Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros are a mutually beneficial success story. Since joining from the Detroit Tigers in 2017, Verlander has started a new chapter in his baseball career. The Astros pitcher, who previously played for a middle-of-the-pack team, has suddenly won the World Series.

However, many don’t know that after Justin Verlander and his wife Kate Upton joined the Houston Astros, they missed their wedding because of the 2017 World Series. Notably, the Houston Astros won their first and only World Series title that same season.

2017 was a particularly memorable year for Verlander. Not only did he win the World Series with the Astros, but he also married his lifelong love Kate Upton. However, it wasn’t easy for the couple. The couple had planned a wedding in Italy, which was to be attended by relatives and friends. However, there was a small problem with the wedding: the couple was not present.

Verlander began the 2017 season with the Detroit Tigers. However, the Tigers traded him to the Astros at the deadline. According to Verlander and Kate, they had already planned their wedding for Game 7 because neither of them expected the Tigers to play in the World Series.

However, he had no idea that after signing with the Astros, he would not be able to attend his wedding. In a previous interview with Jimmy Fallon, the couple explained why they were absent from their wedding.

“We planned the wedding before he was obviously traded,” the couple said. “And when we were planning the whole thing, we literally talked about the best case scenario that we go into the World Series. There’s really only one thing that could throw a huge wrench in all of our plans. It’s not the World Series. It’s going to be Game 7 of the World Series. And guess where we went.”

Most notably, the Astros won their first World Series title in MLB history, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 to win the championship. Since then, the Astros have appeared in the World Series twice: in 2019 and 2021. However, they failed to win the title both times.

The couple married a few days later in a modest ceremony in Tuscany. Upton couldn’t help but share her excitement about becoming Mrs. Verlander with her Instagram followers just days after the wedding.

Just before the start of the 2016 baseball season, Verlander proposed to Upton with a custom engagement ring designed by jeweler Anita Ko. However, the couple did not share the news publicly until she accessorized her metallic Topshop dress with the unique sparkler accessory at the 2016 Met Gala in May.

Also read: Kate Upton had no idea what she was getting into with Justin Verlander: “Being a baseball wife is absolutely crazy”