1884 Athletic, Philadelphia (Athletics)
This rendering is 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 rendering.
Rendering accuracy:Year: documented Team: documented
Visual documentation on this uniform:
Photo A — a scene that is both real, and not real. Let me explain.
Dated 1884. This remarkable print of the 1884 Athletics of Philadelphia is a baseball treasure. Recently, researcher Matt Albertson alerted me to the fact that a super-large, high-resolution file of the image is available at the Library of Congress. This large file shows that each player was rendered with wonderful detail and realism, and that each was wearing a sharp gray uniform. Clearly, the players were drawn from photographs, most likely images made specifically for the creation of this game scene. (But, where are these photos now?). With the players rendered so true-to-life, I decided to look closer. What else can this image tell us? Was this a depiction of a specific moment from the 1884 season? I was hoping for a research home run, but it feels like I grounded out to short.
Detail views of photo A, depicting two Athletic players rendered with wonderful realism. Left, Mathews, and right, Houck.
More detail views of photo A. Left, Stricker, center Knight, and right, Stovey. Note the casual pose of outfielder Knight, compared to infielders Stricker and Stovey.
Let’s start by confirming the team and year.
The names of the players depicted in the artwork were not included with the LOC scan. However, existing photo references of the Athletics’ regular starting line-up in 1884 allows us to positively identify all of the men on the diamond. The starting nine were, by position: left field J Birhcall (82-84), center field H Larkin (84-89, 91), right field L Knight (NA 75, NL 86, AA 83-85), third base F Corey (83-85), shortstop S Houck (84, 85), second base C Stricker (82-85), first base H Stovey (83-89), pitcher B Mathews (83-87), and catcher J Milligan (AA 84-87, 91, PL 90). Portraits of these men in civilian dress were also included on the banner hanging from the grandstand. Identifications of these men were listed in the December 2018 issue of the SABR Reflecting The Past newsletter, with research from Mark Fimoff, Carson Lorey and Nigel Ayres. Years with the team, noted in parenthesis, from baseball-reference.com.
The year of 1884 can be confirmed by player Birchall, in combination with players Larkin and Houck. Birchall’s last year with the Athletics was in 1884, while Larkin and Houck were new to the team this same year. The year of 1884 can be further confirmed by the flag flying in center field, which read “Champions 1884 .” Athletic won the 1883 American Association pennant and accordingly were deemed champions for the following season. Seemingly this artwork was created to celebrate this championship at the start of the 1884 season.
The original artwork was “copyrighted and published” by Gilbert and Bacon, a photography studio operating in Philadelphia between about 1870 and about 1920. Their signature is located in the bottom right corner of the print. There is little doubt that the studio, operated by Conrad M. Gilbert (1875-1911) and W. Frank Bacon (1843-1900) and located at 830 Arch St., was responsible for the images of the players. The LOC print had two dates stamped on the photo frame, one read August 15, 1884, the other read November 5, 1897. So, we can start by determining the artwork was produced in 1884, and sometime before August 15.
Let’s confirm the location of the scene.
The Athletics home ballpark was the famed Jefferson Street ground, first utilized for baseball during the early 1860s. By 1884 the park was known as Athletic ground and was situated between Jefferson and Master, and 26th and 27th streets. Researcher Jerry Casway wrote about the ballpark in The National Pastime 43 (SABR, 2013), noting that beyond the outfield fence was the Girard College campus and “the towering Greek-styled Founders Hall with its Corinthian columns.” Girard College, roughly two blocks southeast of the ballpark, was founded in 1831.
Left, detail view of photo A, showing Founders Hall on the Girard College campus beyond the outfield wall. Right, Founders Hall, circa 1851. This detail view was from a hand-tinted engraving published by Herman J. Meyer, New York. Image from theclio.com. Number of columns not withstanding, the inclusion in the artwork of Founders Hall, built 1833-1847, confirms this was a depiction of the Athletics’ home ballpark. I asked researcher and Threads contributor Ed Morton for help in defining some of the other buildings beyond the outfield wall.
