1896 Washington DC (Washingtons, Senators)
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: unconfirmed Team: documented
Visual documentation on these uniforms:
Photo A
Dated 1896. Year of photo can be confirmed by the appearance of player McCauley, who only played for Washington in 1896. Players wore a white uniform in this photo with a dark cap, letter, belt and stockings. A large “W” was centered on the shirt and fell across the button placket. One white button overlapped the letter. The cap had a rounded crown and a small “W” above the brim, see better view in photo B. In March 1896 a newspaper described the Washington home uniform as white in color with a black cap, belt and stockings.
Top row, from left: J Boyd (94-96), W Mercer (NL 94-99, AL 01), S King (96, 97), D McJames (95-97), T Brown (95-98) and Ed Cartwright (94-97). Middle: C Abbey (93-97), P McCauley (96), K Selbach (NL 94-98, AL 03, 04), unidentified, D McGuire (AA 91, NL 92-99), unidentified and B Joyce (Was 94-96, NY NL 96). Front: L German (Was 96, 97, NY 96), G DeMontreville (NL 95-97, AL 03) and A Maul (93-97). Player IDs from Carson Lorey, Ken Samoil and Nigel Ayres. Two unidentified players may be from these three: J Crooks (Was 95, 96, Lou 96), J Mularkey (Was 94-96, Ric VaL 96) and B Lush (95-97). Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Carson Lorey.
Photo B
Dated 1895 to 1897. Portrait of G DeMontreville (NL 95-97, AL 03), full view at left, detail view at right. An 1896 date can be guessed at based on player’s time with the team in combination with the characteristics of the letter and the pocket on the shirt in this photo. Player wore a light gray uniform with a dark cap, dark belt and dark stockings. The shirt had a large “W” positioned across the button placket and with one white button overlapping the letter. The shirt also had a pocket positioned high on the chest and next to the large letter, see detail view. Detail view also showed that the cap had a rounded crown and a thin, Tuscan-style letter (Red Sox style) above the bill. Photo evidence from 1895 showed that the Washington uniform from that year had the shirt pocket positioned lower on the shirt, not next to the letter. Photo evidence from 1897 showed that the letter “W” on the uniform from that year utilized a square-serif font. Based on this, it is possible DeMontreville wore the road uniform from 1896 in this photo. In March 1896 a newspaper described the Washington road uniform as Providence gray in color, with black caps and trimmings. Years DeMontreville with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from the Library of Congress.
Written documentation on these uniforms:
March 1896: “The new uniforms of the Senators have been received. […] The home suit will be of white, as usual, with black cap and trimmings (stockings and belt); the away-from-home uniforms will be of Providence gray, black caps and trimmings; black sweaters will be worn.” From the Washington (DC) Evening Star, March 30, 1896. Research from Don Stokes.
April 1896: “The nicknames of the National league clubs are as follows: Boston, Beaneaters; Cleveland, Spiders; Pittsburg[h], Pirates; Philadelphia, Quakers; Baltimore, Orioles or Oysters; Brooklyn, Bridegrooms; Cincinnati, Reds; Louisville, Colonels; St. Louis, Browns; New York, Giants; Washington, Senators; Chicago, Colts.” From the Windsor (ON) Evening Record, April 14, 1896.
Team genealogy: Washington 1891-1899
Washington was formed to join the American Association (AA) for the 1891 season. The AA was a major league operating from 1882 to 1891. When the AA folded after the 1891 season, Washington joined the National League (NL) in 1892 as the NL expanded to twelve teams. The NL began play in 1876. Washington played in the NL from 1892 to 1899 and was dissolved when the NL contracted down to eight teams after the 1899 season. Info from wikipedia.
Rendering posted: October 29, 2019
Diggers on this uniform: Carson Lorey, Don Stokes, Ken Samoil, Nigel Ayres,