Meet the Astros at Academy Thursday!

CORPUS CHRISTI - Houston Astros icon Larry Dierker, Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton, president/CEO George Postolos, pitchers Bud Norris and Jordan Lyles and outfielder Justin Maxwell meet fans and sign autographs at Academy Sports + Outdoors Thursday evening.

The event begins at 6 o’clock and runs for an hour. Address is 5001 SPID.

Dierker has been associated with the Houston organization for a half-century, serving the ball club as a starting pitcher (1964-77), broadcaster (1979-96), field manager (1997-2001) and in the front office.

Hamilton, who accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award at the South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet Wednesday night, completed his 28th season as Voice of the Astros in 2012. The Iowa Hawkeye called his first Major League game in 1953.

Postolos has led Astros business operations since November of 2011. The San Antonio native held a similar position with the Houston Rockets from 2002-06.

Norris and Lyles both pitched for the Corpus Christi Hooks, Norris in 2008 and Lyles two years later. Norris has been a regular in the Astros pitching rotation since 2009; Lyles made 40 big league starts in 2011-12.

Maxwell was honored by Wilson Sporting Goods as Houston’s top defensive player for 2012. The Astros claimed him off waivers from the Yankees in April and the speedy University of Maryland product hit .229 with 18 homers and 53 RBIs.