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crowd was just as loud and excited as they had been lowing the World Series Bobby Dynmite’s ‘Q Rating’
with a full house at the end of Game 5. No one cele- is off the charts. Vasquez became a celebrity, and
brated harder than Vasquez. “Yeah, I’m an employee, graciously signs autographs and poses for pictures around town
but I’m also a fan.” when recognized at the grocery store or local restau-
rant. He is also available on Twitter, Instagram, and
Two days later, the City of Houston and the Astros Infield Chatter under the handle @AstrosTrainGuy.
held a victory parade through downtown Houston. Especially when it comes to interacting with kids, he
Some area schools canceled classes and and estimated makes sure fans’ experience in meeting or interacting
crowd of more than one million people made their via social media with Bobby Dynamite leaves them
way downtown to see the parade. thinking, “That’s just as cool and just as nice as I’d
hoped it would be,” Vasquez says.
Vasquez was told to be downtown that morning
dressed as Bobby Dynamite to participate in the In some cases, parents have even dressed their kids up
parade. Unbeknownst to him, the Astros had a huge as Bobby Dynamite for Halloween and sent Vasquez
surprise in store. Upon arrival at the staging area, he pictures of the little trick-of-treaters. “It blows my
learned he would lead the parade on a float designed mind. I’m just me,” he says.
to replicate his train. Waving to all parade goers along
the route was surreal, he said. “It felt like a scene from While Vasquez never got to ride in the actual Union
a movie. The epicenter of pure joy. I kept thinking, Station train that departed downtown Houston at the
‘I’m getting to live this but it’s just me, a regular guy site of what is now Minute Maid Park (it ceased oper-
from Deer Park.’ I may never realize how cool that ations a few years before he was born), he will be back
actually was.” again next season in his familiar conductor’s seat.

Also touching was having the parade route go Driving the Astros train in left field, sounding the
through portions of Houston that had flooded during horn with another Springer home run, and delighting
Hurricane Harvey, just weeks before, and seeing fans fans and kids that stop him to say hello. And if all
hold up pictures of deceased loved ones who were goes as planned, the 2018 season will conclude next
not had not lived long enough to see an Astros World November with Bobby Dynamite leading his second
Series victory. “It was very moving, and put a lot of parade through downtown Houston. ◆
things in perspective, witnessing the emotional con-
nection fans have to our team,” he said.

While he has long been a favorite of Astros fans, fol-

Deer Park Chamber of Commerce 19