For a few years, there were “plenty of good seats available”, but now that the Houston Astros have become a force in the American League, their game-worn and game-used memorabilia is popular enough to keep Mike Acosta busy. Acosta is working his dream job as the Authentication Manager for Astros Authentics, the club’s shop inside Minute Maid Park. He’s been an Astros fan since his days growing up in the area during Nolan Ryan’s time.
costa authenticates and manages game-worn jerseys, game-used bats and other items that wind up being sold in the shop.
He says Carlos Correa, George Springer, Jose Altuve and Dallas Kuechel items are the most sought after by fans and collectors.
During an interview with Ken Hoffman of the Houston Chronicle, Acosta revealed that Craig Biggio wore seven jerseys during his final game in the major leagues and three during the day of his 3,000th hit. However, the club doesn’t make players wear multiple jerseys a week just so they can sell them for hundreds of dollars or more.
“I think that Altuve may go through 10 jerseys a year,” he said. “We don’t want to flood the store with Altuve jerseys. That would hurt the market, and the jerseys wouldn’t be as special.”
He says Correa’s gamer jerseys are the most expensive but the shop tries to offer other things that aren’t quite so pricey, including pieces that date from the Astrodome days.
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