1890 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 renderings.

Rendering accuracy:Year: documented    Team: documented

Visual documentation on these uniforms:
None

Written documentation on these uniforms:
November 1889: “When the [National] League [meeting] finally adjourned for the day, its accomplished business included […] the authorization of President Young to fix a distinctive color for each club uniform.” From the Paterson (NJ) Morning Call, November 16, 1889.

December 1889: “The rule adopted by both the National and Players’ League, fixing a distinctive uniform for each club, was a step in the right direction. The Cincinnati club has applied to [National League executive] Nick Young for permission to wear the old red stockings, and is to be incorporated as the Cincinnati Red Stocking Club.” From the Buffalo Courier, late December 1889. Exact date not included in newspaper scan. Note that Cincinnati had moved to the NL after the 1889 season and that the Boston NL club already had claim to the color red.

April 21, 1890, Cincinnati (NL) v Chicago (NL) at Cincinnati: “Cincinnati, April 21—The Reds downed Anson’s aggregation from Chicago today.” From the New York Press, April 22, 1890. Report suggests team wore red.

May 24, 1890, Cincinnati v. Boston, at Boston: “Dressed in dark blue uniforms, of a business-like appearance, with every confidence in their base ball ability, the Cincinnatis made their reappearance in Boston yesterday [May 24, 1890], after an absence of 10 years.” From the Boston Globe, My 25, 1890. Research from Sam Wallace.

May 28, 1890, Cincinnati v. Boston, at Boston: “Only two men in the entire [Cincinnati] team got as far as third base, and not one of the blue-suited nine crossed the home plate.” From the Boston Globe, May 29, 1890. Research from Sam Wallace.

July 1890: “The Cincinnati team has a new uniform of gray with red trimmings.” From the Syracuse Daily Standard, mid-July 1890. Exact date not included with newspaper scan.

August 4, 1890, Cincinnati v. Philadelphia (NL) at Cincinnati: “Lathan in Red Hose, Cincinnati, Aug. 5– […] On Monday [August 4] Arlie Latham appeared in the uniform of a Red Stocking.” From The Sporting Life, August 9, 1890. Report suggests Cincinnati wore red stockings at home. Latham was purchased by Cincinnati from St. Louis (AA) on August 2, 1890. Game date and Latham purchase date from retrosheet.org.

October 1890: “New York, Oct. 2 – The [New York] World says the Cincinnati Red Stocking Club will be transferred from the National to the Players’ League on the following Monday.” From the Buffalo Courier, October 2, 1890.

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.