Kids Take Over Minute Maid Park With the Astros Away

When a Major League Ballpark Becomes the Ultimate Playground for Texas Children’s

By Shelby Hodge // May 11, 2018

Photography Chinh Phan

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Texas Children's Family Day at Minute Park

John Kafka runs the bases.

Texas Children's Family Day at Minute Maid Park

A Texas Children's Hospital Family Day at Minute Maid Park

Chairs: Johnny Griggs, John Griggs, Cari Griggs, Carol & Phil Garner and Guss Griggs (Photo by Travis Schiebel)

The Kafka family: Kyle, Kristie and Kollins

The Jordan family: Matthew, Christopher, Megan and Lauren

Avineesh Allada

The Kimmel family, Alicia, Charlotte, William, Virginia and Robert

The Kashanis: Heidi, Kameron and Neeki

Norah Staller practices her pitch.

The Atwood family: Christian, Jenna, Paul, Paul Jr. and James

Caroline Hutson runs the bases.

The Sillitoe family: Dr. Roy, Leighton, Rebecca, and Riley

Walker Condit at play

The Kinsey family: Davis, Asheley, Evie and Catherine

The Popes: Ashley, Parker, John, Virginia and Vicki

The Hutson family: Parker, Scott, Brooke and Caroline

William Ruiz Jr. runs the bases for Texas Children's Hospital.

Amy & Michael Beeson and son Teddy

Trent Henry rns the bases with his daughter.

The Smith family: Cora, Michael, Cannon and Tina

James & Annie McLallen Kerly and Alice McLallen Kerly

Winston Wu, Miya Shay, Lyndon Wu

The Corley family: Candice, Camille, Lenna, Kenny and Callen

The Jordan family: Matthew, Christopher, Megan and Lauren

What: Texas Children’s Hospital annual Family Fun Day.

Where: On the field at Minute Maid Park

P.C. Moment: More than 800 moms, dads and kids took over Minute Maid Park for an afternoon of fun and games for kids of all ages. Think trackless train rides, face painting, games and balloon art. But the real treat for partygoers was the opportunity to run the bases, hit in the batting cage and have their photos taken with the MLB Commissioner’s Trophy and Orbit.

Participants had hospitalized children on their minds as they contributed coloring books and crayons, markers, play-doh, Legos and more as gifts for the young patients who are part of Texas Children’s Child Life Program.

Who: Chairs Johnny Griggs, John Griggs, Cari Griggs, Carol and Phil Garner and Gus Griggs, plus Miya Shay with sons Winston and Lyndon Wu, Heidi Kashani, Amy and Michael Beeson, Heather and Dr. Doug Fishman, Rebecca and Dr. Roy Sillitoe, Heidi Kashani, Kameron Kashani and Neeki Kashani.