Their fortunes might be down on the playing field, but the Houston Astros spirits ran high at the annual Astros Wives Black Ties & Baseball Caps gala, particularly during the live auction action.

In fact, the live auction at the 21st annual benefit for the Houston Area Women's Center proved as entertaining as anything on the floor of Minute Maid Park that night. Thank you, inspired auctioneer Vikki Vines and the good sports who continually upped the ante.

Let's start with Johnny "V" Vassallo. He had donated a dinner for eight at his popular Mo's . . . A Place for Steaks. He was quickly "shamed" by Vines into making that dinner for 12. Craig and Patty Biggio jumped into the fray offering to be celeb dinner guests for the high bidder. If the Biggios were in, then the Bagwells were in — that would be Jeff and Ericka. Legendary voice of the Astros Milo Hamilton couldn't resist throwing his hat in the dinner rink and a party was born.

Baseball fans might want to cozy up to Kelli and John Weinzierl, high bidders on what turned out to be a star-studded dinner. That would be $18,000 in the charity kitty, ka-ching! As a bonus for the high bidders, artist Richard Nunez, who was painting on site, offered to create a vineyard painting relating to wines served at the Mo's dinner.

Gala chairs Heather Byrdak and Morgan Keppinger and their husbands, Astros Tim Byrdak and Jeff Keppinger, soaked it all in from their perch beneath the palms. The setting was a tropical paradise on the floor of the baseball stadium, an authentic transformation that brought kudos for party designer Darryl Murchison. Loved those orchid arrangements.

The auction frenzy continued with a heated bidding competition for the trip to Carlos Lee's ranch in Panama for horseback riding and deep-sea fishing. Sybil Roos bid the winning $17,000. Then runners-up Patricia and Randall Swearingen offered an additional $17,000 if Continental Airlines would throw in four more first class tickets and if Lee was willing for a second weekend of entertaining. Yes, on both counts. Ka-ching!

And on it went with Brian Teichman ponying up $10,000 for anOpie Otterstad original. He made the bid on the condition that his pal Beverly Wren could throw out the first ball in a game next season. Done!

By night's end, the party had raised $350,000. Thanks went to honorees Elizabeth and Drayton McLane and patrons that included Dee Dee and Wallis Marsh and Chris and Don Sanders. And don't forget all the players and the front office staff.