Astros 2014 Caravan presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and Blue Bell hits the road Jan 20

HOUSTON, TX - The 2014 Houston Astros Caravan presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and Blue Bell will hit the road on Monday, January 20 to "raise the flag over Astros Country" at over 30 stops throughout Houston, central and south Texas, Oklahoma City and Louisiana.

The 31-city circuit consists of four simultaneous tours in seven days with stops in the Houston area (Jan. 20 - 24), San Antonio (Jan. 21 - 22), Lake Charles, Baton Rouge and Lafayette, LA (Jan. 21-22), Austin (Jan. 23 - 24), Brownsville and McAllen (Jan. 26 - 27) and Oklahoma City (Jan. 27).

At each Caravan stop, fans and local ambassadors will help Astros players and staff raise a flag over the cities that make up "Astros Country" as the team gears up for Spring Training and the 2014 season. The locations of each flag raising ceremony will be released in the coming weeks. The fan outreach tour will also highlight the club's charitable interests including youth baseball and softball, support for the U.S. military and at-risk youth. Astros players, alumni and front office staff will visit schools, hospitals and military bases throughout the week, as well as conduct baseball and softball clinics. There will also be several opportunities for fans to get autographs from Astros players at select Academy Sports + Outdoors stores. A list of stops is available at www.astros.com/caravan.

Current players and front office representatives joining the tour include President of Business Operations Reid Ryan, General Manager Jeff Luhnow, Astros Manager Bo Porter, Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton, Astros TV and radio broadcasters Alan Ashby, Bill Brown, Francisco Romero and Alex Trevino, and Astros players Matt Albers, Jose Altuve, Anthony Bass, Chris Carter, Jason Castro, Kevin Chapman, Jarred Cosart, Matt Dominguez, Josh Fields, Robbie Grossman, Lucas Harrell, L.J. Hoes, Marc Krauss, Brett Oberholtzer, Brad Peacock, Chad Qualls, Brett Wallace and Josh Zeid. Astros top prospects Mark Appel, Michael Foltynewicz and George Springer will also be on the tour, joining Astros alumni Kevin Bass, Art Howe, J.R. Richard, Carl Warwick and Jimmy Wynn. Please note that all players and front office staff are subject to change.

Astros FanFest will cap off the week-long Caravan at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, January 25 from 11:00 am - 3:00 p.m. with baseball-themed activities including current and former player autograph sessions, batting practice on the field, running the bases, bullpen throwing sessions, an interactive kids zone, fan forums with front office staff and current players and a vendor expo. Additionally, there will be mechanical bull riding, a rock climbing wall and several other activities for fans of all ages. The majority of FanFest proceeds will benefit The Astros Foundation's programs for at-risk children and teens.

Details on Caravan are as follows:

Monday, January 20th

Katy and Sugar Land

Josh Fields, Kevin Chapman

Houston Methodist West Hospital

•             9:00am-10:00am

•             18500 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77094

•             Open to all media

Lake Jackson and Angleton

Brett Oberholtzer, L.J. Hoes

Lake Jackson Volunteer Fire Department

•             9:15am-10:15am

•             10 Oak Dr, Lake Jackson, TX 77566

•             Open to all media

Whataburger Appearance

•             3:00pm-4:00pm

•             1120 N Velasco St., Angleton, TX 77515

•             Open to all media and public

Houston

Lucas Harrell, Bo Porter, Jimmy Wynn, Milo Hamilton

Urban Youth Academy MLK Service Day

•             9:00am-11:30am

•             2801 South Victory Drive, Houston, TX 77088

•             Players and Astros front office staff will repair fields, install fencing and take part in other

                general improvements to the facility as part of MLK Service Day

•             Open to all media

Houston Methodist Research Institute

•             1:30pm-2:30pm

•             6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX 77030

•             Open to media

Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing

•             3:00pm-4:00pm

•             2404 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77098

•             Open to all media and public

Cypress

Robbie Grossman, Matt Dominguez, J.R. Richard

H-E-B

•             9:00am-10:00am

•             28550 U.S. 290, Cypress, TX

•             Open to all media and public

Cy-Hope Clinic

•             2:00pm-3:00pm

•             15301 Cypress North Houston Road, Cypress, TX 77429

•             Open to all media

Chick-Fil-A

•             3:45pm-4:45pm

•             25835 Highway 290, Cypress, TX 77429

•             Open to all media and public

Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing

•             5:15pm-6:15pm

•             19720 Northwest Freeway, Jersey Village, TX 77065

•             Open to all media and public

Tuesday, January 21st

San Antonio

Jose Altuve, Mark Appel, Art Howe, Bill Brown

Raise the Flag Ceremony at the Alamodome

•             11:00am-11:30am

•             100 Montana St, San Antonio, TX 78203

•             Open to all media and public

Whataburger

•             12:00pm-1:30pm

•             4590 Northwest Interstate 410 Loop, San Antonio, TX 78228

•             Open to all media and public

Methodist Children's Hospital

•             2:00pm-3:00pm

•             7700 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229

•             Open to all media

Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing

•             5:00pm-6:00pm

•             2024 N. Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX 78232

