1889 Milwaukee (Milwaukees, Brewers, Cream Citys)

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 rendering.

Rendering accuracy:

Year: documented    Team: documented

Visual documentation on these uniforms:

Photo A

Dated April to early May 1889. Photo year of 1889 confirmed by appearance of players Klusman, Keas, McVey and Sutton. This was the only year these players belonged to the Milwaukee team. Photo date of April to early May determined by appearance of player Klusman, who was released by the team in early May. Players wore a white uniform in this photo, with a white cap, dark belt and dark stockings. This most likely was the “home uniform” described in an 1889 newspaper as consisting of white shirts, pants and caps, with black belt and stockings.

Top row, from left: B Klusman (5 teams in 89), E Keas (89), J Herr (Evansville CISL 89, Mil 89), T Morrissey (89-90), G McVey (4 teams in 89), Nash and Shildknict. Middle: B Lowe (88, 89), W Fuller (Mil 88, 89, Greenville MSL 89), W Shenkel (Mil NWL 87, Mil WA 88, 89, StP WA 89), E Sutton (89), G Alberts (Mil WA 89-91, Mil AA 91), W Crossley (Mil WA 88, 89, Mnpls WA 89) and T Poorman (89, 90). Front on ground: C Griffith (88-90) and L Mills (Mil NWL 86, 87, Mil WA 88, 89). Player IDs from photo. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Klusman release info from the New York Press, May 8, 1889.

Dated April to early May 1889. Detail view of photo A. Detail view shows small lettering arched across shirt. The lettering was positioned lower on the shirt compared to most lettering from this period.

Photo B

Dated April to early May 1889. Old Judge baseball card of B Klusman (5 teams in 1889: Denver WA, Milwaukee WA, Quincy CISL, Denver CDSL, Mansfield TSL). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date of April to early May determined by fact that Klusman was released by Milwaukee in early May. Note that player wore a Milwaukee uniform and that the card frame listed his team as Denver. Klusman may have worn a light gray uniform in this photo. The cap appears to be white, not light gray. This most likely was the uniform described in an 1889 newspaper as being “Providence gray” in color with maroon accents. Year Klusman with team from baseball-reference.com. Klusman release info from the New York Press, May 8, 1889. Image scan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Photo C

Dated 1889. Old Judge baseball card of W Crossley (Mil WA 88, 89, Mnpls WA 89). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date confirmed by fact that this was the only year Crossley payed for Milwaukee. The uniform in the photo may be the “Providence gray” uniform with maroon accents, similar to that shown in photo B. The photo background on the Crossley card does not match photo B, suggesting two different photo sessions. Detail view shows loose-fitting style of pants. Year Crossley with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Photo D

Dated 1889. Old Judge baseball card of C Griffith (88-90). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date may be confirmed by fact that the photo background matches photo C. This uniform may a short-sleeved version of the “Providence gray” uniform with maroon accents, similar to that shown in photo B and C. Detail view shows lace ties on shirt above lettering. Years Griffith with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Photo E

Dated 1889. Old Judge baseball card of C Griffith (88-90). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date may be confirmed by fact that the photo background matches photo C. In this photo Griffith wore a dark undershirt, possibly maroon, where as in photo D he was without. Detail view shows lace ties above lettering. Years Griffith with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Written documentation on these uniforms:
March 1889: “The uniforms for the home team have finally been decided upon. The traveling uniform will be of Providence gray with dark red caps and belts, red stockings and the word ‘Milwaukee’ in red letters across the face of the shirt. The home uniform will be made up of white shirts with ‘Milwaukee’ in black letter across the front; white breeches, white cap, black stockings and black belt.” From The Sporting Life, March 6, 1889. Research from Chuck McGill. Note that this report suggests that the road cap was to be red. Another report from later in the month does not include the cap when describing the red accents. Photographic evidence suggests the road cap was white with horizontal bands, most likely red.

March 1889: “Mr. Sutton has selected the uniforms for the Cream City Club this coming season, and sent the order to Wright & Ditson, of Boston. The traveling uniform will be made of Providence gray flannel, with bright maroon trimmings, viz., maroon belts, stockings, and the word Milwaukee, in red, across the breast. The home uniform will be white flannel shirts and pants, white caps, black belts and stockings, and the word Milwaukee worked across the breast in black.” From The Sporting Life, March 27, 1889. Research from Chuck McGill.

Team genealogy:
 Coming soon