Jose Cruz to be tonight's guest on Astroline
Cruz joins Milo Hamilton for final Astroline show in Houston this offseason
HOUSTON, TX - Former Astros outfielder and current community outreach executive Jose Cruz will be tonight's guest on Astroline, which will be the show's last broadcast in Houston this offseason. Astroline will move to Lake Buena Vista FL, starting next week, March 5, and will be broadcast live from the ESPN Zone Restaurant on Disney's Boardwalk.
Tonight's show will be broadcast live starting at 7 p.m. from Pluckers Wing Bar (1400 Shepherd Dr., 77007) on Sports Talk 790 KBME. The show is open to the public and will be streamed online at Astros.com.
Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton, who celebrated his 69th year on the airwaves during Thanksgiving week, serves as the host of Astroline.
Fans can submit questions to the show via Twitter at twitter.com/astros before and during the show. Fans may also post questions on the Astros Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Astros. As always, fans will also have the option to call the show with questions at 713-212-5790.
Astroline, which is presented by Budweiser, is broadcast live weekly from 7-8 p.m. CT during the offseason. The show rotates between KTRH 740 AM and their sister station KBME 790 AM.
Jose "Cheo" Cruz ranks in the top 10 in every significant Astros career hitting category. He was the team's most valuable player four times (1977, 1980, 1983, 1984) and named a National League All-Star twice (1980, 1985). He started his career in the St. Louis organization but did not hit his stride until he was acquired by the Astros in 1975. Cruz made three trips into postseason play with the Astros, batting .400 in the 1980 NLCS against the Phillies and hitting .300 six times in his career. Cruz currently serves as a community outreach executive for the club. He previously served as the Astros' first base coach for 13 seasons from 1997-2009.
As a community outreach executive, "Cheo" makes several public appearances on behalf of the team. His uniform No. 25 was retired by the Astros on Oct. 3, 1992, along with former teammate Mike Scott (33). They were the third and fourth numbers retired by the team. In 1999, Jose was selected by a panel of experts as one of the three outfielders on the franchise's All-Astrodome team. In 2003, he was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame.
Hamilton began his Hall of Fame radio career as a disc jockey on the Armed Forces Radio Network during Thanksgiving week in 1945. He retired from the Astros radio booth at the end of the 2012 season, which was his 28th with the Astros and his 59th year broadcasting Major League Baseball. Although he retired from calling games, Hamilton has remained active with the Astros and continues to host charity events, while making select appearances on game broadcasts.
GOING TO DISNEY: Starting next week, March 5, Astroline will be broadcast live from the ESPN Zone restaurant at the Disney Boardwalk in Lake Buena Vista, FL, which is near the Astros Spring Training headquarters in Kissimmee, FL. The Mar. 12 and Mar. 20 shows will also be broadcast from the ESPN Zone.
Astroline preliminary schedule (subject to change)
Day Date Station
Wed. Feb. 26 KBME
Wed. Mar. 5 KTRH
Wed. Mar.12 KBME
Thur. Mar. 20 KTRH