Major League Baseball / National League - Houston Astros

Houston Astros Go Retro

Team wears uniforms circa 1981-86 for matinee

By Alyson Footer / MLB.com

HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros had a grand old time putting on their retro uniforms for Sunday's series and homestand finale with the Texas Rangers. While it's been 18 years since the Astros last wore this version of the uniform that defined the organization for more than a decade, who could forget those gaudy rainbow jerseys that they wore from 1981-86?

Apparently, the current group of Astros still remembers.

"This is the Astros uniform that I remember seeing growing up," Morgan Ensberg said of the white jersey with the orange, yellow and red stripes. "This is the Astros uniform I had when I was seven years old in Little League. I think they're awesome."

Ensberg wasn't the only one who wore this uniform as a kid. Jason Lane also donned the rainbow stripes as a Little Leaguer. In fact, a picture of of him in that uniform appears in the Astros Yearbook on a page titled "name that Astro."

"Those uniforms were pretty different, even back then," Lane said. "We were wearing uniforms that were a little out there. We thought it was cool."

And they still do.

"They're so ugly they're awesome," Roy Oswalt said.

"They're just the coolest," Lance Berkman said. "They're definitely unique. I think they're outstanding."

"It makes us look like we're on fire," offered Brad Lidge.

But no one looked more comfortable than first base coach Jose Cruz, who actually played for the Astros clubs that wore the rainbow jerseys.

"I'm the only guy that looks good in this uniform," he said. "If I knew we were wearing them, I'd have brought mine from home."

Taped up: Craig Biggio wore a bandage around his right wrist on Sunday, one reminder of his collision with the out-of-town scoreboard in left field the day before.

The other reminder was a purple bruise near his wrist.

Biggio jammed his wrist while attempting to field a deep fly ball hit by Jason Conti in the eighth inning. His right hand knocked a panel out of the scoreboard.

"Let's just say it's felt better," Biggio said, following Saturday's 10-8 win over the Rangers. He played Sunday and did not anticipate having to miss any time because of the injury.

Burke called up: Until the Astros decide whether to place Jeff Kent on the disabled list, they recalled Chris Burke from Triple-A New Orleans as infield insurance.

Burke, considered the club's second baseman of the future, found out the good news while he was with the Zephyrs in Nashville.

Because his hometown of Louisville, Kent. is only a few hours away, several of Burke's friends and family made the trip to Nashville and stayed at the same hotel.

The second baseman was just on his way up to his grandparents' room late Saturday night when his cell phone rang. It was Zephyrs' manager Chris Maloney, telling Burke he needed to get to Houston by gametime Sunday afternoon. It was at that time that Burke made his rounds through the hotel.

"I went to my parents' room, my grandparents' room, my brother's room, sister's room, to tell everybody," he said. "I didn't see it coming at all, so it was one of those good surprises."

Approximately 15 of the 50 friends and family who were in Nashville flew with Burke to Houston on Sunday morning. Several of that group now plan to head to the West Coast, where the Astros begin a week-long road trip on Monday in San Diego.

Burke was hitting .325 (90-for-277) with 10 home runs, 35 RBIs and 21 stolen bases over 72 games for the Zephyrs this season. He was inserted in at second base in the seventh inning on Sunday with the Astros losing to the Rangers, 12-2.

He doesn't know how long he'll be on the Major League level, but while's he's there, he plans to soak in everything he can.

"I'm excited to see what the game's all about," he said. "This will be my first exposure. I'm excited to see how high a level of baseball it is up here and figure out where I fit in, [learn] what I need to improve to be able to compete at this level."

Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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