In a perfect symbol of immigrant culture boosting the local economy, the minor league Hooks baseball team launched Dia de los Hooks in April 2017. Only in Coropus Christi! Courtesy photo
Only in Corpus Christi could baseball and the Day of the Dead come together so seamlessly and beautifully. In a tribute to Corpus Christi’s favorite festival, Dia de los Muertos, the AA minor league team of the Houston Astros plans a special promotion for Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27, at Whataburger Field.
"Dia de los Muertos is uniquely Corpus Christi, as are Whataburger Field and Hooks Baseball,” said Andy Steavens, Hooks vice president of sales and marketing. "So, we thought, ‘Why not a Day of the Hooks?' It gives us an opportunity to fuse two great celebrations of life in this remarkable venue."
Beginning April 27, a new line of Dia de los Hooks T-shirts, hats and more will be available for purchase at Hook, Line & Sinker, the Hooks gift shop at Whataburger Field.
On two of three game nights Memorial Day weekend, the Hooks are giving away premiums to early bird fans. On Thursday, May 25, the first 2,000 fans will receive Dia de los Hooks tumblers from Ashley HomeStore. The first 1,750 fans to show up on Saturday, May 27, will receive a Dia de los Hooks Dri-Fit Shirt from Hilliard Munoz Gonzales.
On the field, players will be wearing special uniforms all three nights as they face the Springfield Cardinals on May 25 and the Tulsa Drillers on May 26-27. First pitch for all three games is at 7:05 p.m.
Game-worn Dia de los Hooks jerseys will be auctioned off live and online.
Dia de los Hooks is a tribute to the popular and ever-growing Dia de los Muertos celebration in downtown Corpus Christi. The event has grown over the past nine years from a block party of 500 people to a 10-block extravaganza that draws up to 35,000 visitors a year.
Those who can’t wait until this year’s festival on Saturday, Oct. 28, can get a taste of the fun on Memorial Day weekend at Whataburger Field.
