Corpus Christi Hooks
Encyclopedia
The Corpus Christi Hooks are a minor league baseball
team of the Texas League
, and are the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros
. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas
, and are named for the city's association with fishing
. The team's ownership group is headed by Baseball Hall of Famer
Nolan Ryan
; the team's CEO
, Reid Ryan
, is Nolan's oldest son. The Hooks play their home games at Whataburger Field
, which opened in 2005 and is located on Corpus Christi's waterfront.
Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and his group stepped in following the 1998 season and acquired the franchise, moving it from Jackson to Round Rock in time for the 2000 season. True to the winning history of the franchise, the Round Rock Express, led by the likes of Morgan Ensberg and Roy Oswalt, powered their way to the Texas League title in that first season at The Dell Diamond. The Express, which shattered league attendance records throughout their five-year run, also qualified for post-season play in four of those five seasons.
The team's colors are navy blue and light blue, representing the ocean and sky of the popular South Texas fishing area. The team mascots are Sammy the Seagull
and Rusty Hook
. The Hooks have played every home game since the move to Corpus Christi at Whataburger Field.
on June 11, 2006, as he prepared for his return to the Astros. Clemens' start attracted nationwide attention and a record crowd of 9,022. Clemens struck out
11 batters in 6 innings on his way to the victory. Tickets were being sold on Ebay
for up to $230
.
On September 14, 2006, in a wild 5 hour 14 inning marathon, the Corpus Christi Hooks eclipsed the Wichita Wranglers
, 8–7, clinching the third and decisive game to defeat Wichita 3 games to 1 in the best of five series to win the 2006 Texas League
Championship. This marked the first time a Corpus Christi
franchise has won the TL Championship since the 1958 Corpus Christi Giants. Manager
Dave Clark
was named 2006 Texas League Manager of The Year and pitcher Matt Albers
was named 2006 Texas League Pitcher of the Year.
played host to the 2007 installment of the Texas League All-Star Game. Seven hooks players were invited to play on the squad. From 2005 to 2010, the Hooks have graduated 29 players to the major leagues and have had another 31 players with big-league experience wear the Corpus Christi uniform. From 2005 to 2010, a total of 163 men have played for the Hooks.
, Héctor Giménez
and J. R. House
, Matt Albers
, Fernando Nieve
, Chris Sampson
, Jason Hirsh
, Hunter Pence
, Jason Castro
, Chris Johnson
, Jose Altuve
, Fernando Abad
, Arcenio León
, and Philip Barzilla.
. The main point of the rivalry is to determine who is the better team of South Texas. Recently the Hooks have stated on their website that they are the "Baseball Capital of South Texas". The Corpus Christi Hooks parent club is Texas's own Houston Astros, while The Missions parent club is California's San Diego Padres.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
, and are the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, and are named for the city's association with fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. The team's ownership group is headed by Baseball Hall of Famer
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
; the team's CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
, Reid Ryan
Reid Ryan
Reid Ryan is a former minor league pitcher, and the son of former baseball star Nolan Ryan and a minor league baseball owner.-Playing career:...
, is Nolan's oldest son. The Hooks play their home games at Whataburger Field
Whataburger Field
Whataburger Field is the minor league baseball stadium located in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA. It is currently home to the Corpus Christi Hooks, the double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros...
, which opened in 2005 and is located on Corpus Christi's waterfront.
Franchise history
The history of the Hooks' franchise dates all the way back to 1968, when it got its start in the Texas League as the Memphis Blues. That club won the league crown twice, in 1969 and 1973. In 1974, the franchise moved to Victoria, Texas, where it captured the league title in its lone season as the Toros. The following year, 1975, the club found itself in Jackson, Mississippi, where it would remain for the next 25 seasons, first as the Mets (1975-1990) then as the Generals (1991-1999). The franchise enjoyed tremendous success on the field during that quarter-century, qualifying for the playoffs 13 times and winning the TL championship on five occasions (1981, 1984, 1985, 1993 and 1996). During one incredible stretch (1980-1987), Jackson dominated the league, making it to eight consecutive post-seasons.Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and his group stepped in following the 1998 season and acquired the franchise, moving it from Jackson to Round Rock in time for the 2000 season. True to the winning history of the franchise, the Round Rock Express, led by the likes of Morgan Ensberg and Roy Oswalt, powered their way to the Texas League title in that first season at The Dell Diamond. The Express, which shattered league attendance records throughout their five-year run, also qualified for post-season play in four of those five seasons.
The Move to Corpus Christi
The move of the franchise from Round Rock to Corpus Christi following the 2004 season was made possible when the owners of the Express, Ryan Sanders Baseball, acquired the Triple-A franchise in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and announced their intention to move the club to Round Rock. That paved the way for the Double-A franchise to relocate to the Gulf Coast of Texas.The team's colors are navy blue and light blue, representing the ocean and sky of the popular South Texas fishing area. The team mascots are Sammy the Seagull
Gull
Gulls are birds in the family Laridae. They are most closely related to the terns and only distantly related to auks, skimmers, and more distantly to the waders...
and Rusty Hook
Fish hook
A fish hook is a device for catching fish either by impaling them in the mouth or, more rarely, by snagging the body of the fish. Fish hooks have been employed for centuries by fishermen to catch fresh and saltwater fish. In 2005, the fish hook was chosen by Forbes as one of the top twenty tools...
. The Hooks have played every home game since the move to Corpus Christi at Whataburger Field.
2006 Championship Team
One of the most exciting moments in the team's history was an appearance by Roger ClemensRoger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
on June 11, 2006, as he prepared for his return to the Astros. Clemens' start attracted nationwide attention and a record crowd of 9,022. Clemens struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
11 batters in 6 innings on his way to the victory. Tickets were being sold on Ebay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
for up to $230
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
.
On September 14, 2006, in a wild 5 hour 14 inning marathon, the Corpus Christi Hooks eclipsed the Wichita Wranglers
Wichita Wranglers
The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major-league club from 1995 to 2007, and of the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994. The Wranglers played in...
, 8–7, clinching the third and decisive game to defeat Wichita 3 games to 1 in the best of five series to win the 2006 Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
Championship. This marked the first time a Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
franchise has won the TL Championship since the 1958 Corpus Christi Giants. Manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Dave Clark
Dave Clark (baseball)
David Earl Clark is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1986 to 1998. He served as manager of the Houston Astros Double-A affiliate, the Corpus Christi Hooks, from 2005 to 2007, and led them to the Texas League Championship in 2006...
was named 2006 Texas League Manager of The Year and pitcher Matt Albers
Matt Albers
Matthew James Albers is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.-High school:In 2001, Albers graduated William P. Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas...
was named 2006 Texas League Pitcher of the Year.
Post Championship
On June 25, 2007, Whataburger FieldWhataburger Field
Whataburger Field is the minor league baseball stadium located in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA. It is currently home to the Corpus Christi Hooks, the double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros...
played host to the 2007 installment of the Texas League All-Star Game. Seven hooks players were invited to play on the squad. From 2005 to 2010, the Hooks have graduated 29 players to the major leagues and have had another 31 players with big-league experience wear the Corpus Christi uniform. From 2005 to 2010, a total of 163 men have played for the Hooks.
Noteable Hooks that played in the Major Leagues
A number of Hooks players have been called up to the major leagues since the team has been in Corpus Christi. These include Charlton JimersonCharlton Jimerson
Charlton Maxwell Jimerson is a guest co-host for Life Beyond The League. He played college baseball at the University of Miami.-Early life:...
, Héctor Giménez
Héctor Giménez
Héctor Eliner Giménez [Ec-tor he-MEH-nes] is a catcher in Major League Baseball. Giménez is a switch hitter and throws right-handed.-Houston Astros:...
and J. R. House
J. R. House
James Rodger "J. R." House is a catcher in Major League Baseball with the independent Long Island Ducks. House was drafted in the 5th round. He later gave up baseball, focusing instead on his love of football...
, Matt Albers
Matt Albers
Matthew James Albers is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.-High school:In 2001, Albers graduated William P. Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas...
, Fernando Nieve
Fernando Nieve
Fernando Alexis Nieve [knee-EH-veh] is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization. He previously played in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros and New York Mets...
, Chris Sampson
Chris Sampson
Christopher Keith Sampson is an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Sampson is 6'0". Sampson attended Texas Tech University, where he played for the Red Raiders....
, Jason Hirsh
Jason Hirsh
Jason Michael Hirsh is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who is a free agent.Hirsh was a dominant minor league pitcher in 2005–06, winning the Double-A Texas League Pitcher of the Year Award and the Triple-A Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year Award in successive seasons, as he went...
, Hunter Pence
Hunter Pence
Hunter Andrew Pence is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies. Pence stands tall and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed.-Early life:...
, Jason Castro
Jason Castro
Jason René Castro is an American acoustic/folk-pop/contemporary Christian singer-songwriter and was the fourth place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol...
, Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson
-Sports:* Chris Johnson , Australian rules footballer with Brisbane* Chris Johnson , Australian rules footballer with Melbourne and Carlton* Chris Johnson , Jamaican...
, Jose Altuve
José Altuve
José Altuve is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Houston Astros.-Professional career:Altuve represented the Houston Astros at the 2011 All-Star Futures Game...
, Fernando Abad
Fernando Abad
Fernando Antonio Abad is a left-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Houston Astros....
, Arcenio León
Arcenio León
Arcenio Leon is a right-handed minor league baseball relief pitcher currently on the Houston Astros inactive roster....
, and Philip Barzilla.
Rivalry with Missions
Since the Hooks inaugural season they have been the chief rivals of the San Antonio MissionsSan Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
. The main point of the rivalry is to determine who is the better team of South Texas. Recently the Hooks have stated on their website that they are the "Baseball Capital of South Texas". The Corpus Christi Hooks parent club is Texas's own Houston Astros, while The Missions parent club is California's San Diego Padres.