1879 Cincinnati (Cincinnatis, Red Stockings, Reds)
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: documented Team: documented
Visual documentation on this uniform:
None
Written documentation on this uniform:
March 1879. “There will be four red-stocking clubs in the league, viz.: Cincinnati, Boston, Cleveland and Buffalo.” From the Chicago Daily Tribune, March 23, 1879. Research by Don Stokes.
March 1879: “There will be five red stocking clubs in the [National] League this season: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Boston, Buffalo and Troy clubs. The Chicago club wears white stockings and the Syracuse club brown.” From the New York Daily Tribune, March 29, 1879.
March 1879: “The Cincinnati, Boston, Cleveland and Buffalo clubs will all glory in garish red hosiery this coming season. The fatted calves of the Chicagos will be cased in pure white […] and the shapely shins of the [Syracuse] Stars in puritanical brown. How the Providence will be stockinged remains a secret locked in the bosom of George Wright.” From the Syracuse Daily Courier, March 30, 1879.
April 1879: “The following will be the uniforms of the [National] League clubs this season: Chicagos, white suits with different colored caps, belts, neckties and stockings. Bostons, white suits, white caps, red stockings, belts and neckties. Buffalos, white suits, white caps, blue stockings, belts and neckties. Cincinnatis, white suits, white caps, red stockings, belts and neckties. Troys, light gray suits and caps, cardinal red belts and stockings, ‘T. C.’ on shirt front. Clevelands, black and white checkered suits, blue trimmings, white caps, blue belts and stockings, ‘Clevelands’ on shirt front. Syracuse, white suits, white caps with brown trimmings, brown stockings. Providence, light gray suits with blue trimmings, blue belts, stockings and caps.” From the Buffalo Courier, April 13, 1879.
April 19, 1879: “The Cincinnatis appeared Saturday [April 19] in their new uniform. It differs little from that of last year.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 21, 1879. Research from Tom Sheiber.
April 1879: “The [New York] Clipper of this week contains a fine cut of Ross C. Barnes, of the Cincinnatis, who led the second-basemen in the International League last season [1878, while with Tecumseh of London, Ontario].” From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, April 30, 1879.
April 1879: “Who’ll make the first home run of the [National] League season this year? The happy man, whoever he be, will be presented with a handsome bat, if he sends in his claims to the Enquirer office immediately afterward, with an official certificate from the Club Scorer of the run.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 30, 1879. See more with story printed on May 5, 1879.
May 1879: “Last Friday [May 2, 1879] the [Cincinnati] Enquirer offered a bat as a prize to the [National] League player who should make the first home run of the season. It was a fair bid, open to all competition. Saturday [May 3 v. Troy] the bat was claimed by Kelly of the Cincinnati Club, who made the circuit of the bases off his rattling line, but to left field. […] The prize has been ordered from A. G. Spalding & Co., and as soon as the firm can manufacture it and send it from Chicago, it will be presented and placed somewhere on exhibit.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, May 5, 1879. The Enquirer mentioned the award on Wednesday, April 30, 1879, not Friday, May 2. See a follow-up story from May 28, 1879, below.
May 1879: “The uniforms of the eight [National] League teams are as follows: Boston, white trousers, shirts and caps, with red stockings, neckties and belts; Cleveland, black and white checked suits, white caps, blue stockings and trimmings; Providence, light gray trousers, jackets and caps, with blue stockings, belts and neckties; Chicago, white suits with different colored caps, belts and neckties, and white stockings; Buffalo, white suits, and white caps with blue trimmings, neckties and blue stockings; Cincinnati, white suits and caps, with red trimmings, belts, neckties, and red stockings; Troy, light gray suits and caps, cardinal red belts and stockings, and ‘T.C.’ on shirt front; Syracuse, white suits, white caps with brown trimmings, and brown stockings.” From the New York Tribune, May 14, 1879. Research from Richard Hershberger.
May 1879: “A. G. Spalding & Bro., on Friday [May 24, 1879] shipped to Cincinnati the Enquirer prize bat for the first home run of the season. It is of ebony, beautifully finished, banded with silver and with a silver plate containing Kelley’s [Mike Kelly] name, and an appropriate inscription.” From the Buffalo Courier, May 28, 1879. See more above in a report dated May 5, 1879.
Team genealogy:
Cincinnati 1875-1880
Cincinnati was formed as an independent club in July 1875 and joined the inaugural season of the National League (NL) in 1876. The team’s Red Stocking identity had been used previously by the Cincinnati team of 1866-1870. Cincinnati played in the NL between 1876 and 1880. The team dissolved and reformed during the 1877 season, and also before the 1880 season. They were removed from the league after the 1880 season. The Red Stocking name was later used by the Cincinnati American Association team (1882-1889) and a second Cincinnati National League team (1890-present). Information from the Cincinnati Enquirer and from wikipedia.com.
1879 Cincinnati summary
Uniform: white, red stockings
First worn: April 19
Photographed:
Described: March-May
Material:
Manufacturer: Spalding & Bro.
Supposition: cap style, shirt style
Variations:
Other items:
Home opener report: no, May 1 v. Troy
Rendering posted: March 25, 2015
Diggers on this uniform: Don Stokes, Richard Hershberger, Tom Shieber,