Astros don rainbow jerseys in celebration of '79

SEATTLE -- The Mariners celebrated the year 1979 on Saturday night, with both teams wearing throwback uniforms from that season. The Astros broke out the rainbow jerseys, complete with orange helmets, jersey numbers on the front of the pants and blue stirrups.

"I like them," relief pitcher Tony Sipp said. "Guys are going to be like 50-50 as far as whether they like them or don't like them. I don't know how they feel [to wear], but I like the look."

The Mariners hosted baseball's 50th All-Star Game at the Kingdome in 1979. The Astros went 89-73 that season and hit only 49 home runs the entire year, with Jose Cruz leading the team with nine. The Astros wore the rainbow jerseys from 1975-86.

"Everybody knows these jerseys across the board, baseball fans," outfielder Alex Presley said. "Some people hate them, some people love them. It will be pretty cool to wear them. We have loud colors, even louder today I guess."

Since the throwback uniforms were part of a Mariners promotion, they paid for them and took possession of them after the game. Astros players who wanted a jersey could order one, and Sipp was among them. He ordered two -- one for him and one for his agent.