Jeff Bagwell to be inducted into National Baseball Hall of Fame

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Beginning on Monday after the Houston Astros return to Minute Maid Park from a 10-day, nine-game road trip, the team will face the Tampa Bay Rays from July 31 until Aug. 3 and the Toronto Blue Jays from Aug. 4 until Aug. 6. As part of the Astros series against the Blue Jays, fans will have the opportunity to celebrate former first baseman Jeff Bagwell's induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Bagwell will be inducted on Sunday, July 30 in Cooperstown, N.Y. 

Prior to the Astros evening matchup against the Rays on Thursday, 40,000 fans will receive a National Baseball Card Day Commemorative Trading Card Pack presented by Topps. Astros pitcher Charlie Morton will also host Wounded Warrior veterans at the game as part of the Astros Salute to Heroes program. The veterans will participate in a meet and greet with Morton prior to Thursday’s 7:10 p.m. first pitch. 

As fans enter Minute Maid Park on Friday when the Astros begin the series with the Blue Jays, 10,000 fans will receive a Jeff Bagwell 1997 Replica Jersey presented by Coca-Cola

For the Friday night game, which has already sold out, fans in the ‘StroZone, presented by Texas Mahindra Dealers, will receive an exclusive, special-edition Jeff Bagwell Hall of Fame ‘StroZone T-shirt and get to show their hometown pride by throwing their custom H-Town foam hands in the air.

To cap off Big and Bright Friday Night, fans are invited to stay after the game for Friday Night Fireworks, presented by Occidental Petroleum. For Friday, Aug. 5, the fireworks theme is Jeff Bagwell Hall of Fame, which will include some of Bagwell’s favorite walk-up music as well as famous radio and TV calls from his illustrious career.

Gates will open two hours prior to game time on Friday and Saturday, and at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Jeff Bagwell Hall of Fame Weekend presented by Coca-Cola continues on Saturday with a very special pregame ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 5:25 p.m. Former Astros TV broadcaster Bill Brown and Astros radio broadcaster Steve Sparks will co-host the ceremony, and Astros president of business operations Reid Ryan, former Astros player and manager Phil Garner and former Astros player Lance Berkman are scheduled to speak. Jeff Bagwell will also address the fans in Houston for the first time as an inducted member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The ceremony will also feature a tribute video with highlights of Bagwell’s hall of fame career.

10,000 fans will receive a Jeff Bagwell “Batting Stance” HOF Bobblehead presented by Coca-Cola. 

During Saturday’s game, fans will have the opportunity to take their photo with Jeff Bagwell’s Hall of Fame Plaque, which will be returned to its home in Cooperstown, N.Y. following the game. The photo opportunity will be located in Champion’s Pavilion on the Mezzanine Level, which can be accessed using the escalators in Center Field. The photo opportunity will open to fans at 6:30 p.m. and remain open through the 7th inning of Saturday’s game. Opportunities are limited and vouchers will be distributed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.