Left, detail view of photo A, showing the Girard College Chapel beyond the outfield wall and highlighted with a red arrow. Right, a view of the Girard Chapel, early 20th century. Image from theclio.com. The college chapel, built 1878, further confirms this was the Athletics’ home turf. Other structures in the artwork were the possible spires of the Mary J. Drexel Home, positioned to the right of the Girard Chapel, and the elevated Spring Garden Reservoir, situated beyond the right field wall and behind a stand of trees. The Drexel Home was located on the campus of the German Hospital, south of Girard College.
Was this a depiction of an actual game in 1884? And if so, when?
Some of the players on the field may help us answer this question. We’ve identified the nine players on the diamond, however there were three extra players positioned on the bench along the first base line. They may help us to narrow the date further.
Left, detail view of photo A, showing three players on the Athletics’ bench, as well as, the Gilbert & Bacon signature. Right, detail view of player at far right.
The identities of these three Athletics were harder to come by than those of their teammates on the field. Two of the three IDs are suggestions — from left, A Atkinson? (Ath 84, 86, 87, Chi UA 84, Bal UA 84), B Blakiston (Ath 82-84, Ind AA 84) and C Hilsey? (Phi 83, Ath 84). The identity of Atkinson was offered by researcher Carson Lorey in the Reflecting The Past newsletter (SABR, December 2018). Lorey, who has a remarkable personal library of team pictures and players, was able to unearth a photo of Atkinson at age 90, published in the Sporting News on March 15, 1951. After an analysis, the newsletter determined that “it was not unreasonable to conclude” that the 90-year-old Atkinson and the player in the artwork were the same person. The identity of Hilsey was also suggested by Lorey after referencing a somewhat murky picture of the player from the 1887 Central Pennsylvania League. Both Atkinson (sometimes spelled as Atkison in 1884) and Hilsey were highly touted pitchers at the beginning of the 1884 season, possibly justifying their inclusion in the artwork. The Philadelphia Times on March 23, 1884, outlined the A’s batteries for the upcoming season, saying that “Matthews, the brainy little pitcher, and Rowen will again form the principal battery. […] Plucky Jack O’Brien will this season be behind a new phenomenal pitcher named Atkison [sp]. Hilsey, of last year’s Philadelphias [NL] and Milligan, of the Anthracites of Pottsville [PA], will form the third battery, and have been practicing together all winter.” Newspaper reports and box scores tell us that Atkinson and Hilsey played frequently during the 1884 preseason. Furthermore, according to several databases, Atkinson stood 5’11” and weighed 165 lbs., and Hilsey stood 5’7” and weighed 180 lbs. These physical descriptions seem to also corroborate the identifications for these men in the artwork.
Unfortunately (or, for our purposes, fortunately), Atkinson, Hilsey, and also Blakiston, were released during the 1884 season. Their release dates help us narrow the date of the game depicted. Atkinson’s last game with the team was on July 5, 1884, when he lost his start, 17 to 2. He then went home to Chicago to recover from an illness, and was later released after starting 22 games for Athletic. Atkinson was pitching in the Union Association by August of the same year. Hilsey played only six games during the regular season for Athletic and was released in the days after July 13. Blakiston played only 32 games with the team in 1884 and was released in the week before September 12. The Hilsey release date would suggest that the artwork was created sometime before July 13. Info on Atkinson last game from baseball-reference.com. Release info on Atkinson and Hilsey from the Philadelphia Times, July 13, 1884. Blakiston release info from Bill Nowlin, The 1883 Philadelphia Athletics, American Association Champions (SABR, 2022), citing the Cleveland Leader, September 12, 1884. Years Atkinson, Blakiston and Hilsey with team from baseball-reference.com.
