The championship parade is one of the most visible spoils of victory, and the Houston Astros, World Series champions in 2022, had theirs on Monday in their stadium hometown.
The Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games, becoming the first team since the Red Sox in 2013 to win the World Series at home. As you’ll see, Houston and its environs have had a good few days.
The parade route was three miles long through downtown Houston, roughly double the length for the team’s 2017 championship. Here’s an example:
#WorldSeries parade will be tomorrow at 12pm‼️
Please utilize @METROHouston or ride share to get to the Parade. Services from @METROHouston will be free tomorrow. ⚾️⚾️🥳🥳#LevelUp #WorldSeries2022 pic.twitter.com/C0GI1AmqCP
— City of Houston (@HoustonTX) November 6, 2022
The parade drew an estimated 750,000 to 1 million people in 2017, and Monday’s turnout was expected to exceed that figure. The fact that the entire Houston Independent School District was closed, as well as the good weather and free city transit rides, aided:
— Houston ISD (@HoustonISD) November 6, 2022
In terms of the parade itself, it appeared to be well-attended:
7 mins ‼️🥳🤘🏽📣⚾️ pic.twitter.com/iytXu7qCpN
— City of Houston (@HoustonTX) November 7, 2022
Exhibit B to back up this rousing claim:
We want Houston 📢 pic.twitter.com/2j97dhg2Q9
— Mika (@mikaylaa_cm) November 7, 2022
And:
A little over an hour till we kick off the big parade! Downtown Houston is rockin this morning!! Goooo Astros!! pic.twitter.com/DDtWx0HtWN
— Mycah Hatfield (@MycahABC13) November 7, 2022
The scene on the light rail at 9:10am. This parade might be 2,000,000 people. #levelup #astros #parade pic.twitter.com/TIJr1wbjXj
— Apollo Media (@ApolloHOU) November 7, 2022
Houston Astros Parade Celebration "Cool" 💦🏆⚾ pic.twitter.com/utqCQBqamT
— Ronnie Kubin (@KubinRonnie) November 7, 2022
#HOUSTON! Look at just how many people lined up in downtown for the #Astros Victory Parade. This was just moments before it began via Air 11. @KHOU pic.twitter.com/55nz90pcZM
— Maria E. Aguilera (@maria_aguilera) November 7, 2022
Now for the honored guests:
Astros leave Minute Maid Park for the parade pic.twitter.com/zh5hYdCcFT
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) November 7, 2022
The Fab Five. 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/DrQYgaRrrP
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 7, 2022
Mattress Mack, a sales professional, was also present:
Houston legends. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/2gSG8m8JCy
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 7, 2022
In keeping with ancient parade tradition, the modes of transportation will be referred to as “floats.” Here are some ideas for floats:
CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE: 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️ The #Astros championship parade is underway in downtown Houston. Listen to this energy! #Levelup https://t.co/G7hvJkN3y2 pic.twitter.com/0NxSxfglZ8
— Nick Natario (@NickABC13) November 7, 2022
Yes, the Mack was one of those floats:
The man who won $75M betting on the Astros to win the World Series: @MattressMack 💰 pic.twitter.com/vVt0rMGMtc
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 7, 2022
Because this is the second appearance of Mack herein, you may consider the preceding to be, yes, the return of Mack.
On second thought, perhaps this is the true honoree:
Got NASA's manned Mars rover in the Astros parade hell yeah pic.twitter.com/4WULNZT2wn
— Daniel’s Cool Web Page (@gingerhiggz) November 7, 2022
Astros Manager Dusty Baker in the 2022 World Series victory parade. #khou11 pic.twitter.com/9JhcsUXdz1
— The Bishop (@BillBishopKHOU) November 7, 2022
#Crowd explodes as players and @DustyBaker70 pass by!! @astros #WorldSeries parade. #KHOU11 #Levelup pic.twitter.com/Q8aFH5sbVn
— Shern-Min Chow 🙋🏻 (@ShernMinKHOU) November 7, 2022
For those who are curious, Dusty wears the sweatbands even during a World Series parade:
Rock it, Dusty. pic.twitter.com/ZiBuNsKwHm
— MLB (@MLB) November 7, 2022
ORBIT IN THE HOUSE! #khou #HouNews #WorldSeriesparade #worldseries @astros
LIVE COVERAGE: https://t.co/Qcox1vtAsu pic.twitter.com/8TRGPBxD8s
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) November 7, 2022
Following that is World Series and ALCS MVP Jeremy Pena…
MVP #3 @Jpena221 pic.twitter.com/bB6SFXd217
— Jorge📸 (@idkjorrge) November 7, 2022
The Houston baseball tradition of “throwing the hat back up the exterior of the parking garage to the person who may have intentionally dropped it” was established in the 2017 parade, and the 2022 parade is thankfully carrying on that proud legacy:
A tradition as old as time pic.twitter.com/kFplWKJjCv
— Apollo Media (@ApolloHOU) November 7, 2022
Yordan Alvarez: #WorldSeries Champ pic.twitter.com/Mi4HrHwWs1
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 7, 2022
Congratulations to the Astros and, most importantly, to the Houston schoolchildren.