1882 Troy NY (Troys, Trojans)
Left: Uniforms color-coded by position and worn by players from April to July 1882. 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
Right: Uniform worn by entire team, July 1882 and after. Each player may have continued to wear a color-coded cap. This rendering is based on visual documentation for uniform style only. An educated guess is made on uniform color and on important details that may be missing or difficult to determine.
Rendering accuracy:Year: undocumented Team: undocumented
Visual documentation on these uniforms:
Photo A
Dated April 1882 to mid-July 1882. Year of photo confirmed by the appearance of players Smith, Roseman and Pfeffer, all of whom only played for Troy in 1882. Date of April to mid-July determined by Smith and the uniforms the team wore. A newspaper reported on July 15 that “Smith, the California giant of the Trojans, has been shelved. Connor will guard first bag and Harbridge center field.” Photo shows players wearing a variety of color-coded uniforms that designated their individual position in the field, see written descriptions below for more detail. A newspaper reported on July 14 that the Troy team abandoned these color-coded uniforms around this time, and about the same time that Smith was “shelved.” The color-coded uniforms may also help to further date this photo. Player Smith, standing far left, wore the first baseman’s uniform and player Connor, middle row fourth from left, wore the third baseman’s uniform. Smith played 35 games for Troy in 1882 and, as stated above, was released in mid-July. Connor, who was generally known as a first baseman, played the full season for Troy in 1882, including both first base, third base and the outfield. A study of when Connor played consistently at third base during the first half of the 1882 season would further narrow the date of this photo. The color-coding system stipulated colors for eleven players, nine field positions and two substitutes. However, this team photo showed twelve players. Therefore, second baseman and manager Ferguson, sitting middle center, did not wear a color-coded uniform in this photo and instead most likely wore the Troy uniform from the previous season of 1881. Player Welch, one of the team’s pitchers, was not included in this original photo. He started the season with Troy but made only three starts, the last occurring on May 6. A newspaper reported on May 11 that “Welch of the Troys has been given a month’s leave of absence to nurse his lame arm.” Welsh needed only a few weeks to recover, rejoining the team and starting a game on May 23. In photo A, the head of Welch was added at a later date to the body of a player standing top row, second from left. Based on the uniform of this player, Welch’s head was added to the body of a second baseman or a center fielder. There were two outfielders who saw limited time with the team in 1882: J Egan (82) who played 12 games, and J Holdsworth (82) who played only 1 game. A newspaper said that Egan joined the team at the same time as Welch in late May, therefore it was likely the head of Welch was added to the body of Holdsworth, who reportedly stood 6′ tall. This would then suggest the team photo was taken between May 6 and May 23, 1882, or during the time Welch was not with the team. The Troy players wore dark stockings in this photo, and the designated stocking color for Troy was green.
Top row, from left: J Smith (82), M Welch 80-82, J Roseman (82), J Cassidy (79-82) and T Keefe (80-82). Middle: B Ewing (80-82), P Gillespie (80-82), B Ferguson (79-82), R Connor (80-82) and B Holbert (79-82). Front: B Harbridge (80, 82) and F Pfeffer (82). ID of Cassidy from Carson Lorey. Player IDs and years with team from baseball-reference.com. Info on Smith being shelved from the Buffalo Express, July 15, 1882. Info on Welch’s lame arm from the Buffalo Express, May 11, 1882, and his rejoining the team from the Buffalo Express, May 24, 1882. Dates of games started by Welch from retrosheet.org.
Dated 1882. Detail view of photo A.
Photo B
Dated 1880s, possibly 1882. Studio photo of R Connor (80-82), full view at left, detail view at right. Image showed player wearing a white shirt and pants, with a light colored belt and dark stockings. The shirt had a shield-shaped bib and the player held a striped pillbox cap in his hand. He also wore leather shoes. Based on speculation, this may be an image from the second half of the 1882 season, when Troy, along with all eight teams in the National League, abandoned the color-coded uniforms. A newspaper reported in June 1882 that each team “will retain the white pants” from the original color-coded uniform and “adopt an inexpensive white or gray shirt.” A report said that Troy changed to a white uniform in July 1882. The shield bib and the small collar of the shirt worn by Connor in this photo were similar in style to the shirt worn by Troy during the previous season of 1881, minus the city name on the bib which was likely to have been removed. Though undocumented, it could be suggested that the team repurposed the 1881 shirts for the conclusion of the 1882 season. In the color-coding system, Connor wore a red-and-white striped cap signifying he was the first baseman, and also a gray-and-white striped cap signifying he was the third baseman. Connor played these positions as well as outfield in 1882. The striped cap held by Connor in the photo was most likely the first baseman’s cap suggesting that the team continued to wear color-coded caps for the remainder of the 1882 season. The stockings Connor wore in this photo may have been green, the color mandated by the league for the Troy team. Image and player ID from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Cooperstown, NY. Years Connor 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.
May 1, 1882, Troy v. Providence, 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: “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: “Egan has signed with the Trojans and Welch has reported for duty.” From the Buffalo Express, May 24, 1882. This report uses the Troy team nickname.
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 [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 Troys have adopted a white uniform.” From the Buffalo Express, July 14, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.
August 16, 1882, Troy v. Chicago at Troy: “The prospects of a whitewash for the [Troy] greens were promising until the eighth inning.” From the Troy Daily Times, August 17, 1882. Research from Ed Morton. This entry referenced the color of the Troy stockings.
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:
Troy 1877-1882
Troy was organized in Troy, New York, around 1877 when it was first a member of the League Alliance (LA). The LA was group of independent small-city teams. This Troy team was initially known as the Haymakers, referencing an earlier team that played in Lansingburgh and Troy between 1866-1872. Troy joined the National League (NL) in 1879. The NL began in 1876. Troy played in the NL until 1882. After the 1882 season the team was removed from the NL and subsequently folded. –Information from wikipedia and baseball-reference.com.
Rendering posted: August 15, 2022
Diggers on this uniform: Carson Lorey, Ed Morton, John Thorn, Peter Morris, Richard Hershberger,