Sponsored by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and ClearChannel Radio, the 8th Annual South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet will be held Jan. 25th starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the Whataburger Field box office. Cost is $50.

Jose Cruz and Enos Cabell joined the Astros 37 years ago. They went on to become mainstays in a lineup that delivered Houston's first National League division championship and NLCS appearance five years later.

On Wednesday, January 25, the two friends entertain fans at the Eighth South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet, a celebration of our national pastime at the professional, collegiate and high school levels.

"With Cheo (Cruz) and Enos, Coastal Bend baseball fans are in for a treat on the 25th," Hooks broadcaster and banquet emcee Matt Hicks said. "Those two spent a combined 21 seasons in Houston as players and today serve in the Astros front office as special assistants.

"I look forward to hearing their stories and getting their takes on the 2012 club."

Calallen coach Steve Chapman (Lifetime Achievement Award; High School Coach of the Year in 4A/5A), John Paul II coach Steve Castillo (High School Coach of the Year in A/2A/3A/privates) and Texas Rangers reliever Mike Adams (Pro Player of the Year) will be recognized, along with South Texas Pre-Season High School All-Star Teams in baseball and softball, the Matt Beveridge Award winner, the Collegiate and Pro Players of 2011 and Hooks Players of the Year

For more information, call 361-561-HOOK (4665).

Jose Cruz

• Special assistant to Astros GM Jeff Luhnow
• Played for Houston from 1975-87
• Astros first base coach from 1997-2009
• .284 career batting average
• Two-time NL All-Star (1980, 1985)
• Played for the Cardinals (1970-74), Astros (1975-87) and Yankees (1988) in an 18-year career
• Four-time Houston team MVP
• Astros regular left fielder from 1979-87
• Hit .300 six times and stole 317 bases overall
• One of nine Astros to have his number (25) retired
• Member of Texas Baseball Hall of Fame (2003)

Enos Cabell

• Special assistant to Astros GM Jeff Luhnow
• Played for Houston from 1975-80 and in 1984-85
• .277 career batting average
• Also played for the Orioles (1972-74), Giants (1981), Tigers (1982-83) and Dodgers (1985-86)
• 1978 Astros MVP
• Stole 30 bases in four straight seasons from 1976-79
• Started 149 games at third base for the 1980 NL West-winning Astros
• Former member of the Texas Southern University Board of Regents

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites