Hook It Up Corpus Christi Style

By Jenna Simsen

With a population of approximately 300,000, Corpus Christi has been home to the Houston Astros’ double A affiliate, the Hooks, since 2005.
Originally from Memphis, the franchise was founded in 1968 and was the affiliate for the New York Mets.  Since then, the franchise moved from Tennessee as the Memphis Blues, to Texas as the Victoria Toros, to Mississippi as the Jackson Mets. The team was bought out by Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan in 1998 and moved from Jackson, Miss., to Round Rock, Texas, to become the Round Rock Express. There, well-known professional players Roy Oswalt and Morgan Ensberg coached the team. After just one season in Round Rock, they worked their way to the Texas League title.
In 2004, Ryan announced his intention to move the club to the Gulf Coast. In 2005, the club was renamed the Hooks and moved to Corpus Christi. Whataburger Field was built that same year and became the official stadium of the Hooks.
Over the past four years, the Hooks have employed many players who have since advanced to Major League Baseball teams. Current MLB players who were once Hooks players include: Hunter Pence of the Houston Astros, Charlton Jimerson of the Seattle Mariners, Hector Gimenez of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Jason Hirsh of the Colorado Rockies.
In 2006, the Hooks won their first Texas League Championship in a win over the Witchita Wranglers, marking the 10th championship win in franchise history. In the four seasons since 2005, the Hooks have advanced 23 total players to the major leagues.
The team has also seen many famous Astros grace the greens of Whataburger Field. Jeff Bagwell, Wandy Rodriguez, Humberto Quintero and Brandon Backe have all appeared in Hooks jerseys while playing with the team as they recovered from injuries.
The team’s colors are light blue and dark blue, which are said to represent the endless ocean and sky of the gulf. Rusty Hook and Sammy Seagull are the official mascots for the Hooks and can be seen at any home or away game.
The 2009 season began in April at Whataburger Field where the Hooks played an exhibition game against their MLB affiliates, the Houston Astros. The game drew a crowd of more than 9,000 fans, shattering a record previously held in a game against the San Antonio Missions with special guest Roger Clemens pitching for the Hooks.
Residents of Corpus Christi and the greater Gulf Coast area attended the game to see the Astros play in Whataburger Field.  In an outcome that may have been surprising, the Hooks beat their ‘big brother’ affiliates with a final score of 6-5.
“They’re [the Astros] a great organization to work with,” said Ken Schrom, Hooks president. “They’re quality guys, and that means something … we’ve got a great relationship.”         
From the sounds of the crowd, it seemed as if most fans were elated to see the Hooks win in their hometown.  However, several fans were seen in a mixed attire of light blue Hooks jerseys and brick red Astros caps, cheering for both sides.
“I was excited to see the Astros, but my heart was torn,” said Katherine Garrett, Houston native and biology major at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. “I cheered every time someone scored.”    
The Hooks have a goal to impact the community through their “Hooks Help” campaign. They plan to better the community by helping to renovate baseball fields in poor condition with their “Field of Dreams” campaign. The team also hosts several special event fundraisers with intentions to honor talented local players as well as raising money for the Hooks Help campaign.
“You’ve got to give something back,” Schrom said. “It’s something we believe in; it’s just part of our fabric.”  
The regular season will run through September. For more information on the Hooks, visit www.cchooks.com.