1866 Atlantic, Brooklyn (Atlantics)

This rendering is based on visual documentation for uniform style and color. Minor details may be undocumented or difficult to determine and an educated guess is made to complete the rendering.

Rendering accuracy:

Year: documented    Team: documented

Visual documentation on this uniform:

Photo A

Dated October 22, 1866. This depiction of a game between Atlantic, Brooklyn, and Athletic, Philadelphia, at Philadelphia, was printed in 1867. Atlantic players were shown wearing a white shirt and blue-gray pants and a red cap. The shirt had a bib-front with the initials A.B.B.C. across the chest.

Atlantic players are identified by numbers in the illustration: 10- D Pearce (56-70, 73, 74), 11- C Smith (58-65,67-70), 12- J Start (62-70), 13- F Crane (62-69), 14- J Chapman (62-66,68,70,74), 15- J Galvin (63-67), 16- T Pratt (63-66,68,69), 17- B Ferguson (66-70) and 18- C Mills (66-68). Years with team from Marshall D. Wright, The National Association Of Base Ball Players, 1857-1870 (2000), Paul Batesel, Players And Teams Of The National Association, 1871-1875 (2012), and wikipedia. Original artwork by John L. Magee.

Dated Octeber 22, 1866. Detail views of photo A. Detail view shows that players wore a white belt and that the pants were tied tight at the ankles.

Photo B

Dated November 3, 1866. Date determined by fact that this illustration was published on this date. Illustration was drawn from a team photo taken in 1865.

From left: C Mills? (66-68), J Start (62-70), unidentified, D Pearce (56-70), T Pratt (63-66,68,69), C Smith (58-65,67-70), J Chapman (62-66,68,70,74), J Galvin (63-67) and F Crane (62-69). Years with team from Marshall D. Wright, The National Association Of Base Ball Players, 1857-1870 (2000), Paul Batesel, Players And Teams Of The National Association, 1871-1875 (2012), and wikipedia. Image scan from Harper’s Weekly, November 3, 1866.

Written documentation on this uniform:
1866: “[The Atlantic] uniform consists of light blue pants, white flannel shirt, red and white caps.” From Charles A. Peverelly, The Book Of American Pastimes (1866). Note that the description of the cap does not exactly match that shown in photo A.

October 1, 1866, Atlantic, Brooklyn, v. Athletic, Philadelphia, at Philadelphia: “The two clubs appeared on the ground in their full strength […] the Atlantics in gray pants, white shirts, and red caps. Both nines looked remarkably well.” From the Chicago Tribune, October 5, 1866, with correspondence from the Philadelphia Press, October 3.

October 1, 1866, Atlantic, Brooklyn, v. Athletic, Philadelphia, at Philadelphia: “Atlantics similar to Athletics, blue zouave trousers, white shirts with red caps.” From Preston D. Orem, Baseball 1845-1881, From Newspaper Accounts (1961). No documented resource given. Note, Orem’s sentence is actually reverse from this and it is possible he switched the names Athletic and Atlantic in error.

October 15, 1866, Atlantic. Brooklyn, v. Athletic, Philadelphia, at Brooklyn: “The Atlantics attired in light blue or gray pants, white flannel shirts and red caps, presented a very fine appearance. The Athletics, dressed in dark blue pants, white flannel shirts and white caps, had their usual players.” From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 16, 1866.

Team genealogy: Atlantic, Brooklyn, 1854-1875
Atlantic was formed in Brooklyn, NY, in late 1854. The club was one of 16 charter members of the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP), baseball’s first organization, operating 1857-1870. The club initially chose not to enter the National Association (NA), baseball’s first professional league, operating 1871-1875. However, Atlantic did join the NA in 1872 and played in the league until 1875, when they disbanded. The success and popularity of the club during the 1860s led to the frequent use of the Atlantic name by other clubs. Information from Craig B Waff, William Ryczek, Peter Morris and others, Base Ball Founders (2013).