ASTROS WIVES SET TONE FOR TEAM SUCCESS
Baseball season is upon us, which means that Houston sports fans have turned their attention to the Astros and Minute Maid Park — with any luck — through the fall. The two-time World Series-winning team is busy on the field.
Some of the star players' significant others keep themselves plenty busy around town, too. They're mothers, business owners and philanthropists.
Here's what to know about some of the Astros' most recognizable wives. And how to steal their enviable game day style.
Whitney Crane
Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane — who is also chairman and chief executive officer of Crane Capital Group, Crane Worldwide Logistics and Crane Freight and Shipping — married Whitney, née Wheeler, in 2017 at his Floridian National Golf Club, near Palm Beach, Fla. The couples' then 3-year-old son James Crane II stole the show at their wedding. Now age 9, he plays Little League baseball, naturally.
When Whitney, a native Californian, first relocated to Houston full time back in 2015, she said that she immediately fell in love with the Southern hospitality. The humidity, however, was an adjustment.
“When I moved here, I thought people were kidding about the weather. I'm still not over it,” she said.
Growing up, she turned money earned from an early modeling career into a real estate investment company, purchased her first property during college and later rented it out to her sorority sisters. Whitney also served as president of the Junior League of Monterey County, where she took a volunteerism training program.
“That's what launched me into all this,” said Whitney, who co-chaired the Memorial Hermann Razzle Dazzle breast cancer luncheon with Tony Bradfield in 2019. Last year, Whitney and Bradfield served as the event's honorary co-chairs.
In February, the Cranes, along with Carol and Mike Linn, announced the launch of Texas Children's $1 billion capital campaign for patient care, education and research at Lauren and Tilman Fertitta's penthouse suite atop the Post Oak at Uptown Hotel.
“Texas Children's is ranked the third-best pediatric hospital in the nation and No. 1 in Texas. They serve every ZIP code in the state,” Whitney said. “They make that extra effort so that families are comfortable — not just the patient. It's so stressful to have a sick child.”
She's also a big fan of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. “I love Bayou Bend, the history of it. I'm really into decorative arts, personally. The MFAH is so underrated, it's such an amazing museum. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art get so much attention, but I'm like, ‘What about Houston?' ”
Whitney said that she's proud of the roughly $30 million she and her husband raised to renovate Memorial Park Golf Course after the Astros Golf Foundation was formed in 2018 to take control of the Texas Children's Houston Open tournament. For the first time in 57 years, the Houston Open returned to Memorial Park Golf Course in 2020.
This week, the Cranes awarded $5 million, through the Astros Golf Foundation, to a variety of organizations, including the First Tee of Greater Houston, Chevron Center for Education and Golf at Memorial Park, Birdies for Charity Houston and Memorial Park Conservancy, among others.
“We're trying to make it even more fun. Jim is a big-time golfer, and I've been to almost every golf tournament in the country,” she said, hinting that more evening events and entertainment may soon be added to future Houston Open weekend rosters.
During baseball season, Whitney swaps her Valentino pumps for the luxury fashion house's signature Rockstud calfskin ankle strap sandal for ease and comfort while walking around Minute Maid Park.
“I have them in orange and blue,” she said. “I like to wear dresses, a lot of Oscar de la Renta, because I want to be professional and put together. During the playoffs, I sometimes wear jeans. A couple of women-owned businesses here have sent me bedazzled denim jackets. And a lady here in town gave me a beautiful Astros belt. I just got an orange Lady Dior (handbag), but I usually carry Chanel's wallet-on-a-chain, because it's small. When Judith Leiber made a baseball bag for each major league team, Neiman called me. That one's always a big hit with 2- and 3-year-olds.”
Nina Altuve
José and Nina Altuve grew up together in Maracay, Venezuela, and married in 2006. They knew each other growing up, began dating in high school and married in 2013. Last year, the couple celebrated their 10th anniversary, plus Nina's birthday and Valentine's Day, in Mexico.
Their daughters Melanie and Antonella are 7 and 4, respectively.
“In 2016 we decided to stay here and make Houston home,” Nina told the Chronicle. “The girls love going to the games, that's their favorite thing to do in Houston — especially
Sunday, because afterward we can have dinner with José. We love the zoo and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston because they have a lot of Latino artists there.”
