Houston Astros fan's children surprise him with trip to Spring Training
Mike McDonald's children gifted him a trip to Astros Spring Training for Christmas (Still courtesy Kim McDonald Porcher/Twitter)
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - On Christmas morning, 88 year-old Mike McDonald had no idea he was about to become a viral sensation.
He was just opening a gift from his adult children and was plenty pleased with the pair of colorful Astros-themed socks.
“You got someplace you need to wear those. You have to read that,” his children are heard saying on video. He’s brought to tears.
It’s a touching reaction to a gift that will take him to Florida in March for a few days of Spring Training and rubbing elbows with his favorite Houston Astros.
“It's the best Christmas I can remember,” McDonald says.
After a few days of reflection, McDonald tells us he might even be a little more excited about what's to come.
“You got a bucket list and when you get as old as I am, that bucket list gets smaller, and this is one thing I didn't expect at all,” McDonald says.
McDonald first embraced the Astros when he moved to Houston in the 1970's, catching games at the Astrodome or on TV. When they moved to Minute Maid, it was a whole new, intimate feel for the game. These last couple seasons have been as exciting for him as every other fan.
Going to Spring Training was his daughter's idea, who got her siblings onboard to give McDonald the gift of a lifetime.
“We went to a couple of games this year and had so much fun. He was wearing balloons on his head. One game were behind, he had his rally cap on. We had so much fun, and I thought ‘what would be even more fun than to go to Spring Training," Kim McDonald Porcher says.
So, off they'll go. Mike McDonald says he's practically packed already.
“I'm just waiting now till March. I'm ready to go," he says.