1865 Athletic, Philadelphia (Athletics)

This rendering is based on partial or inconclusive visual documentation for uniform style only. Color information is unknown and the uniform is rendered in values of gray. Other important details may also be undocumented or difficult to determine and an artist’s conceptualization is used to complete the rendering.

Rendering accuracy:

Year: documented    Team: documented

Visual documentation on this uniform:

Photo A

Dated 1865. Collage of player portraits, full view of collage at left, detail views at right. Players were photographed wearing a white or light-colored shirt with dark decorative trim along the shoulder boards, on the button placket and on the breast pocket.

Players in collage, clockwise from top: D McBride (61-75), N Berkenstock (<63-66), A Reach (65-75), M Smith (<63-65), Luengene (64, 65), C Gaskill (<63, 64, 66), H Hayhurst (64-69) and E Gaskill. Center: D Kleinfelder (<63-68). Years with team from Marshall D. Wright, The National Association Of Base Ball Players, 1857-1870 (2000), from Paul Batesel, Players And Teams Of The National Association, 1871-1875 (2012), and from wikipedia. Image scsan from SABR, The National Pastime (Number 3, Spring 1984).

Written documentation on this uniform:
None

Team genealogy: Athletic, Philadelphia 1859-1876
Athletic was formed in 1859 in Philadelphia, PA, and began playing the New York-style game about 1860. Athletic belonged to the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP), baseball’s first organization operating 1857-1870. Athletic joined the National Association (NA), the first baseball league, in 1871 at its inception and competed in every year of league’s existence, 1871-1875. Athletic then joined the National League (NL) in 1876 for its inaugural season. The club was removed from the NL before the 1877 season and subsequently disbanded. The Athletic name was used by subsequent teams in Philadelphia, including the American Association team (1882-1890) and the American League team (1901-1954). Information from William J Ryczek, Peter Morris and others, Base Ball Founders (2013).