1883 Metropolitan, New York (Metropolitans, Mets)

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:
April 2, 1883, Metropolitan, New York, v. Jasper, Manhattan College, at New York: “The postponed game of Saturday [March 30] will be played today. The uniform of the Metropolitans consists of gray shirt and trousers, a cap of the same color, blue and white large striped stockings, and shoes the uppers of which are made of sealskin. This is a new departure in base-ball outfits and looks very neat.” From the New York Times, April 2, 1883. Research from Tom Shieber and also from Cliff Blau.

April 1883: “The uniform of the Metropolitan during April will consist of gray shirt, pants and cap, with blue and white plaid stockings. During the remainder of the season the uniform will be a white shirt, with blue monogram worked on left breast, white cap with blue band, and the same stockings above mentioned. Manager Mutrie has made a new departure in baseball outfits in providing his players with shoes the uppers of which are made of sealskin, which, besides being neat in appearance, promise to be very durable.” From The New York Clipper, April 7, 1883.

April 1883: “The Metropolitans during April will wear uniforms of gray, with blue and white plaid stockings. The remainder of the season they will appear in white, with the blue and white plaid hosiery. A blue monogram will be displayed on the shirt, with a like-colored band on the white cap. The tops of their shoes will be of sealskin—too-too-ta-ta.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 8, 1883. Research from Tom Shieber.

April 1883: “The uniform worn by the Metropolitan Club in championship games will be white caps and shirt, with blue monograms, gray trousers, blue and white plaid stockings, and seal-skin shoes.” From The Sporting Life, April 15, 1883.

April 30, 1883, Metropolitan, New York, v. New York (NL) at New York, Polo Grounds: “New Yorks vs. Metropolitans at 4 P.M. for city championship. Both clubs in new uniforms.” From the New York Sun, April 30, 1883.

April 30, 1883, Metropolitan, New York, v. New York (NL) at New York, Polo Grounds: “The two teams appeared in their bright new uniforms.” From the New York Clipper, May 5, 1883. Game date from the New York Sun, see entry above.

May 12, 1883, Metropolitan v. Athletic, at New York, Polo grounds, home opener: “The Metropolitans, formerly uniformed in gray, blossomed out for their home opener at the Polo Grounds in white shirts with a blue monogram, blue and white stockings and cap.” Preston D. Orem, Baseball 1882-1891 From The Newspaper Accounts (1966, 1967, reprinted by SABR in 2021), pg. 64.

July 1883: “The Metropolitan wear the Chicago uniform, and each man carries his private bat and bat bag, as Anson’s men do.” From The Sporting Life, July 1, 1883. This entry may suggest the Mets wore white stockings as early as late June.

July 1883: “The Metropolitans changed their luck today by putting away their old blue stockings and white caps, and coming out with a blue head gear and hosiery of pure white.” From the New York National Police Gazette, July 14, 1883.

Team genealogy:
 Metropolitan, New York 1880-1887
Metropolitan was formed as an independent pro team in New York, NY, in 1880 and through the end of the 1882 season competed as an independent against teams from the National League (NL) and the American Association (AA). The AA was a new major league formed in 1882 and Metropolitan joined the AA for the 1883 season. They played in the new league between 1883 and 1887 and the team disbanded after the 1887 season. Information from wikipedia.

1883 Metropolitan summary

Uniform: white, blue-and-white plaid stockings
First worn: April 30, New York
Photographed:
Described: April, May and July
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition: cap style, shirt style, monogram style
Variations: wore blue caps and white stockings in late June and July
Other items: wore gray uniforms in April
Home opener report: yes, May 12 v. Athletic