1882 Boston (Bostons, Red Stockings)
Left: Uniforms color-coded by position and worn by players from April to June 1882. These renderings are based on written documentation for uniform style and color. An artist’s conceptualization is used to create the renderings based on visual documentation of other teams from this year with similar uniforms.
Rendering accuracy:Year: documented Team: documented
Right: Uniform worn by entire team, June 1882 and after. This rendering is based on written documentation for uniform style and color. No visual documentation is known and an artist’s conceptualization is used to create the rendering.
Rendering accuracy:Year: documented Team: documented
Visual documentation on these uniforms:
None
Written documentation on these uniforms:
December 1881: “The Committee on Uniforms presented the following agreement [on December 9 at a National League meeting in Chicago], which was duly signed. The parties hereto agree that in all championship games during this year 1882 they will present the nines […] in uniforms consisting of the following specified articles and colors:
–Catcher: scarlet shirt, white pants, scarlet belt, leather shoes, white tie, square-top cap [in] color of shirt.
–Pitcher: light blue shirt, white pants, light blue belt, leather shoes, white tie, square-top cap [in] color of shirt.
–First Base: scarlet and white shirt, white pants, scarlet and white belt, leather shoes, white tie, square-top cap [in] color of shirt.
–Second Base: orange and black shirt, white pants, orange and black belt, leather shoes, white tie, square-top cap [in] color of shirt.
–Third Base: blue and white shirt, white pants, blue and white belt, leather shoes, white tie, square-top cap [in] color of shirt.
–Short-stop: maroon shirt, white pants, maroon belt, leather shoes, white tie, square-top cap [in] color of shirt.
–Right field: gray shirt, white pants, gray belt, leather shoes, white tie, square-top cap [in] color of shirt.
–Middle field: red and black shirt, white pants, red and black belt, leather shoes, white tie, square-top cap [in] color of shirt.
–Left field: white shirt, white pants, white belt, leather shoes, white tie, square-top cap [in] color of shirt.
–First substitute: green shirt, white pants, green belt, leather shoes, white tie, square-top cap [in] color of shirt.
–Second substitute: brown shirt, white pants, brown belt, leather shoes, white tie, square-top cap [in] color of shirt.”
From the Chicago Inter Ocean, December 10, 1881.
December 1881: “[The adopted agreement] is an entirely new departure in the way of uniforming, in which the vari-colored cap system the Chicago Club, adopted for giving players an individuality, is enlarged, and the club uniform restricted to the mere item of stockings. The new system uniforms by position. All the catchers in the league will be dressed precisely alike with the exception of their hose, which will be of their club color, and so for all the pitchers, first basemen, and so on through the list. The report fixes the color of each article of dress for each player. The shirts, belts and caps for the various positions are to be as follows: catcher, scarlet; pitcher, light blue; first base, scarlet and white; second base, orange and black; third base, blue and white; shortstop, maroon; right field, gray; center field, red and black; left field, white; first substitute, green; second substitute, brown. The trousers and neckties of all the players are to be white, and the shoes leather. In the matter of the colors of stockings, the committee, as far as possible, allowed each to retain the hosiery which has, in some cases, become its trade-mark. The stockings to be worn are as follows: Boston, red; Chicago, white; Detroit, old gold; Troy, green; Buffalo, gray; Cleveland, navy blue; Providence, light blue; Worcester, brown. This will give a rainbow hue to the diamond and make the spectators wish they were color blind.” From the Detroit Free Press, December 11, 1881. Portions of this entry were also included by Peter Morris in A Game Of Inches, (2006, 2010).
January 1882: “The third-basemen of the [National] League will have gray and white for their next season’s uniforms [1882], it being found impossible to obtain the blue and white material which was originally chosen to designate the players at third base.” From the Buffalo Commercial, January 5, 1882.
January 1882: “The parti-color position uniform adopted by the [National] League […] is generally recognized to be a good idea, and one which is sure to become popular. Frequently three or four fielders run together to make a play. One handles the ball, but scorers differ as to which one it was, so thoroughly are the players jumbled together. All being uniformed alike, it is hard sometimes to say whether the second baseman, short-stop, left-fielder, middle-fielder or third baseman caught a short fly. Under the new plan every position in every club will be uniformed alike from the knees up. The distinguishing difference between players of different clubs will be in the color of their stockings alone. Thus the Chicagos will wear white stockings, the Bostons red, the Providence gray, etc. The pants in every Club will be white. In this respect the seventy-two uniforms will be alike. The shirts, belts and caps will be made to suit positions. Thus there will be four solid colors. All the catchers will wear blue shirts, belts and caps, all the left fielders will wear red shirts, belts and caps, all the third basement will wear gray and white striped shirts, caps and belts, and the second basement black and yellow stripes, and so on, each position differing. The stripes run up and down in the shirt, and around in the cap and belt. A. G. Spalding & Co. will manufacture the uniforms. The material had to be manufactured to order, and it was secured only by a good deal of trouble. It comes from a Quaker factory somewhere up in Iowa. The gentlemen have ordered enough so as to provide the American [Association] Clubs also, if the latter fall in with the plan, and will make the uniforms at the same price charged to the [National] League Clubs. […] The plan is Al. Spalding’s, having been fermenting in his fertile brain for several years.” From the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, January 15, 1882. Research from Richard Hersberger, as posted to protoball.org.
March 1882: “The new parti-colored uniforms for [National] League players were exhibited at the Osburn House yesterday [at a National League meeting in Rochester].” From the Buffalo Commercial, March 8, 1882.
