Hirsh and Anderson top Hooks in '05
January 18, 2006 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
HOOKS' PITCHER & PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Hard-throwing right-hander Jason Hirsh and speedy center fielder Josh Anderson will be honored at next week's South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet as the Hooks' Pitcher and Player of the Year, respectively. The awards will be part of a series of presentations honoring the performances of players at the high school, collegiate and professional levels.
Hirsh, the 2005 Texas League Pitcher of the Year, topped the circuit in strikeouts (165) and finished second in the league in wins (13) and ERA (2.87). Anderson was the league leader in stolen bases (50) and topped the Hooks in a number of categories, including runs (67), hits (148), triples (9) and sacrifice bunts (10). Both performed well in the Texas League All-Star Game, and both were added to Houston's 40-man roster this off-season.
The second annual South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet will take place Thursday, January 26th at the Omni Bayfront Hotel in downtown Corpus Christi. The event will begin at 6:30 pm at the Bayfront's Corpus Christi Ballroom.
To secure your tickets for this premier event, please call the club at 361-561-HOOK and ask to speak with a ticket sales representative.
PURPURA, HAMILTON, LANE SLATED FOR ASTROS' LUNCHEON - Coming on the heels of the Winter Banquet will be the Houston Astros' Caravan Luncheon, which is scheduled for Tuesday, February 7th at the Omni Bayfront. A ticket to the Winter Banquet essentially gains you free admission to the luncheon and a sneak peek into the 2006 season for the Astros.
Houston General Manager Tim Purpura is scheduled to attend this year's event, as is Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton and starting left fielder Jason Lane, who proved to be a reliable offensive contributor for the National League Champions in 2005. Lane batted .267 last year with career highs for home runs (26) and RBI's (78). His 34 doubles, also a career best, tied for second most on the club behind only Craig Biggio, who had 40.
The Astros will have others in attendance at the event and are expected to make those announcements soon. More information on the Astros' Caravan Luncheon will be forthcoming shortly. Call 361-561-HOOK now to reserve your seats!
ASTROS SIGN THREE THIS WEEK - Houston locked down three more players for the 2006 campaign when it announced the signings this week of shortstop Adam Everett and relief pitchers Brad Lidge and Dan Wheeler. All were inked to one-year deals plus incentives, with Lidge's contract being the most lucrative of the three at 3.9 million dollars.
Everett batted .248 last year with 11 home runs, 54 RBI's and 21 steals. He became the third shortstop in franchise history to hit at least 10 homers and steal at least 20 bases in the same season, joining Dickie Thon and Julio Lugo in attaining that distinction. Lidge notched 40 saves last year, third best in the National League, to go along with his 4-4 record and 2.29 ERA. He also struck out the side in his first appearance in the All-Star Game. Wheeler, the primary set-up man for Lidge, posted a 2-3 record with three saves and a 2.21 ERA in a career-high 71 outings.
RAISE MONEY FOR YOUR GROUP! - Looking for a way to raise some funds for your charitable organization or civic group? Take advantage of the opportunity to sell some tickets for the upcoming Whataburger College Classic, which is slated for March 10-12 at Whataburger Field.
Recognized groups and organizations may sell tournament tickets on consignment, keeping half of the proceeds for their efforts. Adult tickets for the event are $5 per session, giving groups the opportunity to make $2.50 for every ticket sold.
Check out the following link to find out more about this unique offer: http://www.cchooks.com/news/?id=5460
Be sure to contact the Hooks' Ticket Office at 361-561-HOOK (ext. 1) by Friday, January 27th to make the necessary arrangements for your group.
REGULAR-SEASON TICKETS - Do you realize that Opening Day for the second season of Hooks' baseball is just 78 days away?! Are you ready? Full-season ticket packages are still being sold and continue to provide the best value for watching the Hooks throughout the year. Contact a Hooks' ticket representative to inquire about availability and to secure your space at Whataburger Field for the 2006 season.
REGISTER WITH RUSTY ONLINE! - You may now register your children age 12 and under online to join Rusty's Kids' Club for the 2006 campaign. Simply click on the "Kid's Zone" field on the left side of the Hooks' home page (www.cchooks.com) and follow to "Kid's Club Registration."
For just $10, Rusty's Kid's Club is a great way to get the whole family involved in the fun and excitement of Hooks' baseball. Plus, the kids get more than just tickets to see Hooks' games. You can learn more about the Kid's Club and Sammy's Birthday Club, too, by reviewing the information on our website or by calling the team at 361-561-HOOK.
WEBSITE POLL - Relief pitcher Bruce Sutter was voted into the Hall of Fame last week, the only eligible player to be elected, leaving a list of high profile names behind. We asked which of those players who failed to get in was most deserving of election to the Hall. Website readers gave the nod to reliever Goose Gossage from the list provided, giving him 27% of the 97 votes that came in. Outfielder Andre Dawson was right behind Gossage with 26% of the vote, while fellow outfielder Jim Rice, who actually finished second in the Hall balloting to Sutter, came in third on our poll with 20% of the vote.
The 2006 World Baseball Classic is scheduled to be played at various sites around the world from March 3rd through March 20th, and will involve many stars from the ranks of the major leagues, including Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Dontrelle Willis. How interested are you in the games and the outcome of the WBC? To log your entry, go to www.cchooks.com and scroll down the home page to find the poll on the right side.
• Discuss this story on the Texas League message board...
Texas League Stories from January 18, 2006
- Hirsh and Anderson top Hooks in '05 - Corpus Christi Hooks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