This detail view of three players also allows us to see the Athletic uniform in greater detail. The men were depicted wearing a gray uniform with a dark cap, dark belt and dark stockings. The shirt had four gray buttons on a button placket that ended above the belt, and a small old-English letter “A” can be seen on the left breast. This letter, used in varying sizes and iterations over the years, has represented many teams carrying the Athletic name from the 1860s to today. The players wore elbow-length short sleeves, and these sleeves had additional buttonholes to indicate that sleeve extensions may have been available. (Five of the players in the field were wearing long-sleeved shirts.) Newspapers in 1884 described the accent color on the Athletics’ uniform as dark blue. During their nine years in the American Association, the A’s switched between dark blue, light blue, and red as their accent color.
Note that Hilsey wore a ring on the ring finger of his left hand. Was this possibly a wedding ring? Could this further help to confirm this was Hilsey? I asked genealogist Bob Barrier to see what could be found. Unfortunately, Hilsey, a Philadelphian born in 1864, was only 20 years old in 1884 and was apparently single. Later US censuses tell us that Hilsey was still unmarried (single, not widowed) in 1900 when his occupation was listed as “ball player,” that he married around 1905 (he about 40, she about 30), and that he was married with two young daughters in 1910 when he worked as a carpenter.
Was the artwork depicting when the Athletics first flew their championship pennant?
This is a natural guess, and a flag-raising event did happen at the ballpark in 1884.
Detail view of photo A, depicting flags in center field.
The championship pennant was raised at Athletic ground before an exhibition game with Yale on April 5, 1884. Ed Morton found that the Philadelphia Times reported how “the excitement was intense” at this first exhibition game, and that over 5,200 were in attendance to see the team “fling their trophy into the breeze for the first time.” The Times detailed the events, noting that “the flag was already attached to the halyards [when] the boys caught the ropes, began pulling and as the crowd cheered the champion emblem slowly ascended. When within five feet of the top, a loud crack was heard and cheers turned into a cry of alarm when the tall top-pole was observed to be falling. The players had ample warning, and as they ran out of the way as the top-tree of the pole and the flag crashed to the ground.”
Did the artist draw the flagpole as if it had never snapped in half?
A moot point, unfortunately, for the April 5 exhibition game can be seemingly discounted as the game depicted in the artwork. This determination is based on the uniforms the players wore. Ed Morton has found that Athletics did not wear their new uniforms until the start of the American Association season, one full month after the pennant-raising game with Yale. On the eve of the home opener, May 8, 1884, the York (PA) Dispatch reported that the Athletics’ uniforms were to be “worn for the first time in Friday’s game [May 9] with the Baltimore Club.” This seemingly suggests the artwork could not have been a representation of any preseason game in 1884. (By the way and in case you’re wondering, the 1883 Athletic uniforms were white, with light blue stockings.)
Ok, so this MUST be a depiction of opening day on May 9, correct?
Another great guess, but seemingly incorrect, again. When comparing the May 9 box score against the players depicted in the field, the two do not match. The box score showed that O’Brien played center and Rowen was the catcher, while the artwork showed Larkin in center and Milligan behind the plate. So, it we take the artwork literally, it’s not depicting the home opener.
To recap, the uniforms tell us the artwork was created after the 1884 season had begun on May 9. The appearance of player Hilsey on the sidelines tells us the artwork was created no later than July 13. Therefore, if we check box scores of Athletic home games within this time frame we find only two possible dates where the starting nine matched that shown in the artwork: May 19 vs. Washington, and June 3 vs. St. Louis. So let’s look closer at the opposing batter, the fellow with the multi-colored cap.
Left, detail view of photo A, depicting the scene at home plate. Right, a detail view depicting the mask at the catcher’s feet.
This detail view at left showed the opposing batter wearing a cap with multi-colored panels. Unfortunately, research presented on this website suggests that neither Washington nor St. Louis in the American Association wore a cap with multi-colored panels in 1884. We’ve hit a dead end — no research home run here.
Maybe this scene was more of an idealistic view of the team?
