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Humble Brown center of attention in Astros booth finale
- Updated: September 29, 2016
HOUSTON — At around 10:30 a.m. CT Wednesday morning, Astros bench coach Trey Hillman made his way around the clubhouse to inform players and personnel there would be a team meeting in 15 minutes.
A pep talk? An airing of the grievances? A reminder to stay focused the last four games of the regular season?
Actually, none of the above. Manager A.J. Hinch’s reason for gathering the team in this manner before the 12-4 loss to the Mariners was not for on-field reasons, but rather, to give a longtime Houston mainstay a proper salute on his final day as an Astros employee.
Television announcer Bill Brown called his last game on Wednesday, capping a three decades-long Astros broadcasting career that began on Opening Day in 1987. His final day on the job began in most unusual fashion — standing up in the middle of the Astros’ clubhouse to accept a gift from the team — a Jose Altuve bat, signed by the entire roster. Altuve presented the bat on behalf of the Astros.
“It was totally unexpected,” Brown said during Wednesday’s telecast.
For those who know “Brownie,” that was a fitting description for his final day on the job. Though it’s his job to appear on television and reach thousands of fans and viewers, one of Brown’s many endearing qualities is his humbleness. He craves attention as much as a vegan craves a Big Mac. If the focus turns to him, he is masterful at deflecting it elsewhere — preferably, back on the field where, in his estimation, it belongs.
Wednesday’s role reversal was strange for the longtime baseball announcer.
“I think Brownie was a little uncomfortable standing in front of an entire team in the clubhouse,” Hinch said chuckling. “That was a moment we wanted to capture, …
