Corpus Christi Hooks
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
- League: Texas League 2005-2019; Double-A Central 2021; Texas League 2022-
- Affiliation: Houston Astros 2005-present
- Ballpark: Whataburger Field 2005-present
Team History[edit]
The Corpus Christi Hooks, of the Texas League and briefly in Double-A Central, are owned by their parent club. The Houston Astros farmhands play their home games at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, TX.
Their nickname is for the local fishing industry. In a time that alternate brands abound, though, this club is a leader: Raspas de Corpus Christi (Corpus Christi Snow Cones[1]) for the Copa de la Diversión Hispanic engagement campaign; "Blue Ghosts" to promote the USS Lexington Museum, on the deck of which they once took batting practice; Dia de los Hooks for the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead; and in 2021 "Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits" in a weekly Whataburger promotion.
The club relocated from Round Rock, TX, where they began play in 2000 as the Round Rock Express after Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan's firm bought and moved the Jackson Generals.
In their first season in Corpus Christi, led by Dave Clark, they posted a 64-76 record. Pitcher Jason Hirsh went 13-8 with a 2.87 ERA for the club and led the league with 165 strikeouts. In their second year, the Hooks won the Texas League championship. In their first season in Corpus Christi, led by Dave Clark, they posted a 64-76 record. Pitcher Jason Hirsh went 13-8 with a 2.87 ERA for the club and led the league with 165 strikeouts. In their second year, the Hooks won the Texas League championship.
The Astros bought the Hooks in 2013.
After the Astros won their first World Series, a 2018 giveaway of replicas of their 2017 World Series rings drew a crowd of 10,446.
In 2019, the Hooks received national publicity for a "Phones-Free" game on June 20th. Fans were given a special case in which to lock their phones for the duration of the game, with provisions made for those who needed to use them for emergencies, and special photo booths set up for those who normally use their phones as cameras. The object was to raise awareness for coastal conservation by asking persons to pay less attention to their phone and more to their environment.
The Hooks play Copa de la Diversión Hispanic engagement campaign games as Corpus Christi Cumbias (The Cumbia is a style of music that originated as a Columbian folk dance).
Year-by-Year Record[edit]
Further Reading[edit]
- Ashlee Burns: "Minor league baseball promotion puts cell phones out of reach", USA Today, June 20, 2019. [2]
External Link[edit]
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