Gates open at 10 a.m. with first pitch slated for a 1 p.m. start. Prior to first pitch, Houston will have a special ceremony dedicating the field in honor of Don Sanders.
Fan Appreciation Day is free to the public, but fans are encouraged to register for the opportunity to win prizes each inning, including but not limited to autographed memorabilia, tickets to home games and more.
Winners must be present when their name is called to claim their prize.
Big donor of UH and SHSU. He was an alum of SHSU who eventually became partial owner of the Astros in 1979. In 1999, he joined Nolan Ryan and started the Ryan-Sanders group that has been building up minor league clubs in the area. With his time in Houston, he became friends of the UH progarm and has provided money to build the scoreboard and helped finance the rest of the Development facility. He’s also pushed for the SHSU-UH series (Don Sanders Cup) each year.
During a special on-field ceremony, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Texas Senator John Whitmire each addressed the crowd before guests and fans alike turned their attention to the Sanders-Gutierrez Scoreboard in right-center for a video message from MLB legend and Sanders’ longtime friend and business associate Nolan Ryan.
Afterwards, the name Don Sanders Field was unveiled on the center field batter’s eye and Head Coach Todd Whitting talked about Sanders’ impact on the Houston Baseball program before presenting him with a commemorative frame for the occasion.
Sanders closed the ceremony thanking fans and his guests in attendance.
