Astros' iconic Tal's Hill in center field removed

Minute Maid Park in Houston will be getting a facelift this offseason. With its main tenants, the Astros, away for the next few months, the team is working on improved seating, new food and beverage options, and revisions to the playing field. Tal's Hill - the 90-foot wide center-field incline/eyesore named for former team president Tal Smith - is going away forever.

The hill grade created a deep center-field wall that was 436 feet from home plate, not to mention a super fun obstacle for center fielders. The redesign is expected to have a 409-foot distance to the wall from home, though still deeper than the former Astrodome was built with (406 feet).

Reminder:

Don't be too sad, though. If you needed a memory of your favorite team getting extra bases and not a home run at Minute Maid (the Astros hit 10 to Tal's Hill for extra bases, all home runs if not for the Hill), the team is collecting "commemorative dirt" to be authenticated and sold.

(Video courtesy: MLB)