Meaning behind 'Eagles' jerseys not lost on Astros

HOUSTON -- Before the road trip and before the win streak, right-hander Jerome Williams wanted to get a sneak preview of the Astros' jerseys for the Civil Rights Game.

So Williams slipped into a back room by himself to look at the cream-white jerseys with "Eagles" written in cursive with a navy font across the middle. He was pleased with the appearance and also the meaning of wearing the uniforms for the Houston Eagles -- the 1949-50 Houston Negro Leagues team.

"It's a big part of me, for myself personally, to wear something that was a big part of civil rights," Williams said.

Williams wasn't alone in that thought as manager Bo Porter also stressed the importance of being able to wear the old uniforms.

"It gives me great pride to put the uniform on and to be able to represent what the uniform stands for," Porter said. "There's a lot of people that paid some hefty prices for us to be able to sit here today and enjoy this great game of baseball integrated the way it is. I am completely honored and humbled."