This may be the most plausible answer yet, especially since there are additional elements in the artwork that seem inaccurate. Note that the field was distorted in its size and that all of the players were scaled too big in relationship to the size of the diamond, and also in relationship to each other. Also note the smaller size of third baseman Corey compared to the larger size of shortstop Houck (baseball-reference says both were 5’ 7”), and that the outfielders were positioned too close to the infielders. So the players were drawn from photos, but artistic license was taken for the overall composition. In The National Pastime 43 (SABR, 2013), Jerry Casway noted that the grandstand was “adorned in ornamental […] fancy cornice work” which was seemingly included in the artwork. However Casway also found that in 1884 “the left field fence held a scoreboard and advertisements.” The outfield walls seem bare in the Gilbert & Bacon print.
And look again at the rendering of catcher Milligan. Note that he had conveniently thrown his mask to the ground and tilted his head so that the artist could render a recognizable profile. But look at that mask – especially its peculiar round eye holes. Was this an accurate design from 1884? Or was this another example of where the artist was creating his or her own reality? I asked SABR researcher Jonathan Popovich to chime in on the accuracy of the mask rendered. Popovich responded by saying that he could “think of no sporting goods manufacturer…Spalding, Reach, or anyone else…who was producing a mask without any sort of padding or head straps. Both are features missing from the mask in the illustration.” He concluded that “in this instance, it looks like the artist wanted to indicate a mask but depicting it in ‘real life’ wasn’t the priority or goal.”
So, there you have it.
The conclusion of this study is that the artwork of the 1884 Athletics by Gilbert & Bacon was a mixture of fact and fiction, reality intertwined with imagination. The players on the field were very real and drawn from photos, but the surrounding scene and the depiction of an actual game were seemingly not as real and sometimes made-up. The artist at Gilbert & Bacon did not strive for total accuracy, but rather to create an intriguing baseball keepsake of the starting nine, one that could be sold to Philadelphians on the heels of a championship.
But, there’s more — a second version.
The LOC print is not the only version of the artwork. At some point the artwork was modified and a player was replaced. The victim was our dear Mr. Hilsey (who else?). Hilsey’s noggin was replaced by the head of another player, and new prints were made. See more below.
Photo B
Dated 1884. An alternate version of the Gilbert & Bacon artwork, presumably issued in the second half of 1884. In this version the image of player Hilsey, both on the banner of portraits at left and the figure standing at far right (see red arrow), had been replaced by that of player J O’Brien (82-86). O’Brien wore a mustache, Hilsey did not. O’Brien played 36 games for the Athletics in 1884, a year in which he had on-going contract squabbles with the team. The Philadelphia Times reported on April 8, 1884, that O’Brien refused to play in any exhibition games until his contract went into effect on April 15. On May 1, the Times reported that O’Brien was not taken with the team on the first road trip. And in early June 1884, the Times said that O’Brien fell ill and was “confined to his house with pneumonia.” He did not return to the team until mid-July and during this six-week period the Athletics management stopped his pay. It is possible this alternate version of the image was created and produced after mid-July 1884, in the period after Hilsey’s release and when O’Brien had returned to the team. Years O’Brien with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from The 1883 Philadelphia Athletics, American Association Champions (SABR, 2022), with credit to John Thorn. A similar image was also published in The National Pastime 43 (SABR, 2013), with credit to Jerry Casway.
Photo C
Dated 1884. This print is a modification of the version B, and one that came up for auction at Christie’s in 2018. It was described as an “engraved print” measuring 23 inches wide. As with photo B, the Christie’s version had the portrait of Hilsey removed from the banner and replaced with O’Brien. More noticeably however, the figure of Hilsey standing at far right was unceremoniously chopped off of the right side of the print.
A study of faces. A quick look at the portraits included in the artwork.
Left, detail view of the banner of portraits from the LOC version, photo A. Right, detail view of the banner in Christie’s version, photo C. The red arrows highlight the positions of Hilsey in the LOC scan and O’Brien in the Christie’s scan.
