Bstros

Got the opportunity to go down to Houston and go to the games on Saturday and Sunday.

Enjoyed listening to Lance Berkman's testimony and Jeremy Camp jam before the game on Saturday but did not enjoy the outcome of the game.

Sunday, all that can be said is wow!

We figured arriving at 10:00 would assure us the opportunity to get one of the figurines of Biggio. When we got our first glance of Minute Maid Park our jaws dropped. The number of people already waiting in line to assure that the got to see Craig Biggio be honored for his 3,000 hit was a site to see. All of the lines were bending and wrapping around the building and down tje streets. Figuring that the line might not be as bad in the back we went to the entrance where the Minute Maid Squeeze Play is. It appeared to be just as bad. Ended up standing in line right next to some oleanders that kept us shaded thank goodness. After standing there in the shade for only l0 minutes it began wearing on us until we thought about how bad it must have been for those that had to stand in conditions like this for almost an entire week in New Orleans. We did not complain anymore about how it felt the rest of the hour.

The gates opened right at 11:00 and credit must be given to the Astros organization on getting the fans in quickly. When we got in the gate we were handed a pretty cool t-shirt and then guided up the ramp to get in line for the figurine. Suprisingly when we got down to where they were giving them away there were still a couple of boxes left and we all got one.

The presentation was very classy. Joining Biggio and his family, who drove in on a classic car out of the gate from rightfield, was Nolan Ryan, Jeff Bagwell, Ken Caminiti's widow and children, Casey Candele, Drayton Mclane and his wife, Tal Smith, Milo Hamilton, a sunshine kid that has become close friends with Biggio, G.W. Bailey, who is a director of the Sunshine Kids, and Tim Purpura who heard a couple of boo birds when being announced.

The video brought tears to many in the stands including myself.

Jeff Bagwell spoke about how things must come to an end but that they will always be friends.

Conor, Craig's son, speech really choked me up on how he spoke about his relationship with his dad. He thanked us, the fans and the Astros organization and players for putting up with him and his siblings as they ran around the clubhouses of the Astrodome and Minute Maid Park.

Drayton and his wife gave Craig an awesome crystal bat and thanked him for his service.

Also, items worn and used by Craig during the game in which he hit number 3,000 were given to the Hall of Fame.

It is difficult thinking that it has already been twenty years and that a huge era in our organization is almost over. How akward will it be to not have Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell on the field who have been the heart and soul of this organization for so long? I cannot wait to be there for the retirement of Jeff Bagwell's jersey on the 26th.

The play of this team might have sucked this year but the season has been magical due to Craig Biggio!

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"The sun really does pick a different dog's rear end on which to shine each day." - Scott Miller CBSSports.com