Houston Astros owner Jim Crane provided some clues as to what we may see the Astros wearing next season during a charity event this past Thursday.
According to Crane, in a Houston Chronicle article, the new uniform includes “traditional” designs based off of Astros uniforms of the past and that the new uniforms “incorporates them in a very modest way… they’re classy.”
Crane confirmed that their new uniform designs have been submitted to Major League Baseball and the club is now just waiting for approval at this point, unless there’s something very strange with their design I doubt MLB will have any objections.
The Astros will be changing their uniforms to coincide with their shift to the American League for the 2013 season.
Back in May, Crane had the following to say about the new uniforms:
“We’ll blend some of the new with the history of the team and some of the colors in the past, we’ve selected it all and we’re about to submit it. We’re due in on the 30th (of May), so everything’s set to go to baseball for approval… We’ve gone to great lengths in getting everyone involved including the guy who washes the uniform, the locker room guys, the players, the fans, everybody involved in the process.”
The Houston Astros in 1966
“Traditional” designs based off of Astros uniforms of the past could mean a few things, the team has had a few distinct eras from a design point-of-view but some things stuck around for a lot longer than others.
In terms of colours, the Astros/Colt .45s were dressed in navy blue and orange for their first 32 seasons (1962-93) while the blue and gold era, lasting only 6 seasons, was done in a blink of an eye by comparison. The current black, brick, and sand look has been around now for 13 seasons.
The “streaking star”, the first uniform style the Astros used and what seems to be most popular in Astros uniform re-design concepts among fans, was used for ten seasons from 1965-1974, the last 4 of those seasons in orange caps. I haven’t seen nor have I heard what they’ll be doing, but this design is my pick for what they’ll end up basing their new design off of next year.
The Houston Astros in the late 1970s
Those infamous “rainbow guts” uniforms came next beginning in 1975, finally phased out completely after 12 seasons in 1986. I would be absolutely stunned if the Astros brought this look back full time – this would be an example of a uniform that I think would be rejected by Major League Baseball if presented. Button-up jerseys would also not be possible with this design.
The Houston Astros in 1989 (yes, that’s Yogi Berra on the right)
The “Rainbow Sleeves” era started off as a road uniform worn alongside “Rainbow Guts” in 1980 eventually being promoted to full-time home and road (with a slightly lighter version worn at home) in 1987. This uniform was phased out along with the orange-and-blue colour scheme at the end of the 1993 season. If the Astros are borrowing elements from various uniform designs of their history, maybe we’ll be seeing those rainbow striped sleeves on the new uniform?
The Houston Astros in 1998
In 1994 the blue and gold “shooting star” era began, the first complete uniform/logo overhaul in team history. The Astros recently wore this uniform over an entire weekend claiming it was a good luck charm. This event would have occurred after the deadline for submitting the design to MLB would have passed, so don’t think it will be factoring into their design decisions.
The Houston Astros in 2012
Finally, the current look debuted in the 2000 season, their first at Minute Maid Park. Another new colour scheme, this time a more “western” theme of black, brick red, and sandy beige. While this uniform was worn during the Astros greatest single-season accomplishment, winning the National League pennant in 2005, I wouldn’t expect to see much of this look carrying through to 2013. If anything, maybe the cap logo.
So… what could it look like? It’s obvious that it’ll be blue and orange, that much is clear. So, throw all of the elements of the past into a blender and you’d get something like this:
Mixing several of the eras, what it could look like
Which, admittedly I’d probably be okay with.
What about you? What would you LIKE to see the Astros do in 2013? That brings us to our poll question of the week!
Chris Creamer is the founder of SportsLogos.Net and has been maintaining it since June 1997. You can follow him on Twitter at @sportslogosnet or contact him via email at ccreamer@sportslogos.net
Benoit
Monday, August 20, 2012 at 11:52Forget the uniform change, what about having good player wearing them???
Troy Griggsby
Monday, August 20, 2012 at 11:56I just want to be able to buy an Astros cap and be proud of it. Anything other than the H-Star will be failure, I'm afraid.
Ben Fortney
Monday, August 20, 2012 at 12:22The font on the "streaking star" seems to be the most outdated element, I'd love to see them combine the 90's "futuristic" font and the "streaking."