What’s the Altuves favorite postgame treat? Italian restaurants, though Nina prefers to keep their regular haunts a secret.
Their family supports causes back home in Venezuela, as well as here in Houston. They donated 60,000 meals to Kids Meals Inc., a Houstonbased charity that helps alleviate childhood hunger by delivering free healthy meals to preschool-aged children, and have also supported Sunshine Kids and K9s for Warriors.
For the past two years, Nina’s charitable focus has been sending toys to Venezuelan children in time for the holidays. In 2023, she sent more than 200 boxes filled with 3,000 toys. New Balance helped contribute 100 pairs of shoes, too.
“It’s something I started, and (José) wanted to help in any way he could,” she said. “It’s really casual. I ask for help through social media using Amazon and Walmart wish lists. We give toys away to schools, on the street and in cars with friends. Kids are always on the street playing with the toys. It’s really cool to see their happy faces.”
Nina begins amassing toys as early as August or September. She says that it takes roughly a month for the shipment to arrive in Venezuela.
Between her toy drive, family and baseball life, it’s easiest to be casual and comfortable on game days. Though Nina says she can’t resist something a little shiny, like a bit of leather on her Astros jerseys.
“For the playoffs, of course, we all get together with ideas to match with the other wives. We love to do that,” she said.
Nina likes to work with Custom Bling, which is based in Arizona, to order special pieces made with Swarovski crystals.
“I love when fans say hello to me. They make me feel part of the Astros family and Houston community,” she said. “When you need something from someone here, they show up.”
Reagan Bregman
Astros third baseman and shortstop Alex Bregman wed longtime girlfriend Reagan, née Howard, in December 2020. The couple first met and began dating when they were 19. In 2018, Alex founded Breggy Bomb Tequila & Lime Infused Salsa, which expanded to include award-winning barbecue sauces and rubs. Earlier this year, the couple hosted a launch party at Private Client, an exclusive event space connected to Chapman & Kirby, to introduce new offerings.
“We revamped and relaunched Wild Sol, a Southwest food brand, to refine the salsas that we had,” Reagan told the Chronicle. “There are four really great flavor profiles: mango habanero, red salsa in mild and hot, and salsa verde with tomatillos and serrano peppers. All are infused with tequila or mezcal by Flecha Azul, my favorite. It’s so good. The alcohol is cooked out, but you still have the flavor.”
Today, three rubs and three barbecue sauces retail under the Bregmans’ Breggy Bomb umbrella.
Reagan started Exiza, a size-inclusive athleisure collection for women in 2021. She recently shuttered the line to focus on a transition into wellness blogging, raising the couples’ son Knox and launching a jewelry capsule in collaboration with Shaftel Diamonds. “With Love by Reagan Bregman” features 13 pieces priced from $95 to $995.
“I’ve always loved everyday jewelry, but it wears down very quickly. This was a problem I was having as a consumer and found myself wanting to invest in finer jewelry,” she said. “(The Shaftels) reached out to me. I’ve known their family for so long and done some marketing campaigns. They’re trustworthy and produce such a high-quality product.”
What’s Reagan’s favorite item in her collection? “Our minimalist stacking ring and an elongated hoop (earring) with sapphires in it. They’re perfect for game day.”
Kat Pressly
It wasn’t that long ago that Kat Pressly, a native Houstonian and wife of Ryan Pressly, swore she’d never return to her hometown.
“He’s from Dallas. I told people, ‘There’s no way we’re ever moving to Houston unless Ryan plays for the Astros,’ ” she recalled. “Then one week after we got engaged, he got traded.” And the rest is history.
She was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and he was a big fan of the NFL team. His agent, a mutual friend of Kat’s, set them up. By the summer of 2018, the newly engaged couple were headed to Houston. They tied the knot and hosted a New Year’s Eve wedding bash at Houston Oaks, a members-only club on 950 acres near Hockley.
Kat, who previously spent five years as an advertising professional in both Los Angeles and Dallas, joined Compass Real Estate. She took a career break to raise the couples’ children. Now that their son Wyatt is 3 and daughter Hunter is 2, she feels the time may be right to reenter the industry.
