.m. -- Baseball 101
Speakers: Astros Tour Department
MC: Radio Broadcaster Brett Dolan

11:00-11:50 p.m. -- Up Close and Personal with Milo Hamilton
• Hall of Fame Broadcaster Milo Hamilton will visit with fans about his career.
MC: TBD

12:00-12:50 p.m. -- Round Table Discussion on the 2007 Season
Speakers: Astros Broadcasters
MC: Hall of Fame Broadcaster Milo Hamilton, TV Broadcasters Bill Brown and Jim Deshaies, and Radio Broadcasters Brett Dolan and Dave Raymond

1:00-1:50 p.m. -- Astros "Sing the National Anthem" Sweepstakes

3:00-3:50 p.m. -- Hear about the Astros Minor League System
Speakers: Astros Assistant General Managers Ricky Bennett and Dave Gottfried
MC: Radio Broadcaster Dave Raymond

BASEBALL CARD AND MEMORABILIA SHOW
LOCATION: MAIN CONCOURSE
• Put on by TriStar Productions, the show will feature dozens of exhibitors of trading cards and sports memorabilia. See tristarproductions.com for more information.
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament, managed by SPORTSCARD SHACK - Located in the Union Station Lobby.

HOUSTON COLLEGE CLASSIC
LOCATION: FIELD LEVEL
• Watch some of the best college baseball teams compete against each other in Minute Maid Park.
• The nine-game Houston College Classic begins Friday (Feb. 9) and runs through Sunday (Feb. 11).
• Teams: Houston, Rice, Texas A&M, Baylor, Vanderbilt and Arizona State

College Classic Schedule:
Friday, Feb. 9
GATES OPEN AT 11 a.m.
Vanderbilt vs. Rice, noon
Texas A&M vs. Arizona State, 3:30 p.m.
Baylor vs. Houston, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 10
GATES OPEN AT 10 a.m.
Vanderbilt vs. Arizona State, noon
Texas A&M vs. Houston, 3:30 p.m.
Baylor vs. Rice, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 11
GATES OPEN AT 9 a.m.
Arizona State vs. Houston, 11 a.m.
Baylor vs. Vanderbilt, 2:30 p.m.
Texas A&M vs. Rice, 6 p.m.

ASTROS IN ACTION FOUNDATION FUNDRAISERS
LOCATION: MAIN CONCOURSE
• Silent Auction - Fans can bid on autographed jerseys, balls, and other sports merchandise in section 107/108.
• Astros Garage Sale - Astros promotional merchandise and "Memory Lane" autographed items beginning at just $0.25. (Main Concourse near Right Field)
• Astros Grab Bags - For a donation of $40, fans have a chance to receive Astros current and/or former player-autographed items, in addition to other Astros goodies.

FREE FUN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
LOCATION: MAIN CONCOURSE
• Astros mascots-Junction Jack, Junction Julie, and Cousin Jessie
• Coca-Cola Park Patrol
• Face Painters, Clowns, and Balloon Artists
• Speed Pitch Machine
• Inflatable Games

MICKEY MANTLE EXHIBIT
LOCATION: HOME PLATE SUPPLY STORE (SECTION 118)
• GGG Sports and the Recycled Baseball Items Foundation will sponsor Mr. Randall Swearingen's Mickey Mantle Exhibit.
• The exhibit includes Mantle's NYY road jersey that he wore when he got the first hit and home run in the Astrodome (April 9, 1965). Other items in the showcase include his 1955 American League Championship ring, his 1956 Player of the Year trophy, his custom-built Harley Davidson, and many other pieces of Mickey Mantle memorabilia.

INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS
LOCATION: MAIN CONCOURSE
• Astros Buddies Club
• Saving Animals Across Borders - Astros Pet Calendar Sales
• Astros Season Tickets
• Minute Maid Park Tours
• mlb.com
• Grand Slam for Youth Baseball
• Houston Chronicle
• Baseball America

 

Oh, GO COOGS! Bring on those Baylor Bears.