Top row, from left: J Birchall (82-84), J Milligan (AA 84-87, 91, PL 90). Second row: S Houck (84, 85), C Stricker (82-85), and C Hilsey? (Phi 83, Ath 84)/J O’Brien (82-86). Third row: F Corey (83-85), H Larkin (84-89, 91) and B Mathews (83-87). Fourth row: B Blakiston (CF), H Stovey (83-89), L Knight (NA 75, NL 86, AA 83-85), A Atkinson? (Ath 84, 86, 87, Chi UA 84, Bal UA 84). Fifth row: C Mason (owner 81-88), L Simmons (owner 81-86), B Sharsig (owner 81-91). IDs from the Reflecting The Past Newsletter (SABR, December 2018), with research from Mark Fimoff, Carson Lorey and Nigel Ayres. Additional research help from Ken Samoil. Years with team from baseball-reference.com.
Note that there were other players with the Athletics at the start of the 1884 season. These men had minor roles with the team and were subsequently not included on the banner of portraits. The most notable of these players was E Rowen (83, 84), the starting catcher on opening day, May 9, 1884. Rowen played only three additional games for the team, his last being on May 12, before he was released around June 10. Rowen’s portrait was not included on the banner. Rowen release info from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 10, 1884, with research from Ed Morton, and from Bob LeMoine, The 1883 Philadelphia Athletics; American Association Champions (SABR 2022).
The bottom row of portraits on the banner were of the team owners. In the SABR Reflecting the Past newsletter (December 2018), the identities of two of these three men were in question. However, researcher Ed Morton was able to quickly determine that these men were all part of the Athletics’ ownership. From left, Charlie Mason, Lew Simmons and Bill Sharsig. In the National Pastime 43 (SABR, 2013) Jerry Casway called these three “a popular local triumvirate,” adding that “each served a term as team manager [and that] Sharsig managed the ball club for five out of the eight years at Jefferson Street.” Years of ownership from The 1883 Philadelphia Athletics, American Association Champions (SABR, 2022).
The Philly faithful, near and far.
In addition to the players and owners, there were other Philadelphians depicted in the artwork. The grandstand was crowded with “enthusiasts” intently watching the game. Surely the artist rendered a few recognizable dignitaries and city officials here, I’m guessing they are the ones with the top hats. And there was also one additional figure rendered, much younger than the rest, and far removed from the grandstand, see below.
Detail view of photo A, depicting the suggestion of a figure, with ball cap on, high in the trees beyond the right field wall. His legs and arms supported his lofty perch — and his stolen view of the champion A’s.
Written documentation on this uniform:
March 1884: “The Athletic have received their championship flag.” From the Philadelphia Times, March 16, 1884. The team won the American Association pennant in 1883.
April 5, 1884, Athletic, Philadelphia, v. Yale, at Philadelphia, Athletic ground, exhibition game: “When the members of the Athletic nine walked upon the field for preliminary practice they were given a rousing reception. […] The excitement was intense at four o’clock, when the nine that won the pennant last year [1883] walked to the flag-staff to fling their trophy to the breeze for the first time. The flag was already attached to the halyards. The boys caught the ropes, began pulling, and as the crowd cheered the champion emblem slowly ascended. When within five feet of the top a loud crack was heard and the cheers turned into a cry of alarm when the tall top-pole was observed to be falling. The players had ample warning, and as they ran out of the way the top-tree of the pole and the flag crashed to the ground. There was great excitement for a short time, and the crowd unanimously argued that it was a bad omen, but in the excitement of the contest that followed it was almost forgotten.” From the Philadelphia Times, April 6, 1884. Research from Ed Morton.
April 11, 1884, Athletic, Philadelphia, v. Philadelphia (NL), at Philadelphia, Recreation Park, exhibition game: “The Athletic appeared short-handed on the field, and [pitcher] Hilsey, without uniform, was placed in centre [sp] field.” From the Philadelphia Inquirer, April 11, 1884.
