1882 Buffalo (Buffalos, Bisons)
Left: Uniforms color-coded by position and worn by players from April to June 1882. One uniform rendering in this grouping is based on visual documentation for uniform style and written documentation for uniform color. The remaining renderings are based on written documentation only for uniform style and color. An artist’s conceptualization is used to create these renderings based on visual documentation of other teams from this year with similar uniforms.
Rendering accuracy:Year: documented Team: documented
Center and right: Uniforms worn by entire team, June 1882 and after. These renderings are based on written documentation for uniform style and color. No visual documentation is known and an artist’s conceptualization is used to create the renderings.
Rendering accuracy:Year: documented Team: documented
Visual documentation on these uniforms:
Photo A
Dated circa 1882. Studio photograph of Buffalo first baseman D Brouthers (81-85), full view left, detail view right. An engraving of the same image was published in the Spalding Base Ball Guide in April 1883, see photo B. The Spalding guide was printed as a recap of the 1882 season and included the caption under the illustration that read, “Champion Batter, 1882,” a reference to the fact that Brouthers led the NL with a .368 batting average that year. The 1882 date for photo A can be suggested by the uniform worn by Brouthers, who played all 84 games of the season for Buffalo at first base. The National League mandated color-coded uniforms in 1882 that signified a player’s position in the field. The first baseman’s shirt and cap were designated as stripes of “scarlet and white.” The belts and the pants were designated as white in color, and the stockings for the Buffalo team were designated as gray. These descriptions match the uniform shown in photo A, with some discrepancies. Note that in the photograph Brouthers was wearing a dark-colored belt, not white, and that the stockings he wore were light gray in color, almost white. The color-coded uniforms were abandoned by the Buffalo team in mid-June 1882, suggesting this image was made between April and mid-June 1882. For more detail on the color-coded uniforms, see the written descriptions below. The detail view at right showed that the lace ties on Brouthers’ shirt were tied in two different styles, with the “v” both pointing up and down. Years Brouthers with team from baseball-reference.com. Image from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Cooperstown, NY.
Photo B
Dated April 1883. This engraving of D Brouthers (81-85) was included in the Spalding Base Ball Guide 1883, published in April 1883 as a recap of the 1882 season. Full view at left, detail view at right. The engraving was based on a studio photograph, see photo A. Based on the uniform the player wore, this image was taken between April and mid-June 1882. The rendering of the belt in the detail view suggested that the material in the front of the belt was leather and that the material in back was fabric. Years Brouthers with team from baseball-reference.com.
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 1882: “The uniforms of the Bisons are expected daily. […] The shoes for the Buffalos, being made by Staley of Main Street [in Buffalo], will be ready in a few days.” From the Buffalo Express, April 7, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
April 1882: “The Bisons will appear in their new shoes today, even if the zebra uniforms are late in coming.” From the Buffalo Express, April 8, 1882.
April 1882: “There will be a circus when the Buffalos appear in their new uniforms for the first time.” From the Buffalo Commercial, April 11, 1882.
April 1882: “The new uniforms of the Buffalos have arrived — we say ‘uniforms’ out of courtesy for ‘costumes’ is the proper word—and a more thoroughly disgusted lot of ball players than the Bisons would be impossible to find. The magnitude of the part they are to play during the coming summer never dawned upon them till they beheld the zebra garments. ‘Why, great heaven!’ said Manager O’Rourke. ‘The idea of dressing us up like a lot of fantastics — making clowns out of professional base-ball players! They are the meanest suits that ever were made, and that doesn’t half express my indignation. If we’re ever so unfortunate as to play near a lunatic asylum we’ll get into trouble. Go into a strange city with these patch-works and the people would chase us all over a 10-acre lot with pitchforks!’ The members of the club pronounce the trousers and stockings of an inferior grade, and as to the price there are murmurs of disapproval. Thirty dollars was paid for the two suits for each player, while they could doubtless have been made in Buffalo for half the amount. If the National League ever made a fatal mistake it was in adopting these sickly looking fantastics, which will make the players appear like a lot of jackasses turned out to pasture. The Bisons will put off the evil day as long as possible, and will not wear the so-called suits until compelled to in a [National] League game.” From the Buffalo Express, April 13, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
April 1882: “The Buffalos are in Pittsburgh today. Both nines will wear their variegated uniforms.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 15, 1882.
April 22, 1882, Buffalo v. picked nine, exhibition game: “‘Gentle James’ [O’Rourke] was the only man in the Gray Stockings who had the nerve to wear his new uniform. The shirt is of a light blue, and being much too large for its wearer it made him look very stout indeed.” From the Buffalo Courier, April 23, 1882. Research from Ed Morton. This report also provided sarcastically step-by-step clothes-washing instructions for each color of the “new zebra-convict uniforms.”
April 1882; “In order that the public may in a measure become accustomed to the ridiculous figure which the Buffalo team will cut in their new uniforms before the season opens, they will don the fantastics in the [exhibition] game this afternoon.” From the Buffalo Express, April 28, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
May 1882: “The public are familiar with the playing of both teams [Buffalo and Chicago in the upcoming home opener], so that even the masquerade suits cannot prevent spectators from keeping the run of the game. […] A very handsome score-card in nine designs will be on sale at five cents each at the Riverside grounds this year. The cards are not only conveniently arranged, but are handsomely printed in colors and tasty enough to be preserved—something unusual in a score card.” From the Buffalo Express, May 1, 1882.
May 1, 1882, Buffalo v. Chicago, at Buffalo, Riverside grounds, opening day: “All the players [on both teams] wore crape [sp] yesterday in memory of President Hulbert.” From the Buffalo Express, May 2, 1882. William Hulbert, a founder of the National League and president of the Chicago team, died on April 10, 1882, at age 49.
May 1882: “The sentiment will be overwhelmingly in favor of a repeal of the rule relative to the uniforms at the next meeting of the [National] League.” From the Buffalo Express, May 3, 1882.
May 1882: “Every time a 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 [National] League.” From the Cleveland Leader, May 4, 1882. Research from Peter Morris, A Game Of Inches, (2006, 2010).
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.
May 1882: “[Pitcher Hugh] Daily’s appearance on the ball field Saturday [May 20 at Cleveland] attracted much comment from the crowd. He is a swarthy and by no means good-looking fellow, his uniform of flaring green adding to his unattractiveness.” From the Buffalo Commercial, May 23, 1882, citing the Cleveland Herald. Based on this report, the Buffalo pitcher wore a uniform designated for a substitute.
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 21, 1882, Buffalo v. Troy, at Buffalo: “The Bisons […] donned their old uniforms of gray – batting clothes which have long lain idle.” From the Buffalo Express, June 22, 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.
July 1882: “The Buffalos have donned a partly new uniform and now appear in gray shirts, white trousers, and red stockings and caps. The Chicago papers speak very highly of their appearance.” From the Buffalo Express, July 21, 1882, and the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 25, 1882.
July 1882: “Since the day the [National] league discarded the uniforms of many colors, clubs have followed their own notions in regard to dress. The latest ‘rig’ of the Buffalos is a gray shirt, white pants, red stockings and caps.” From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, July 25, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
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:
Buffalo 1879-1885
Buffalo joined the National League (NL) in 1879. The NL formed in 1876 and Buffalo played in the league from 1879 through the end of the 1885 season. Information from wikipedia.com.
Rendering posted: August 11, 2022
Diggers on this uniform: Ed Morton, John Thorn, Mike Roer, Peter Morris, Richard Hershberger,