1882 Providence (Grays)
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 visual documentation for uniform style and partial written documentation for color. Important details may be undocumented or difficult to determine. An educated guess is made to complete the rendering.
Rendering accuracy:Year: undocumented Team: undocumented
Visual documentation on these uniforms:
Photo A
Dated mid-June 1882 to September 1882. Year of photo based on appearance of player Reilley, who only played for Providence in 1882. Date range of mid-June to September determined by the appearance of player G Wright, who did not start the year with the team. A newspaper reported Wright played his first game for Providence on June 17 “in his old position of shortstop and captain.” In this June 17 game, the Providence team reportedly first discarded the league-mandated color-coded uniforms and “appeared in their old suits of gray,” possibly suggesting the team wore gray uniforms from a previous year. The inclusion of G Wright and the absence of color-coded uniforms in this photo suggested the image was made June 17 or after. For more information on the color-coded uniforms, see written descriptions below. When the National League officially overturned the rule on color-coded uniforms, a newspaper said on June 18 that teams “will retain the white pants” of the original uniforms “and adopt an inexpensive white or gray shirt, much lighter in weight than the resent cumbersome garments.” In photo A, the team appeared to be wearing a light gray shirt and white pants. A newspaper account from a game played on July 2 described a similar Providence uniform: “light gray shirts and caps, with white pants, having discarded the zebra suits.”
Top row, from left: P Hines (78-85), J Denny (81-85), C Radbourn (81-85) and J Farrell (79-85). Middle: T York (78-82), J Start (79-85), (H Wright, mgr 82, 83), G Wright (79, 82) and J Ward (78-82). Front: C Reilley (82), S Nava (82-84) and B Gilligan (81-85). Player IDs from an illustration made from this photo, see photo B, and also from Nigel Ayres. Years players with team from baseball-reference.com. Date of Wright joining team from the Buffalo Express, June 19, 1882. Original photo by the Chicago Photographic Studios, Photo-Mechanical Printing and Publishing Company, Chicago.
Dated mid-June 1882 to September 1882. Detail view of photo A. Note that this detail view showed wide placket on the shirt with small lace ties and a shirt pocket. Detail view also appeared to show a very subtle difference in tone between the shirt and pants, possibly matching a newspaper account from this year saying the team wore light gray shirts and white pants during the second half of the 1882 season, see written descriptions below.
Dated mid-June 1882 to September 1882. Another detail view of photo A. Photo showed that the pillbox-style cap may have had two horizontal bands around the body.
Photo B
Dated September 30, 1882. This engraving was made from photo A and was published in Harper’s Weekly on this date.
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.
January 1882: “The clubs of the [National] league will not carry the customary large trunk and bat bag on their trips this season. Each player will be obliged not only to carry a valise [i.e., suitcase] in which is packed his outfit, but will also have to look out for individual bat bags, made of canvass [sp] or leather, each holding two bats. Every member of the league nines will wear white linen ties when on the field, as called for in the new contracts. Every player will have two complete outfits at the opening of the season, which he must keep clean at his own expense, and every player failing to appear in a clean suit at each game will be fined heavily for the offense.” From the Providence Sunday Star, January 22, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
February 25, 1882: “In an effort to increase attendance, the Providence Grays will require their players and the opposition team to parade through the streets of Providence in full uniform on game days, accompanied by a brass band.” From wikipedia, retrieved July 20, 2015. No specific documentation given.
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.
March 1882: “The suits ordered for the Providence nine will be here in time to be used on the April trip.” From the Providence Sunday Star, March 19, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
April 5, 1882, Providence v. picked nine from Boston area, at Providence, exhibition game: “The Providence team wore their new uniforms. Farrell, Start and Denny wore blouse shirts, which are striped up and down, making the boys look like zebras. When Start came to bat there was a grand shout of laughter from the crowd. Joe looked like a great big overgrown boy. His jacket was red and black, and his knickerbockers with the broad white belt, appeared to come well under his arms. He enjoyed the fun as well as the rest of the people. Farrell kept on his old gray knit jacket until the game was about half over, when he became so warm that he had to doff the cardigan. Then the laugh was turned on him, for he bloomed out in a blouse of bright yellow and black, and as he danced about looked like a huge ‘yellow-jacket’ wasp. Seriously speaking, the new uniforms are not to be compared with the attractive gray and blue of the past four seasons [1878 to 1881].” From the Providence Morning Star, April 6, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
April 1882: “The Providence team wore their new uniforms in their game Wednesday. The [Providence Sunday] Star says that many of the players were given the ‘grand laugh’ for their overgrown school-boy look in the zebras, and thinks the new regalia is not to be compared to the neat suits used last year [1881].” From the Buffalo Morning Express, April 8, 1882.