May 1884: “The new uniforms of the Athletic club made by John Wanamaker, are now on exhibition in the windows of John Wanamaker & Co., Chestnut street. The suits are of heavy dark gray flannel with blue trimming. Navy blue stockings and caps complete the uniform. The suits are undoubtedly the handsomest ever worn by any club, and the work reflects the highest credit on Mr. Wanamaker. […] The lay figure in John Wanamaker & Co.’s window, on Chestnut street, representing Captain Stovey, is a darling and attracts great attention.” From the Philadelphia Evening Item, May 6, 1884. Research from Ed Morton. The meaning of “lay figure” is unknown. It may be a reference to a mannequin or possibly a life-size rendering of Stovey, most likely dressed with an actual team uniform.
May 1884: “The Athletic Club’s new uniforms [are] completed and will be worn for the first time in Friday’s game with the Baltimore Club [the home opener on May 9, 1884]. The suits are gray, with dark blue caps and stockings.” From the York (PA) Dispatch, May 8, 1884. Research from Ed Morton.
May 1884: “The Athletics will wear dark-gray suits, with blue stockings and caps, this season.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, May 10, 1884. Research from Justin Mckinney.
July 26, 1884, Athletic, Philadelphia, v. Brooklyn, at Philadelphia: “The Athletics appeared on the field yesterday [July 26] in new caps that gave them quite a distingue air.” From the Philadelphia Sunday Item, July 27, 1884. Research from Ed Morton.
July 1884: “The new caps worn by the Athletics are very nobby.” From the Philadelphia Evening Item, July 28, 1884. Research from Ed Morton.
September 1884: “The handsome photograph of the Athletic team, taken in their positions by Gilbert & Bacon, has been lithographed, and copies of it can now be obtained at Charles Mason’s Athletic Headquarters, 139 North Eighth street [in Philadelphia], where the original picture is now on exhibition.” From the Philadelphia Evening Item, September 6, 1884. Research from Ed Morton.
September 1884: “Gilbert & Bacon have issued a facsimile of their great photograph of the Athletic B. B. ground in two sizes, price 50 and 75 cents. They are for sale at Mason’s, Eighth above Cherry, and McAllisters, 720 Chestnut [both in Philadelphia]. Every admirer of the great National Game should have one.” From the Philadelphia Evening Item, September 9, 1884. Research from Ed Morton.
1884, referenced in March 1885: “Gray is becoming a favorite color for baseball suits. The Athletic will have new uniforms [in 1885] of light steel-gray for midsummer work. The heavy gray suits worn the latter part of last season [1884] will be called into use during April.” From the Philadelphia Record, March 14, 1885. Research from Ed Morton.
Team genealogy: Athletic, Philadelphia 1880-1890
Athletic was formed in Philadelphia, PA, in 1880 as a touring team and joined the American Association (AA) in 1882. The AA was a major league operating 1882-1891. Athletic played in the AA between 1882 and 1890. The team was expelled from the AA after the 1890 season and the team subsequently folded. The Philadelphia team of the Players’ League (PL) joined the AA for the 1891 season after the PL folded in 1890 and used the Athletic name. Information from wikipedia.
1884 Athletic summary
Uniform: dark gray, blue stockings
First worn: May 9, Philadelphia
Photographed: photo composite of team in field from mid-May to mid-July
Described: May, July
Material: flannel
Manufacturer: John Wanamaker & Co., Philadelphia
Supposition:
Variations: wore new caps July 26, Philadelphia
Other items:
Home opener report: no, May 9 v. Baltimore
Rendering posted: May 26, 2020
Diggers on this uniform: Bob Barrier, Carson Lorey, Ed Morton, John Thorn, Jonathan Popovich, Justin Mckinney, Ken Samoil, Mark Fimoff, Matt Albertson, Nigel Ayres,