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The Texas Legislature welcomed the World Series champion Houston Astros and the Commissioner’s Trophy to the Texas Capitol on Wednesday, giving both chambers a respite from poring over proposed bills.
Lawmakers from the Houston area were on hand to play de facto hosts to the small contingent consisting of franchise owner Jim Crane, senior vice president of communications and marketing Anita Sehgal, closer Ryan Pressly and retired catcher Jason Castro.
“Their hard-fought win represents the true spirit of Texas — grit and determination,” Gov. Greg Abbott, who was also present at the Capitol, said in a tweet. “Looking forward to another winning season!”
The Astros compiled a 106-56 regular-season record mark in 2022 and went on to dispatch the Seattle Mariners, the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies for their second Fall Classic triumph in half a decade.
A team-issued press release said the visit to the Capitol is a part of the weeklong Astros Caravan with stops in Houston, Corpus Christi and Uvalde.
The event in Austin was the only one that was closed to the public.
Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate each approved resolutions recognizing the Astros.
According to the station, State Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) praised the club for their outreach efforts in the aftermath of the Robb Elementary School shooting last May.
“The Astros organization came down to Uvalde and took up these families with open arms,” Gutierrez said, per KHOU. “And I wanted to say thank you for everything that you did for them.”
Two months ago, U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz (R-TX) led the U.S. Senate in honoring the Astros.
Houston Daily reported that Cruz, a Houston native, won a friendly World Series wager he entered with U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA).
Toomey gifted Cruz with a Wawa soft pretzel and Yuengling and Yardsbrew beer.