Dierker Added to Astros Luncheon

CORPUS CHRISTI - Franchise icon Larry Dierker joins Houston outfielders George Springer and Jake Marisnick at the Astros Caravan Luncheon January 23 on the USS Lexington.

Tickets, priced at $35, are on sale now and available at the Whataburger Field Box Office. To order by phone or inquire about a table, call 361-561-HOOK (4665).

The annual event features lunch, player interviews and an autograph session.

Dierker, whose No. 49 was retired by the Astros in 2002, made his major league debut on September 22, 1964 - his 18th birthday.  

The California native pitched 13 seasons for Houston. Dierker won 137 games, which is third in club history. He owns franchise records for innings pitched (2,294.1), starts (320), complete games (106) and shutouts (25).

A two-time National League All-Star, Dierker authored the fifth no-hitter in club history on July 9, 1976.

Following one year in the front office and 18 in the broadcast booth, Dierker moved back to the dugout, becoming only the sixth manager in major league history to win a division title in his first season.

In five campaigns as manager from 1997 to 2001, Dierker won four division crowns ('97, '98, '99, '01). His 1998 club, which featured 2015 Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Craig Biggio and Randy Johnson, won a franchise-record 102 games, netting Dierker NL Manager of the Year honors. His .553 career winning percentage (448-362) is tops in Houston history.    

For more on the Astros Caravan Luncheon, presented by iHeartMedia and the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, click here.