1884 Metropolitan, New York (Metropolitans, Mets)

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:
May 1884: “The Metropolitans took a day off yesterday [May 6] to get their uniforms washed. They were soaked in the Davis Island dam; the club soaked elsewhere.” From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 7, 1884. This was apparently an editorial comment by the newspaper. Retrosheet.org confirms that the Mets did have Tuesday, May 6, as an off-day during a series of games in Pittsburgh. According to wikipedia.com, the Davis Island dam in western Pennsylvania was in operation between 1878 and 1922, and was one of the first concrete structures built on the Ohio River by the Army Corps of Engineers. Davis Island info retrieved June 8, 2022.

July 4, 1884, Metropolitan, New York, v. St. Louis, at St. Louis: “The Mets appeared in their tasteful suits, dark blue caps, white shirts with large dots, white breeches and stockings.” From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 5, 1884.Research from Peter Morris. Game date from retrosheet.org.

Circa 1884, referenced in 1890: “The defunct Brooklyn [American] Association Club [of 1890] had but one uniform all season. Something like the old Mets 1883-84.” From The Sporting Life, August 30, 1890. This “one uniform” statement may be referring to the 1884 Metropolitan team as written documentation has shown the 1883 Metropolitans wore several different uniforms.

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.

1884 Metropolitan summary

Uniform: blue polka-dot shirt, white pants and stockings, blue cap
First worn:
Photographed:
Described: July
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition: cap style, shirt style
Variations:
Other items:
Home opener report: no, May 13 v. Allegheny