1889 Cincinnati (Cincinnatis, Red Stockings, Reds)
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 rendering.
Rendering accuracy: Year: documented Team: documented
Visual documentation on these uniforms:
None
Written documentation on these uniforms:
February 1889: “The Reds have ordered Nadjy uniforms similar to those worn by the Giants last season. In addition to the black uniform the Reds will wear a new white uniform with nobby jackets. Their stockings will be red.” From the Pittsburgh Dispatch, February 3, 1889. Research from Don Stokes. Regarding the black uniform, researcher Bill Grindler adds: “Nadjy refers to an operetta of the same name which opened at the Casio Theater on Broadway on May 14, 1888. In this operetta the title character of ‘Nadjy’ appears in at least one scene in an all-black ballerina costume including a hat.”
March 1889: “The Cincinnati team for the first time in its history will discard their red stockings this season [of 1889]. […] Red Stockings and the Cincinnati Base Ball Club have been closely allied ever since their famous ancestors made the game a national pride. The claim is that spectators get tired of that old color—red—and demand something new.” From The Sporting Life, March 27, 1889.
April 5, 1889: Cincinnati v. Toronto at Cincinnati, exhibition game: “By telegraph to the Herald—The Toronto club, ex-champions of the International League, were the Red Stockings’ opponents in a game today at the Western Avenue Grounds.” From the New York Herald, April 6, 1889. Report may suggest team wore red stockings, the team’s traditional color.
April 1889: “The black uniforms worn by the Cincinnatis are very neat and pretty. They are patterned after those of the New York Giants.” From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 17, 1889. Research from Don Stokes.
April 17, 1889, Cincinnati v. St. Louis at Cincinnati: “Special to the World. Cincinnati, April 17—The Cincinnatis appeared on the field in their new black Nadjy uniforms.” From the New York World, April 18, 1889.
April 18, 1889, Cincinnati v. St. Louis at Cincinnati: “Cincinnati, April 18—-One or two more defeats and the alarm will be sounded for the burning of the Nadjy uniforms.” From the New York Press, April 19, 1889. Newspaper reported that Cincinnati lost to St. Louis on April 18 by a score of 12 to 4.
April 18, 1889, Cincinnati v. St. Louis at Cincinnati: “Cincinnati, April 18—The Cincinnati players are stuck in their black Nadjy uniforms. […] The Cincinnati Orchestra gave a concert before the game and souvenir programs with photos of the local team were presented to every lady in attendance. The photos were of the old colors of the club—-red. Handsome as the Nadjy uniforms are they are not liked by the old-timers, who fight against shelving the red.” From The Sporting Life, April 24, 1889.
April 1889: “Cincinnati’s players considered their ‘Nadjy’ uniforms ‘Jonahs’ and have discarded them.” The New York Evening Telegram, April 25, 1889.
May 1889: “President Stern, of the Cincinnati Club, has wisely ordered the team to return to their old time honored red stocking suit, and to throw away the ridiculous circus show Nadjy uniforms. Mr Stern says: ‘Never as long as I am at the head of the Cincinnati Club will it depart from the red and white uniform. On Saturday next [May 11] the boys will lay away their Nadgy suits for good, and that will end the fancy uniform business for me.’ The Cincinnatis have not played their game since they had the Nadjy uniforms on.” From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 3, 1889.
May 1889: “From the Cincinnati Enquirer—For sale, nine elegant black Nadjy uniforms, suitable for baseball, lawn tennis or circus work. Warranted to break up the strongest combination ever organized. First class Jonah guaranteed with each uniform. Apply with dark lantern and a gallon of chloroform to Colonel Deitsch Oehler at the Cincinnati Park between 1 and 2 o’clock tomorrow morning.” From the New York Press, May 7, 1889.
May 1889: “[Cincinnati] have not played in old red stocking style with their ridiculous Nadjy uniforms on.” From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 7, 1889.
May 1889: “From the Cincinnati Enquirer—Whether the Cincinnatis wear white, green, blue, yellow or gray uniforms has no […] influence on their ball playing. It is impossible, however, to make the average base ball crank believe this. About nine out of every ten patrons of the Cincinnati club firmly think that the poor showing of the Cincinnati team this season is entirely due to the black Nadjy uniforms.” From the New York Weekly Press, May 9, 1889.
May 1889: “Cincinnati in their dark suits looked like they were ready for burial. […] The Reds lost nine of their first fourteen games.” From Preston D. Orem, Baseball 1882-1891 From The Newspaper Accounts (1966, 1967, reprinted by SABR in 2021), pg. 392.
May 1889: “[Buffalo] managers Rowe and White might disguise the Bisons by buying the Nadjy uniforms which have been discarded by the Cincinnatis.” From the Buffalo Sunday News, May 12, 1889. Note that Jack Rowe and Deacon White played for Pittsburgh in 1889, however baseball-reference.com also lists the two as managers of the 1889 Buffalo team, possibly meaning they had some involvement with team operations.
1889: “Cincinnati had put away the fancy uniforms. There would be no more ‘Nadjy’ suits and the time-honored suits were resurrected as sentiment won the day. In contrast the fancy variegated suits of the previous season, the Reds had adopted a black type of uniform of a somewhat somber type.” From Preston D. Orem, Baseball 1882-1891 From The Newspaper Accounts (1966, 1967, reprinted by SABR in 2021), pg. 387.
June 1889: “The Cincinnati Enquirer doesn’t like the Cincinnatis’ maroon jackets, and remarks: ‘It is a singular fact that success and the maroon color never traveled in the same base-ball teams. Maroon has hoodooed every base-ball team that included it in its make-up. Millionaire Lucas clothed his great ‘stone wall’ infield team in maroon-trimmed uniforms and not only did the team go out of site, but Lucas’ millions went along with it. Indianapolis has used maroon-colored trimmings for the last two seasons, and the Hoosier team has always been a picture of bad luck. New York wore the maroon season after season and never won the championship until it dropped the color and selected black Nadjys.’” From the Buffalo Sunday Morning News, June 16, 1889. Also from the Topeka (KS) State Journal, June 22, 1889. Topeka research from Chuck McGill.
June 25, 1889, Cincinnati v. St. Louis at St. Louis, Sportsman’s Park: “Special dispatch to the Enquirer. St. Louis, June 25–[Cincinnati] appeared as they used to in the olden times—in white uniforms and with red stockings which have always been a part of Cincinnati’s uniforms. They had left the hideous Nadjys behind.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, June 26, 1889. Research from Don Stokes.
Team genealogy:
Cincinnati 1881-
Cincinnati was formed in 1881 to join the American Association (AA) for its inaugural season in 1882. The AA was a major league operating between 1882 and 1891. Cincinnati played in the AA throughout the 1880s and then joined the National League (NL) for the 1890 season. The NL began operation in 1876. Cincinnati has played every year in the NL from 1890 to present time. Information from wikipedia.
Rendering posted: May 27, 2017
Diggers on this uniform: Bill Grindler, Chuck McGill, Don Stokes,