This year's Austin visit was on January 27. When I first checked the Caravan schedule back in December, only one stop was listed, at a sporting goods store at the north end of town -- not ideal, but manageable for me. Happily, while re-checking a few nights prior to the date, a second stop was listed -- at the University Of Texas football stadium, much closer, and earlier in the afternoon. Excellent! Also listed were the visiting players -- infielder Mark Saccomanno, pitcher / rehab patient Mike Hampton, and retired slugger Jeff Bagwell, who now works for the front office.
Wow. The Caravan delivers some good players, but rarely one of Bagwell's stature.
I asked Carson is he wanted to meet some baseball players, and he agreed. I unearthed some cards of Bagwell and Hampton, made sure I knew where to park, and we were ready.
Tuesday was cold and windy, but the walk from the garage to the stadium wasn't too far, and soon we were inside the north foyer and warm again. I've never attended a game here and only ever been in the executive club, thanks to a former co-worker who had a membership and enjoyed having lunch there sometimes (it did serve up a good board of fare). Here we were, in a large lobby, not the most welcoming environment but not bad. There were concession stands and several chairs with tables or benches, utilitarian, probably a popular lunchtime stop for the student body. Carson and I took our place at the end of the line, which continued growing behind us.
Carson quickly took note of the many baseball bats other fans had brought in hopes of autographs. I explained that people like getting all sorts of things signed -- I had brought only cards (my preferred memorabilia, as they take up little space), but others had bats, balls (lots of baseballs), photographs, or posters. The man behind us had a huge Bagwell photo, about 20" x 24" at a guess, which was in a protective sleeve -- he showed it to Carson, and told me he'd bought it in Houston the week before for $15 (not a bad deal). While we waited for the players to arrive, Carson wandered about, trying to have some fun or talking to other fans in line. At one point a baby, a crawler, started heading across the open floor -- Carson marched out and recommended that the baby head back to his daddy. The littler one giggled, and eventually turned around. The waiting was rather dull (always is), but the crowd was in good spirits.
Finally the players arrived and the line started poking along. Carson was getting even more restless, but also tired and a little hungry. We reached the short rope maze at the head of the line, which was moving smoothly. I wasn't listening in deliberately, but I overheard a young woman a little bit behind us make a mild lament that she'd just today learned about the Caravan. She gave enough clues that I guessed she was wanting a picture but didn't have a camera. I caught her attention and asked if she wanted a picture with Bagwell? Yes, she replied, but she didn't have a camera. "But I do -- do you have email?" I responded, and said I'd take her pic and send it to her. This pleased her, but neither of us had any scrap paper. I remembered there were copies of the UT daily newspaper back by the door, and since Carson needed something to do, I described to him where to go to get one. He found it on the second try, the woman wrote down her email addy, and we were at the head of the line.
Bagwell was the first along the table. I handed one card to Carson and said he should pass it to Mr. Bagwell. To my shock, he skim-tossed it across the table into Bagwell's lap! Thankfully, Bags is an old pro at this, picked it up with a smile and signed it, then signed mine as well. I told Carson to step behind the table for a quick picture, and he did, but well to the side. Jeff coaxed him close with a "c'mere, bud!" and I got my shot in.
Past and future Red Sox draft picks (Jeff, 1989, fourth round, and Carson, 2023, first round).We thanked Bagwell and moved to the next player, Mark Saccomanno. I didn't have any cards of him, but the Astros prepare all their player reps with their own postcards, so we took one and thanked him and Carson shook his hand. Mike Hampton was the last player, and Carson and I both handed him our own baseball cards. Hampton has been bedeviled by injuries for the last few seasons, missing 2006 and 2007 completely. It's good to see him back on the mound at last, and I told him so, that no one should have to live under such a bad sign. He thanked me for the sentiment, and apparently he's been hearing that a lot. We thanked him as well.
Last along the table was longtime Astros announcer Milo Hamilton, quietly signing his own postcards. I enjoy hearing Hamilton's voice, a good baseball voice, and told him so. Looking back, I saw the woman, Lisa, had reached Bagwell's station, so I told Carson to stay right here and I'll be right back. I walked back, took two shots, and that was that. Walking back, Milo had gathered Carson to his side protectively, and said that Carson had been a very good boy.
Milo Hamilton, good with kids.We needed a restroom break, and then Carson wanted a corn dog. Unfortunately, the concession stands didn't have corn dogs, but he did get a free cinnamon pretzel, which kept him busy on the walk back to the car. I could see he was tired; it had been about two hours since we left home, and most of that was spent waiting around. On the way out of the parking garage, the car at the head of the line (about a dozen cars long) was clearly totally confused about how to get out of the gate, so I turned aside and drove all the way down to the bottom level where there was an open exit, and we were out.
Carson nibbled his pretzel and started to doze off. I was tempted to do the same -- well, go directly home and sack out -- but had promised to get milk cartons for Amalie's school party the next day and wouldn't have a better opportunity. It would have been so easy to go home (it turns out I was getting a cold, which is why I was overwhelmingly tired), but no, gotta be responsible.
We arrived at the Costco, Carson completely zonked. I got a carriage, wrapped him in a blanket, and stuffed some gloves under his head as a makeshift pillow. In we went, got our few things, and back out. As I was lying him in the backseat, he briefly awoke, and said "that was fast!"
"Yes, you slept through it. Go back to sleep." He did, all the way home. Later, I sent Lisa her pictures.
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