April 1882: “The posters for advertising the [National] league games of 1882 are gorgeous affairs. They are about two and one-half feet in width and about six feet in length. The design is gotten up to represent a catcher with a mask on, standing behind the bat. In front of him is the batsman, who stands with his bat aloft, ready to send the ball to ‘kingdom come,’ if possible. The picture is very realistic, and reflects credit upon its designer. Above is a space wherein are printed the names of the clubs which it is advertising. At the bottom are the dates when they play. About the margins are printed the names of the eight [National] league cities. They are printed in eight colors, and will serve as an attractive advertising medium.” From the Providence Sunday Star, April 23, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
May 1, 1882, Providence v. Troy, at Providence, opening day: “When the two nines came upon the field, their ‘song and dance’ uniforms were greeted with sarcastic applause and laughter. The Troy pitcher and catcher wore bright green and brown blouses, having through some misunderstanding put on those which are to be worn by substitutes only.” From the Providence Evening Press, May 2, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
May 1882: “The Providence Blue Legs issued printed invitations to their opening game.” From the Buffalo Express, May 3, 1882. This entry references the color of the team’s stockings.
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).
Late May 1882: “[By Memorial Day] the varied colors of the [National] League uniforms were not popular and a change was already rumored.” From Preston D. Orem, Baseball From Newspaper Accounts 1882. Specific documentation not supplied by Orem. Research from John Thorn.
June 1882: “The Detroit and Providence teams are disgusted with Hurlbut’s clown costumes, and recently addressed a letter to all [National] league clubs asking that they be sold to some fancy masquerade costumer. […] The Detroits will sell their caricature suits to some second-hand dealer, and immediately purchase a uniform of white shirts and caps, orange belts and stockings, and once more register their rightful names.” From the Detroit Free Press, June 10, 1882. It is un known if “Hurlbut” was a reference to the late Chicago team president William Hulbert, who died April 10, 1882.
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: “George Wright will play with the Providence nine in tomorrow’s game, when the club will don their old gray uniforms. Two very sensible moves apparently, and the club are to be congratulated for laying aside the zebra suits.” From the Buffalo Express, June 16, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
June 17, 1882, Providence v. Cleveland, at Providence: “The [Providence] nine […] appeared in their old suits of gray.” From the Providence Evening Press, June 19, 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 Providence nine have jumped out of their zebra suits and into their old gray uniforms.” From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 20, 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 Providence v. Chicago at Chicago: “The Providence team appeared on the field in their old-style gray uniforms, and looked far better than the Chicagos in their motley garb.” From the Chicago Tribune, June 25, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
June 24, 1882 Providence v. Chicago at Chicago: “The Providence team appeared in their gray uniforms, and looked much better that the Chicago players in their potato-bug suits.” From the Chicago Daily Inter-Ocean, June 26, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
July 1882: “The Providencers have appeared in light gray shirts and caps, with white pants, having discarded the zebra suits.” From the Philadelphia Times, July 2, 1882. Research from Richard Hershberger.
July 1882: “The zebra uniform is doomed. Cleveland is going to join Providence and dress in white.” From the Philadelphia Times, July 5, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
July 1882: “The zebra uniform is doomed. Cleveland is going to join Providence and dress in white and Chicago is going to have a new outfit.” From the Albany (NY) Argus, July 7, 1882.
July 1882: “Cleveland, Providence and Chicago are going to have new uniforms.” From the Boston Globe, July 16, 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:
Providence 1878-1885
Providence joined the National League (NL) in 1878. The NL was organized in 1876. Providence played in the NL for 8 years, disbanding after the 1885 season. Information from wikipedia.com.
Rendering posted: August 16, 2022
Diggers on this uniform: Ed Morton, John Thorn, Nigel Ayres, Richard Hershberger,