Pacific Coast League
ROUND ROCK - Former Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell will headline this year's Houston Astros caravan stop in Round Rock on Monday, Jan. 21. The procession will also include former Express pitcher and Houston Astro Chris Sampson, Houston General Manager Ed Wade and broadcaster Bill Brown.
"Having the caravan here is always a thrill," said Express President Jay Miller. "Each year the Astros give our fans, and the community, a chance to meet some of the greatest players in the game today."
The caravan will make the Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas its first stop, pulling into the recently opened hospital at 10:00 a.m. before heading to The Dell Diamond for a fan luncheon. Tickets for the closed-door event sold out earlier this week.
The luncheon will begin promptly at 11:45 a.m. in the United Heritage Center near the east end of The Dell Diamond. Media access will be provided and a media lunch will be offered beginning at 10:45 a.m. in the 300 Win Club. One-on-one interviews will also take place in the 300 Win Club following the luncheon and a brief fan autograph session.
Bagwell, a four-time All-Star, retired in December of 2006 after 15 Major League seasons, all spent with the Astros. He left the team as the all-time leader with 449 home runs, 1,529 RBI and 1,401 walks. He finished with a .297 lifetime batting average and ranked in the top 50 among all Major League players in home runs, RBI, extra-base hits, walks, slugging percentage, OPS and on-base percentage.
Sampson is most widely known for retiring as a position player in 2000 before returning as a pitcher in 2003. He then worked his way through the Astros' farm system, joining Triple-A Round Rock in 2006. He posted a 12-3 record with a 2.58 ERA that season and made 12 appearances for Houston, picking up two wins and striking out 15 against five walks.
Sampson, a Texas Tech alum, was 7-8 with a 4.59 ERA for Houston last year.
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