In April of 2022, the Astros introduced their “Space City” alternate threads as part of the City Connect program, giving them a new Monday alternate uniform.
This is one where individual items that make up the full uniform set are really cool. The cap features the primary logo of the Astros, but “launches planetary tracks and rainbow gradient.”
Throughout the uniform—from the piping to the custom socks worn with the look—the vintage rainbow look is paid homage to. The Astros wore their “Tequila Sunrise” uniforms on a regular basis from 1975-1986, and while there might have been a temptation to just recreate those, it’s cool that they paid homage to them in the City Connects.
Ultimately, though, while this is a cool hat and a cool jersey if you just are a fan wearing one of them, the full uniform set being all navy blue is disappointing. First of all, the Astros already have navy blue home alternate tops that pay homage to the rainbow tops themselves. Secondly, if the idea was to make the full uniform look something like an astronaut suit, why was navy blue picked as the primary uniform color, as opposed to some shade of white?
There’s little doubt that the Astros have sold a ton of City Connect gear, and probably done very well in attracting younger consumers who may not otherwise be interested in baseball. So it’s hard to tear down these alternates. But the full uniform set is just too navy blue reliant.
