Houston furniture dealer pays for Astros success

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros' improvement from baseball's worst team with 111 losses to a 70-win season this year has cost Houston furniture mogul Jim McIngvale more than $4 million.

The man known in Houston as "Mattress Mack" last spring offered to reimburse the first 500 customers who spent more than $6,300 on furniture if the Astros won 63 games — matching the age McIngvale turned this year. The Astros won 70 games.

Sunday was payoff day and some 420 customers picked up their money.

McIngvale says the publicity stunt has been worth it, saying customers are happy and so is he.

One customer, Kyle Nix, tells the Houston Chronicle his $6,500 check is like getting a winning lottery ticket.

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