March 1882: “How very aesthetic and picturesque the [National] League players will look this year? – like an animated bouquet or kaleidoscope. The catchers will appear in scarlet shirts, caps and belts; the pitchers in light blue; first basemen in scarlet and white; second basemen, orange and blue; third basemen, blue and white; short stop, maroon; right fielder, gray; center fielder, red and black; left fielder, white; substitutes, green and brown. The pants and ties will all be white and the shoes of leather. The Buffalos will wear gray hose, the Bostons red, Chicago white, Detroit old gold, Troys green, Clevelands navy blue, Providence light blue, and Worcesters brown.” From the Buffalo Commercial, March 11, 1882.
April 18, 1882, Boston v. Harvard, at Boston, South End grounds, exhibition game: “The Bostons appeared in their new uniforms, and presented a decidedly striped and speckled appearance. The white pants and red stockings are retained [from 1881], but each player has a cap and shirt of a distinct color. Captain Morrell [first base] rejoices in white and red; Sutton [shortstop], scarlet; Wise [third base], blue and white; Hotaling [center field], red and white; Hornung [left field], white cap and shirt; Burdock [second base], yellow and brown; Rowen [right field], blue cap; Whitney [pitcher], blue shirt; Deasley [catcher], brown shirt and cap.” From the Boston Globe, April 19, 1882. Players’ positions, in parenthesis, come from the box score of the game. Note that the third baseman, Sam Wise, reportedly wore a blue-and-white striped shirt. This contradicts an earlier report which stated the third baseman’s colors were switched by Spalding from blue-and-white to gray-and-white due to material not being available. Also note that not all of the uniform color descriptions from this game correctly match the league mandate.
April 1882: “The new uniforms for the Boston club, made in accordance with the [National] league legislation, arrived the past week, and to say that the players are extremely disgusted with them is a light expression of their feelings. Some of them look like clowns, and all are dissatisfied with the makeup of the uniforms. The shirts are very thick, and, in hot weather, will be very uncomfortable, while the pants are very thin and apparently made of poor material, consequently, if a player slides to his base, it must be at the risk of scraping his skin or tearing his pants. The rules for washing the uniforms are long and the source of no small amusement. President Soden of the league expresses his dissatisfaction at the way the uniforms look, and the opinion is pretty general that the legislation creating the system will be rescinded at the next meeting of the league.” From the Boston Herald, April 23, 1882. Research from Richard Hershberger, as posted to protoball.org.
May 1882: “Every time a [National] league team appears on the ball field […] the uniform is universally commented upon and condemned. None feel more sensitive over the situation than the players themselves. The sentiment will be overwhelmingly in favor of the repeal of the rule at the next meeting of the League.” From the Cleveland Leader, May 4, 1882. Research from Peter Morris, A Game Of Inches, (2006, 2010).
May 16, 1882, Boston v. Worcester, at Worcester: “[The final score] was not such as to bring comfort to the friends of the Red Stockings.” From the Boston Globe, May 17, 1882. An example of the red stocking nickname in use.
May 1882: “[By Memorial Day] the varied colors of the League uniforms were not popular and a change was already rumored.” From Preston Orem, Baseball From Newspaper Accounts, 1882. No specific documentation given by Orem. Research from John Thorn.
June 1882: “A paper is being circulated among the [National] League Clubs agreeing that for the balance of the season each club be allowed to uniform its players, as far as shirts and caps are concerned, as it may select. It has been signed by the Bostons, Detroits, Worcesters and Providence.” From the Buffalo Daily Courier, June 14, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
June 1882: “The [National] league has voted unanimously to allow each club to select its own colors and material for uniforms for the remainder of the season. Most of them will retain the white pants, and adopt an inexpensive white or gray shirt, much lighter in weight than the resent cumbersome garments. The new uniform was a failure in point of appearance, and should never have been adopted.” From the Chicago Tribune, June 18, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
June 1882: “The Bostons have discarded the striped [National] League suits and are now wearing all white uniforms with the old time red stockings.” From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 20, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
June 1882: “The Bostons have fired the zebra shirts.” From the Chicago Inter-Ocean, June 24, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
June 1882: “The [National] League clubs have decided to dispense with the ‘clown costumes’ and return to the old style uniforms.” From the Daily Memphis Avalanche, June 25, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
June 24, 1882, Chicago v. Buffalo at Buffalo, Riverside Park: “The potato-bug uniforms will soon be but a reminiscence. The Bostons appear in white suits.” From the Buffalo Express, June 26, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
August 1882: “The window of Jordan, Marsh & Co.’s establishment in Boston attracts hosts of spectators daily. A grass-plot has been laid in the show-window, in which a miniature baseball field is marked out. The bases, base-lines and positions are accurately placed. The Bostons, represented by nine miniature puppets in full Boston uniform are in the field, while the Chicago White Stockings are at the bat. No detail of the game has been omitted. The pitcher is in the act of delivering the ball, and the catcher, with a genuine mask, stands ready to receive it. Behind the catcher is a diminutive umpire, clad in a natty blue-flannel suit.” From the New York Clipper, August 5, 1882. Research from Richard Hershberger, as posted to protoball.org.
December 1882: “A return to the old distinguished colors in the uniforms of the older clubs was agreed upon [at a league meeting.]” From the Philadelphia Item, December 10, 1882. Research from Richard Hershberger, as posted to protoball.org.
Team genealogy: Boston 1871-1952
Boston was formed to enter the National Association (NA) in 1871. The NA was baseball’s first league, operating 1871-1875. Boston played in the NA in every year of the league’s existence and moved to the National League (NL) upon its start in 1876. Boston played in the NL from 1876 to 1952 and moved to Milwaukee for the 1953 NL season. Information from Paul Batesel, Players And Teams of the National Association, 1871-1875, from baseball-reference.com and from wikipedia.com.
Rendering posted: August 10, 2022
Diggers on this uniform: Ed Morton, Richard Hershberger,