1885 New York (New Yorks, Giants)
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: unconfirmed Team: documented
Visual documentation on this uniform:
None
Written documentation on this uniform:
April 1885: “The New York [National] Leaguers went to Jersey City yesterday and played the Eastern League team of that place. Mutrie’s giants were in good form, but the Jerseys gave them a hard battle. The pleasure of witnessing Keefe’s first appearance in the maroon stockings was reserved for the patrons of the Jersey grounds.” From the New York World, 14 April 1885. Research from Peter Reitan, citing the Big Apple Etymological Dictionary by Barry Popik, retrieved November 6, 2019. The World report suggested the New York stocking color was maroon. Also note the early use of the team nickname of Giants.
April 1885: “The costume of the New York Club this season will be white blouse and breeches, with maroon trimmings, maroon stockings and belt and white cap.” From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 29, 1885. Research from Don Stokes.
May 1885: “‘Bermuda’ Jim Mutrie, one of the most progressive and original managers seems to have struck a bonanza in his present excellent New York [National] League team. They have been justly dubbed the ‘giants.’” From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 23, 1885.
July 8, 1885, New York v. St. Louis (NL) at St. Louis: “Before the game had been started, […] it was noticed that everything was not exactly straight with the visitors [from New York], as some of the men acted very curiously while practicing. To be plain about the matter, it was very evident that some of the visitors had been out on a ‘lushing’ tour.” From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 9, 1885. New York lost the game, 8 to 3. Not a uniform-related entry, but interesting nonetheless.
September 3, 1885, New York v. Philadelphia, at New York: “The uniforms of the local [National] Leaguers were dazzling in their whiteness yesterday [September 3] when the team went on the grounds. They had been manipulated by a washerwoman who, while eradicating any stains, also worked out any kinks and creases that might prevent the boys running the bases well or batting hard. This explanation is given for the benefit of the Philadelphia men, who may hereafter say that they might have won if the suits of the Yorkers had not been washed.” From the Philadelphia Evening Item, September 4, 1885. Research from Matt Albertson.
September 1885: “The Boston Herald says that a large party of the admirers of the New York Club will go to Chicago to witness the meeting of the Giants and the White Stockings.” From the Chicago Tribune, September 21, 1885. An early use of the Giants nickname. New York played at Chicago September 29 to October 3.
September 29, 1885, New York v. Chicago, at Chicago: “The visitors [from New York] wore their customary gray uniforms, while the Chicagos appeared in their blue working uniforms in which they have won their long list of victories, and which they retain as an omen of good luck. The New York giants presented their strongest playing front, with Welch and Ewing as their battery.” From the Baltimore Sun, September 30, 1885. This report appeared in many newspapers across the country on this day.
September 29, 1885, New York v. Chicago, at Chicago: “The New York club were arrayed in white caps, shirts and pants, with red belts and stockings. The Chicagos appeared in blue shirts and pants, with white caps, belts and stockings, with the word ‘Chicago’ across the breast of the shirt in white letters.” From the York (PA) Daily, October 7, 1885. This entry contradicts the Baltimore Sun report from the same day.
Circa September 1885, referenced in 1886: “Last fall [1885], when there was a demand for the pictures of the New York team, they refused to have them taken, as they were laboring under the belief that it would bring them bad luck.” From the Corning (NY) Journal, late May 1886, exact date not included on newspaper scan, from the Washington (DC) Evening Star, July 3, 1886, and from the Washington (DC) Critic and Record, July 17, 1886. The Journal and Evening Star articles cited the New York Sun. Evening Star research from Ed Morton.
1885, referenced in a uniform description in March 1886: “The Uticas’ uniforms of 1886 have been ordered from Spalding Bros., of Chicago. They will consist of white flannel with maroon caps, belts, stockings and trimmings. The New Yorks wore the same style last year [1885].” From The Sporting Life, March 3, 1886. Research from Ed Morton.
Team genealogy:
New York 1883-1957
New York was formed to join the National League (NL) in 1883, with many of its players coming from a disbanded NL team in Troy, NY. The NL began operation in 1876 and this New York team played in the NL from 1883 to 1957. The team moved to San Francisco after the 1957 season. Information from wikipedia.
1885 New York summary
Uniform: white, red stockings
First worn:
Photographed:
Described: April
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition: cap style, shirt style
Variations:
Other items:
Home opener report: no, May 2 v. Boston
Rendering posted: April 7, 2016
Diggers on this uniform: Don Stokes, Ed Morton, Matt Albertson, Peter Reitan,