Fans attend meet-and-greets with Astros stars: 'I told her we’re going to be here all day, and she’s like all for it'

In a city where sports success doesn’t come every day, the World Series champion Houston Astros have given many to smile and cheer about, as evidenced in the public appearances made by a few of the players since the night of Saturday, Nov. 5.

More than a year ago, shortstop Jeremy Peña was discussed as the possible successor to Carlos Correa as speculation on the latter’s future ramped up.

Correa eventually left the team that drafted him first in the 2012 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft for the Minnesota Twins, and shortly afterward, Peña was thrust into the position his mentor predicted would be his. 

A Fall Classic triumph, a pair of Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors and a Gold Glove Award later, the 25-year-old soon-to-be second-year pro was at a Raising Cane’s at 7009 Gulf Fwy. in Houston on Monday fielding drive-thru orders instead of groundballs to the delight of hundreds. 

“Houston Caniacs are ready for the MVP!” the fast food chain’s said in a tweet.

The longest tenured Astros player and face of the franchise, second baseman Jose Altuve drew a crowd to the Academy Sports + Outdoors at 4627 E. Sam Houston Pkwy. S. in Pasadena on Thursday, nearly a week after he and the team defeated the Philadelphia Phillies for their second championship in six years. 

Altuve’s appearance is mostly remembered for a woman who decided to celebrate being deemed cancer free by rushing to the store to meet her hero. 

“I said, ‘You know how I’m going to celebrate my cancer free? I’m going to get Altuve’s autograph and I’m going to be the first person in line,’ and yeah, I was the first person in line,” Lisa Valverde told Houston NBC affiliate KPRC. 

Aside from spending a few moments with Altuve, KPRC reported, Valverde fondly recalled the kindness of those in line who made sure she would enter the store before anyone else. 

“That meant everything to me … So unexpected and it made my day,” she told the station.

The Astros wouldn’t be World Series champions if it weren’t for slugger Yordan Alvarez’s three-shot home run (HR) over the batter’s eye at Minute Maid Park in Game 6. 

A few days after launching what’s arguably the most memorable dinger in the franchise’s history, Alvarez was the subject of a meet-and-greet at a Dick’s Sporting Goods Store in Friendswood. 

Fans began camping out at the store even more than a day after learning about the scheduled appearance. 

"I told her we’re going to be here all day, and she’s like all for it," fan Esmy Flores, who waited to see the 2022 AL MVP finalist along with her elderly mother, said, Houston FOX affiliate KRIV reported. 

Third baseman Alex Bregman, outfielder Kyle Tucker and pitcher Cristian Javier also met with fans at other places in the Houston area.