- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Astros, fans bid farewell to Tal’s Hill after ’16
- Updated: September 28, 2016
HOUSTON — Tal Smith, the long-time Astros president and general manager who inspired Tal’s Hill, will be at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday for the final regular-season game of the incline in center field. The Astros are removing Tal’s Hill next season as part of a $15 million renovation of the center-field area to include more fan amenities.
Smith, who helped design the Astrodome in the early years of the franchise and later served as general manager and president of baseball operations, said team president Reid Ryan invited him to the game. It will be only his third appearance at Minute Maid Park since he was let go following the 2011 season. Smith said he also wanted to attend Bill Brown’s final game as the Astros’ primary television play-by-play voice.
“I’ve been expecting it,” Smith said of the removal Tal’s Hill, which originally was supposed to happen following the 2015 season. “I thought it was inevitable with the new ownership and management. I thought it was a very distinct feature of the ballpark. I liked it. …