Aaron
Monday, August 20, 2012 at 12:40The concept that was just put there looks great. Although the striping on the sleeves, put it at the end of the sleeves. There should probably be an orange cap to go either as an alternate or full time home cap. The navy blue cap with the current star logo looks great. Definitely keep the state of Texas symbol as a sleeve logo. The shooting star logo with the streaks could possibly fit on the front of the jersey like the original even with the button ups. If the Cardinals can do that with their jersey, why can't the Astros?
Nathan
Monday, August 20, 2012 at 12:47I like the 1966 uniforms
Marcus Jackson
Monday, August 20, 2012 at 14:30I hope the Astros will revive the star from the blue-and-metallic gold era. I wouldn't mind seeing a return to the orange and navy.
FUBLU
Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 10:13AMEN!!!
Brian Castner
Monday, August 20, 2012 at 17:00I still like the 90's blue and gold look best. But I can live with this if and only IF they put numbers on the front.
Aaron
Monday, August 20, 2012 at 21:26Well, as for the numbers on the front of the jersey, I can take it or leave it. They do complete the jersey, but not always necessary. I mean not every team has that. It also depends on how the jersey is designed.
11in '11
Monday, August 20, 2012 at 19:43I have always been a fan of the original streaking star unis with the navy hat/orange star/white H hat. You could do a subtle update/modernization to the font and you would have a very classy look. I would rank that re-brand right up there with Toronto, Baltimore and New York Mets. The rainbow racing stripe sleeves are a great throwback, but not something I would expect full time.
Gabriel Serrano
Monday, August 20, 2012 at 20:20'66 Uniforms
MadPanda
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 01:26Love the concept look, but add the "streaking star" (maybe a modified version using the cap star?). Navy and orange is the way to go...glad they're getting out of the "western" stage, as it seemed anachronistic for the "Astros". MadPanda...(bonus points if they could somehow re-tool that astronaut logo the Fort Wayne Komets use as a third alt patch!)...
Bo
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 09:53I just wish the Astros could stay in the National League, where they have always been and should always remain.
Aaron
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 10:39Yeah, I agree with you there. I wish it was either the Colorado Rockies or the Arizona Diamondbacks moving to the AL. But on the bright side, maybe the Astros will have better luck in the AL West.
Brett Jackson
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 13:54Bring back the orange hats!
KDub
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 18:12I'd love to see something very similar to the original 'Stros unis be used. It was simple and classy looking. Keep the navy cap with the "H star" logo for the primary and maybe bring back an orange version for an alternate. Go back to the original Colts/Stros colors of navy & orange too. The brick colored stuff is just as awful in Houston as it is in Arizona. The Snakes shoulda kept their purple, teal & copper IMO.
WizKid
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 22:42Honestly, the Astros need to think about cream home uniforms. If they go back to navy and orange then (at least the homes) will be classy.
ingmar66
Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 03:06Agree, cream, orange and navy blue for home games, grey, gold and navy blue for road unis. The concept made by Chris is very nice, but I would change the current cap design to the H-Star and the white in cream. And a road cap with the '90's shooting star in navy and gold to go with a grey, gold and navy blue road version of the Chris design..
David
Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 16:52I just hope the H-Star logo comes back to the cap. Or at least some version of the logo including an H. All the classic baseball caps represent the home city on the cap!
FUBLU
Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 10:17Please go back to something from the mid to late 90's era. Those were the best uniforms and truly represented "ASTROS" in a modern kinda way.
richard delee
Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 23:11hi there jim crane and gm jeff did you see the old montreal CAPITAL H WITH ASTROS GET RID OF THE STARS IT MIND YOU TO MUCH COWBOY I MY FLAVOR COLORS KELLY GREEN AND WHITE WITH THE SAME LOGOS YOU HAVE NOW BUT A H ON THE CAPS PUT ASTROS ON THE ROAD UNIFORNS
richard delee
Friday, October 19, 2012 at 00:13hi there jim crane are you going change the teaser image show off your new uniforn are you going chane it big H WITH ASTROS UNDER NEED THE BIG H LIKE THE OLD MONTREAL EXPROS CAPS AND UNIFORM STILL PUT THE ONE PIPINGS DOWN THE BUTTONS I DO LIKE THE BLUE JERSERY WITH GOLD LETTER THAT WAS THE BEST UNIFORNS