“I took a break because the babies were really little and needed my attention,” she said. “I sometimes still help players find places.”
Growing up, Kat said that her mom, Sue Rogers, served as board president of Girls Inc. of Greater Houston, a leadership organization for young women. “I was always inspired by what she did, so I talked to my mom when I was ready to get involved in Houston,” Kat said.
Her first event with the nonprofit, back in 2020, was held virtually because of the pandemic. Last month she had better luck. The mother-daughter duo co-chaired an “A League of Their Own” luncheon at Union Station in Minute Maid Park, ultimately raising $400,000 for GIGH.
“When my mom was on the board, they had some really successful events,” Kat said. “Some of her friends came to ours, and it was fun to see the old and new (iterations) come together. We got some momentum — my mom and I may co-chair the gala in February and take it to the next level.”
Last December, she was a judge and taught choreography during the Astros Shooting Stars dance auditions. This year she has plans to come up with even more moves for the team. In the offseason, the Presslys head to Bludorn on date nights or ride their bikes to Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina near Memorial for margaritas.
Kat’s go-to, game day uniform used to be a white T-shirt and jeans, though this year she’s updating her look with baggier denim, sneakers and orange body suits. The best one she’s found is at Zara.
“Postseason is more blinged out, but I’m currently looking for new ways to wear orange and blue,” she added. “It’s hard to find the right shade, though Gucci has a new line of accessories with orange accents. They did a cute little purse that I like in a ‘good’ orange.”
Kara McCullers
In a sense, Lance McCullers and wife Kara McCullers recently birthed two babies: Their family welcomed a second daughter, Isla, around New Years; their eldest, Ava, is now 4.
Roughly this time last year, the McCullerses hatched an idea for a new hospitality brand, Rex Hospitality Group, with friend Juan Carlos Martinez de Aldecoa and new business partner Jimmy Doan.
Maven Coffee + Cocktails’ mobile cart first appeared at Minute Maid Park in August 2023. Shortly after, it expanded to Toyota Center, too. On May 1, a brick-and-mortar location opened to the public at the Thompson Houston hotel. Kara, a part owner with her husband, said the next outpost will be at Silver Street Studios.
“A year ago it was just a conversation. They’ve been working really, really hard. It’s something (Lance) really loves and is interested in outside of baseball, which has kept him motivated and his positivity up. Maven helps him stay connected in the community and give Houston something else,” she said. Lance is currently recovering from forearm surgery. “I was very pregnant for the past year but was definitely involved in the decisions and various stages.”
Kara, a self-described “coffee girl,” said that she loves having her own spot to visit for a fresh cup. The espresso martini trend is far from over, but she has another cocktail suggestion: “The Carajillo is probably even better with the Maven concentrate.”
She estimates that some 300 restaurants and food/ beverage hospitality suppliers currently stock Maven product. Pro tip? Order the tiramisu at the original Carrabba’s on Kirby for a Maven-soaked dessert.
The couples’ other passion project, the Lance McCullers Jr. Foundation, was founded in 2016 to invest time and resources into the promotion of pet adoptions, raise awareness for animal shelters and programs and help create a no-kill world. The organization’s primary fundraiser, Team Up, returns this September; funds will benefit the Lance McCullers Jr. Foundation, Athletes and Causes Foundation, José Altuve Foundation and Kyle Tucker Foundation.
“We have four large dogs — we’re big dog people. We try to do whatever we can to promote animal rescue, spay and neutering,” Kara said. “Soon we’ll start fundraising for an eventual animal sanctuary. That was always the end goal. Also, training some to be service animals for veterans.”
When her husband is pitching, she likes to up her fashion game in a pair of denim shorts, body suit and customized bomber jacket with a cool sneaker or thick-soled ankle bootie, depending on the weather. And she’s always on the lookout for orange handbags and other special pieces in Astros colors.
“With two children, bringing two kids to the game is no joke, so I’d probably choose more sneakers now,” Kara said. “I try to dress comfortable, but still cool, and accessorize with jewelry with my husband’s number (43) or on a crystallized cap, or something that’s unique.”