The Astros are nearing submission of a new 2013 uniform to Major League Baseball for approval, and while Jim Crane couldn’t share specific details, he did suggest the old colors are coming back.

“We’ll blend some of the new with the history of the team and some of the colors in the past,” Crane said.

“We’ve selected it all and we’re about to submit it. We’re due in on the 30th, so everything’s set to go to baseball for approval.”

The Astros have had one of the most colorful uniform histories in all of baseball. Beginning with the Colt .45s, the transition to the Astros saw lots of oranges and blues with the shooting star jersey of the late 1960s and early 70s and the rainbows of the late 70s the most recognizable.

Ultimately, the 2000s saw a change to the current brick red, an homage to the new ballpark but also Drayton McLane’s preference for red, which was the color of the McLane Company.

Crane expects little delay in approval, but he can’t reveal the uniform until after the 2012 season. Focus groups have been a large part of his process to determine the new uniforms.

“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.”

Crane appeared at Union Station this morning, announcing an initiative with Silver Eagle Distributors where the Budweiser distributor would donate $5,000 for every Astros walkoff win this season to the Folds of Honor Foundation for military families.