Meet the Astros' biggest fan

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Todd Nelkin is like a walking history book of the Houston Astros.

From the knowledge in his head to his toes, if you walk beside him through his office, it's like turning back the pages of time. He flips through programs over the years. One from 1986, the Astros vs. Mets and says, "This is not the first time we've been to NY in the playoffs."

He's been a fan through the ups and downs.

"It's a daunting challenge going up against the greatest tradition in baseball at Yankee Stadium," Nelkin said.

We asked him the difference between the last team to make it this far and this one?

"It felt a little rented, this feels a little more organic," says Nelkin.

Collecting memorabilia started in their family when his brother got thrown from a horse and found a trading card. It grew into a family business. As a kid, he would hang out at hotels after school, hoping to meet his favorite players. His favorite is a bat from Astros backup first baseman Dave Bergman.

"He said, 'Hey Todd here's the bat that won the game tonight,'" says Nelkin.

Nelkin adds that Bergman became his hero and he remembers vividly the day he was traded.

"I was crying my eyes out and he grabbed me and he said, 'You were an Astros fan before you ever met me. Players get traded, go right back in this building tomorrow night and I want you to root for the Astros,'" says Nelkin.

He has and he'll be rooting the Astros on tonight.

"Just enjoy tonight and hopefully it's the beginning of a couple of weeks that Houston will never forget," says Nelkin.