1878 Buffalo (Buffalos, Bisons)

These renderings are based on visual documentation for uniform style and written documentation for color. Minor details may be undocumented or difficult to determine. An educated guess is made to complete the renderings.

Rendering accuracy:Year: documented    Team: documented

Visual documentation on these uniforms:


Photo A

Dated July 19, 1878. A Buffalo newspaper reported that the team was photographed on this day. Year of photo can be confirmed by the appearance of players Allen and McSorley, who only played in Buffalo in 1878. Players wore a white uniform with a shield bib on the shirt, a dark belt and dark stockings. The caps in the foreground were also white with a thick dark band above the brim. A newspaper in early 1878 described this uniform as being “white flannel with red stockings,” and that “the shield of the shirt will be trimmed in red, and the word ‘Buffalo’ will be worked on it in the same color.” Two players in the top row of the photo, catcher Dolan, far left, and pitcher Galvin, far right, wore different uniform shirts and belts than the rest of the team, signifying they were the team’s battery. This was a brief trend in baseball fashion in the late 1870s. A newspaper in 1878 noted that “the [Buffalo] pitchers and catchers are to be distinguished by shirts which are to be of worsted, with half-length sleeves, bound with red.”

Top row, from left: T Dolan (78, NL 82), D Allen (78), B McGunnigle (78, NL 79, 80) and P Galvin (78, NL 79-85). Middle: B Crowley (78, NL 79, 80, 85), D Eggler (78, NL 79, 83-85, IL 86), S Libby (78, NL 79), C Fulmer (78, NL 79, 80) and D Mack (78, NL 80). Front: D Force (78, NL 79-85) and T McSorley (78). Player IDs from the caption on a another version of this photo (not shown). Years played with team from baseball-reference.com. Original photograph by Hezekiah McMichael, Buffalo.

Dated 1878. Detail view of photo A. Detail view showed the shield bib edged in dark trim and the buttoned tab collar at the neck.

Photo B

Incorrectly hand-dated 1887, actual date circa 1878, possibly July 19, 1878. Portrait of B McGunnigle (78, NL 79, 80), full view at left, detail view at right. This photo was possibly made at the same time as the team photo which, based on the players appearing in the image, has been dated as 1878, see photo A. The handwritten dated of 1887 on photo B was most likely written in error. Player wore a white uniform with a shield bib and that matched the uniform in photo A. The shirt collar band buttoned at the top of the bib, eliminating or covering one section of trim on the bib. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from The Boston Globe, “Before baseball had cheating scandals, there was Brockton’s ‘Gunner’ McGunnigle,” June 24, 2021, citing the Library of Congress, and retrieved June 10, 2024. Original photo possibly by Hezekiah McMichael, Buffalo.

Written documentation on these uniforms:

March 1878: “The uniform of the Buffalos the coming season is to be of white flannel with red stockings. The shield of the shirt will be trimmed in red, and the word ‘Buffalo’ will be worked on it in the same color. The cap to be worn is the college cap, the same as used by the Bostons and Chicagos last season. The pitchers and catchers are to be distinguished by shirts which are to be of worsted, with half-length sleeves, bound with red.” From the New York Clipper, March 16, 1878. Research from Brian McKenna.

April 1878: “In order to give the [Buffalo] nine a foretaste of the coming contest, the directors have decided to pay a match with a picked nine on Saturday [April 13, 1878 in Buffalo]. The Buffalos will appear for the first time in their new uniforms.” From the Buffalo Express, April 10, 1878.

April 1878: “The Buffalos and Essex will on Wednesday [April 17, 1878] play a second match. On this occasion the Buffalos will appear in their new uniforms.” From the Buffalo Express, April 15, 1878. Apparently the uniforms were not complete for the April 13 exhibition game.

April 1878: “This morning [April 12, 1878] the shirts and caps and belts, shoes and stockings for the Buffalo nine were received. The shirts and caps were manufactured by A. J. Reach, of Philadelphia, and the other articles by A. G. Spaulding [sic], of Chicago. The pants are being made by Mr. J. G. Haffa of this city [Buffalo]. The uniforms will not be completed until tomorrow night.” From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, April 12, 1878. Research from Ed Morton. J. G. Haffa was John George Haffa (1828-1886), who ran a tailoring business in Buffalo between 1870 and 1886. Haffa info from Memorial and Family History of Erie County, New York, Volume 1 (1906-1908).

April 26, 1878, Buffalo v. Tecumseh, London ON, at London: “A large crowd was assembled in and about ‘The Brunswick,’ opposite the Tifft House yesterday afternoon [April 26 in Buffalo] to hear the news. […] Arrangements have been made with the telegraph company whereby the result of each inning is reported at ‘The Brunswick’ within a few minutes after the close.” From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, April 27, 1878.

July 1878: “The Buffalos went to McMichael’s gallery yesterday [July 19, 1878], and their admirers can now have a photograph by calling on [Buffalo players Chick] Fulmer or [Bill] McGunnigle. There is no truth to the story that McMichael’s camera was broken.” From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, July 20, 1878. Hezekiah McMichael (1844-1907) was a photographer located at 246 Main Street in Buffalo. Information from the Buffalo City Directory, 1878, and the George Eastman Museum, Rochester.

Team Genealogy: Buffalo played in the International Association (IA) in 1878. The IA operated from 1877 to 1880, the last two years as the National Association. Buffalo joined the National League (NL) in 1879.