José Altuve, Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers score a home run for Houston charities at Tootsies

World Series champions Justin Verlander, Carlos Correa and George Springer support Astros teammates for 'kids and k9s'

One expects to find the latest Fendi, Valentino and Oscar de la Renta fashion inside Tootsies, West Ave.'s popular shopping destination.

But Astros players, puppies and comfort food? Not so much.

Last Thursday, second annual "Team Up for Kids and K9s" attendees experienced the best of both when Lance McCullers, Dallas Keuchel and José Altuve scored a triple play to the tune of $360,000 for local children's and animal organizations.

It's baseball season, and the 2017 World Series Champions brought their A-game.

Altuve, second baseman and American League MVP, held position alongside pitchers McCullers and Keuchel, posing with the fans and the MLB Commissioner's Trophy for hours as the crowd went wild. First, a gaggle of sports reporters got up close and personal with the trio, who spoke about the evening's beneficiaries, BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions and the Sunshine Kids Foundation.

Later, VIPs including Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and wife Gwen Emmett, Terri and John Havens, Joanna and Brad Marks, Hannah McNair, Melissa Juneau, Hallie Vanderhider, Vivian Wise, Caroline and Kevin Walter, and more queued up for envy-inducing step-and-repeat snapshots with the home team.

Even after ticket-holders rushed the floor, bold-faced athletes including Justin Verlander, Carlos Correa and George Springer - plus one interstellar mascot - continued to trickle in.

Party-goers who broke from the seemingly endless stream of photo-ops were in for a literal treat; Tiny Boxwood cookies, Revival Market bites-on-toast and pre-batched Old Fashioneds, chicken tenders and whiskey tastings were stationed throughout the hat, shoe and jewelry departments.

And, there were four-legged guests of honor, too. Volunteers escorted adoptable pets as guests perused the silent and live auction items. Dinner at B&B Butchers with McCullers, Verlander, Altuve and Keuchel sold many times over. Jason Skeldon's artwork featuring the quartet also fetched a pretty penny.

Which begs the question: with retail therapy, star players, food and philanthropy under one intimate roof, why go out to the ballgame?

- Amber Elliott covers society for the Houston Chronicle