•             Open to all media and public

Alvin and Houston

Brett Oberholtzer, Josh Fields, Milo Hamilton

Whataburger

•             9:00am-10:00am

•             2305 Texas 35, Alvin, TX 77511

•             Open to all media and public

East End Little League Clinic at Diez Park

•             3:45pm-4:45pm

•             1818 Dumble, Houston, Texas 77023

•             Open to all media

Lake Charles

Anthony Bass, Josh Zeid, Brett Wallace, Steve Sparks

Chick-Fil-A

•             2:15pm-3:15pm

•             3435 Nelson Rd, Lake Charles, LA 70605

•             Open to all media and public

Coushatta Tribe Visit

•             4:30pm-5:30pm

•             TBD Address

•             Open to all media

Pearland and League City

Jarred Cosart, Bo Porter, Robert Ford

Pep Rally at Clear Creek High School

•             9:00am-10:00am

•             2305 E Main St, League City, TX 77573

•             Open to all media

Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing

•             5:15pm-6:15pm

•             2804 Business Center Drive, Pearland, TX 77584

•             Open to all media and public

Wednesday, January 22nd

San Antonio

Jose Altuve, Mark Appel, Art Howe, Bill Brown

Intrepid Center Visit

•             10:00am-11:30am

•             3851 Roger Brooke Drive, San Antonio, TX 78234

•             Open to all media

Luncheon at Stonewerks hosted by UTSA

•             12:00pm-1:00pm

•             999 East Basse Road, San Antonio, TX 78209

•             Open to all media

San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Basketball game

•             7:00pm-9:00pm

•             1 AT&T Center Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78219

•             Open to all media (per Spurs media access guidelines)

Galveston and Texas City

Brad Peacock, Kevin Chapman, Jimmy Wynn

U.S. Coast Guard Visit

•             9:00am-10:00am

•             1 Ferry Road, Galveston, TX 77550

•             Open to all media

Luncheon at Landry's Fish Tales with Sunshine Kids

•             11:30am-1:30pm

•             2502 Seawall Blvd., Galveston, TX 77550

•             Open to all media

Baton Rouge and Lafayette

Anthony Bass, Josh Zeid, Brett Wallace, Steve Sparks

Luncheon with Rotary Club of Baton Rouge

•             11:45am-1:15pm

•             9625 Fenway Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

•             Open to all media

Visit with LSU Baseball Team

•             2:00pm-3:00pm

•             3357 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70802

•             Open to all media (per LSU media guidelines)

Conroe and Huntsville

Robbie Grossman, L.J. Hoes, Michael Foltynewicz, Kevin Bass

U.S. Army Reserve

•             9:00am-10:00am

•             4724 South Pkwy, Conroe, TX 77303

•             Open to all media

Pep Rally at Sam Houston State University

•             2:30pm-3:30pm

•             1905, Huntsville, TX 77340

•             Open to all media and public

Thursday, January 23rd

Austin

George Springer, Jason Castro, Alan Ashby

RBI Dinner at the For the City Center

•             7:00pm-9:00pm

•             500 E. St Johns Ave, Austin, TX 78752

•             Open to all media

Victoria and Rockport

Chad Qualls, Marc Krauss, Chris Carter, J.R. Richard, Milo Hamilton

Pep Rally with U of H Baseball Team

•             11:00am-12:00pm

•             3007 N Ben Wilson St, Victoria, TX 77901

•             Open to all media

Rockport-Fulton High School Pep Rally

•             2:30pm-3:30pm

•             1801 Omohundro Street, Rockport, TX 78382

•             Open to all media

K-Bob's Steakhouse

•             5:15pm-6:15pm

•             2405 Highway 35 N, Rockport, TX 78382

•             Open to all media

Beaumont

Josh Fields, Lucas Harrell

Buckner's Children's Services

•             2:00pm-3:00pm

•             9055 Manion Drive, Beaumont, TX 77706

•             Closed to the media and public

Chick-Fil-A

•             3:30pm-4:30pm

•             4050 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, TX 77706

•             Open to all media and public

Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing

•             5:00pm-6:00pm

•             7130 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont, TX 77708

•             Open to all media and public

College Station/Bryan and Brehnam

Jarred Cosart, Josh Zeid, Robert Ford

BlueBell Headquarters

•             4:00pm-5:15pm

•             1101 S Blue Bell Rd, Brenham, TX 77833

•             Open to all media

Friday, January 24th

Austin

George Springer, Jason Castro, Alan Ashby

Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing

•             5:00pm - 6:00pm

•             12250 Research Blvd., Austin, TX 78759

•             Open to all media and public

Corpus Christi

Marc Krauss, Chris Carter, J.R. Richard, Milo Hamilton

Luncheon at Ortiz Center

•             11:30am-1:30pm

•             402 Harbor Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

•             Open to all media

Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing

•         4:45pm-5:45pm

•         1900 US 181, Portland, TX 78374

•         Open to all media and public

Spring and The Woodlands

Lucas Harrell, Brad Peacock, Michael Foltynewicz

Whataburger

•             3:15pm-4:15pm

•             3073 College Park Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77384

•             Open to all media and public

Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing

•             5:30pm-6:30pm

•             1360 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380

•             Open to all media and public

Humble and Kingwood

Matt Dominguez, Matt Albers

H.A.A.M. Humble Area Assistance Ministries

•             3:15pm-4:15pm

•             1302 1st Street E, Humble, TX 77338

•             Open to all media

H-E-B

•             4:45pm-5:45pm

•             216 FM 1960 Bypass Road East, Humble, TX 77338

•             Open to all media and public

Saturday, January 25th

FanFest

•             11:00am-3:00pm

•             Minute Maid Park- 501 Crawford Street, Houston, TX 77002

•             Open to all media

Sunday, January 26th

Brownsville

Alex Trevino, Francisco Romero

Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing

•             2:30pm-3:30pm

•             4305 Old Highway 77, Brownsville, TX 75820

•             Open to all media

Valley Regional Medical Center

•             5:15pm-6:15pm

•             100A E. Alton Gloor Blvd., Brownsville, Texas 78526

•             Open to all media

Monday, January 27th

Brownsville / McAllen

Alex Trevino, Francisco Romero

Dr. Carlos E. Castaneda Elementary

•             9:30am-10:30am

•             4100 N 34th St, McAllen, TX 78504

•             Open to all media